EXPORTS OF motor vehicles from South Africa grew to an estimated 104 000 in 2001. This is 53 per cent higher than the exports of 2000, and represents significant sales for local manufacturers. Total new vehicle sales in South Africa for 2001 were 366 907, which includes imports of fully built up vehicles. This means that exports added 28 per cent to the sales of South African-based vehicle manufacturers. Two of the country’s major exporters – Volkswagen South Africa and DaimlerChrysler – are situated in the Eastern Cape. These sales “confirmed South Africa's growing importance as a manufacturer and supplier of vehicles to global markets,” says the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa). Naamsa expects continuing growth in exports of automotive components, parts and accessories and exports of South African manufactured cars and commercial vehicles through 2002. New vehicle exports are expected to reach 123 000 for the year - an improvement of about 18 per cent on the expected 104 000 export sales for 2001.