Durban Car Terminal handles Geely vehicles after a 14-year absence in South Africa

On Friday Transnet said that the Durban Car Terminal has safely offloaded the first batch of Geely vehicles after a 14-year absence in the South African market. Vessel MV MOL Cattleya Ace ferried a total of 147 plug-in electric vehicles from China, as South Africa continues to embrace electric and hybrid technologies.

Earle Peters, the managing executive of the Durban Terminals said, “It’s encouraging to see major international car brands expanding in South Africa. The return of Geely Motors to South Africa is both a commercial milestone and a signal of confidence in our market and infrastructure”.

He added that the terminal was proud to be a gateway for innovation, investment, and transformation in the automotive sector.

The Durban Car Terminal is South Africa’s largest roll on roll off (RORO) terminal, equipped with digital yard management technologies. In 2022, the terminal handled over 600 000 fully-built units – the highest recorded in a single year.

“Just last month, the terminal handled TATA vehicles after a six-year absence in South Africa without any safety incident, and we anticipate more developments of this nature in the future,” said Peters.

Transnet said the terminal remained committed to providing the required infrastructure and operational excellence needed to enable the growth of sustainable mobility in South Africa.

BUSINESS REPORT