
Chery’s Lepas moves into premium SUV segment
Chery’s latest international brand, LEPAS, has reached a major milestone as its first model – the L8 – officially rolls off the production line.
- Industry News
- 25 April 2025
Toyota will scrap and crush around 4 000 vehicles that were damaged at the manufacturer’s Prospecton plant in Durban during the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal.
So said Toyota South Africa’s President and CEO, Andrew Kirby, during an interview with eNCA.
Only about 12% of the 4 500 vehicles at the plant were not affected at all. None of the damaged cars or parts will make it onto the market.
Some of the most popular vehicles in South Africa are manufactured at the plant and also exported around the world. This includes the Toyota Hilux, Fortuner and Corolla.
The long-term effect is more serious with about 45 000 vehicles that will be lost until production returns to normal. Andrew could not give a specific date for the plant to re-start, but work with the assistance of Toyota Japan is underway to get back to normality.
Although none of the workforce at the plant were injured in the floods, some did experience serious damage to their homes, he told eNCA during the interview, and Toyota is not only assisting them, but also the broader community.
For the full interview on eNCA with the Toyota President and CEO, lock onto the link:
https://www.enca.com/business/exclusive-toyota-ceo-speaks-flooded-vehicle-plant
Chery’s latest international brand, LEPAS, has reached a major milestone as its first model – the L8 – officially rolls off the production line.
A busy year awaits OMODA & JAECOO, with the all-new JAECOO J7 SHS and the OMODA C7 PHEV just two of the new, electrified models due to reach South African shores later this year.
Chery is taking the car-buying experience into the future by blending technology with a human touch.