Lepas L4 Embarks on its South African journey
A new chapter begins as the first Lepas L4 vehicles depart Port Taicang in China, bound for South Africa.
- Product News
- 2 February 2026
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
A new chapter begins as the first Lepas L4 vehicles depart Port Taicang in China, bound for South Africa.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has renewed calls for stronger localisation, expanded job creation and deeper transformation in South Africa’s automotive industry after reviewing progress on the South African Automotive Industry Master Plan 2035.
As economic pressures and market volatility continue to shape the local transport industry, UD Trucks Southern Africa says it has demonstrated confident and stable growth, supported by strong retail partnerships and a relentless focus on customer uptime.
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