Warning for motorists buying these American cars in South Africa

Motorists thinking of buying an imported car are advised to check whether they will be able to receive after-sales support from the relevant manufacturer.

Earlier this year, it was announced that a number of American cars would be imported to South Africa, all of which would be converted to right-hand-drive to suit our roads.

The catch is that these vehicles are being imported by a local company, Rospa International, meaning they aren’t being imported by the original manufacturer.

Rospa has partnered with Autogroup International, which is a company specialising in right-hand-drive conversions for American cars.

It’s an exciting prospect that means car enthusiasts will be able to purchase models from brands that have pulled out of South Africa, including Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, and Cadillac.

However, the import selection also includes a few models from manufacturers with an established presence in our borders, such as Ford and Toyota.

Autogroup confirmed that it will bring the Toyota Tundra bakkie and Sequoia SUV to South Africa, which are among the largest vehicles produced by the Japanese automaker.

Similarly, the importer revealed that the Ford F-250, F-350, and F-450 Super Duty are lined up for a local introduction.

None of these cars are officially available in South Africa, so TopAuto reached out to Ford’s domestic branch to find out whether customers can expect to find support from their local dealer.

“It’s important to note that the Ford F-Series Super Duty vehicles have not been homologated for South Africa by Ford South Africa,” said the company’s product communications manager.

“As such, Ford South Africa is not in a position to provide aftersales support for these vehicles.”

In other words, people who buy an imported Ford F-Series pickup will not be able to service their car at their local Ford dealership.

TopAuto has not received confirmation from Toyota Motors South Africa regarding its stance on the imported Tundra and Sequoia.

However, its reasonable to assume Toyota holds a similar position, given that these vehicles are being imported by a third party and are not officially supported by the original equipment manufacturer.

That’s not to say these cars will have no support whatsoever, as Rospa International will function as the official distributor and service partner for Autogroup in South Africa.

The imported models are sold with a 3-year/100,000km warranty, and each purchase is backed by an after-sales support programme managed by Rospa, which has technicians in South Africa’s three major cities – Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg.

Rospa also stated that it’s services include spare parts sourcing for added peace-of-mind.

What else is coming

In addition to the aforementioned Ford and Toyota models, Autogroup confirmed that it is importing the GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks.

It is also bringing the GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate XL SUV, and the Hummer EV (electric vehicle).

If bakkies and SUVs aren’t your thing, the company is also pulling out a selection of American muscle cars, including the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Camaro, and the Chevrolet Corvette.

“For the first time, South Africans will be able to purchase mirror-image right-hand drive converted American vehicles backed by a local warranty, customer service, and full compliance with South African National Standards (SANS),” said Autogroup.

“This strategic partnership will see Durban-based Rospa International serve as an official distributor and service partner for Autogroup International across South Africa.”