Zimbabwe's Poor Roads A Threat To Motor Industry

Speaking at the just ended Zimbabwe Motor Show, experts said while the car industry was showing potential, poor roads remained the greatest threat.

The introduction of tollgates in August 2009 has not yet improved the situation. At the moment light vehicles are charged $1, kombis $2, buses $3, lorries $4 while haulage truck users fork out $5.

The motor show was being held for the second consecutive year after being absent for 10 years due to high inflation and unstable economic environment.

Highlights of the show included the Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing coupe and the brand new W166 M-Class, fresh from its local launch 72 hours earlier on Friday, the CLS 500, the C350 Coupe, the E300 saloon and the C220CDI in facelift form.

Other models included the giant-killing Nissan GT-R, Chrysler,Jeep Cherokee, the Grand Cherokee, the Patriot, Wrangler, new Almera, the funky Juke, Qashqai, Murano, Navara, X-Trail, Pathfin-der and NP200.

Ford displayed the 3,2 TDCi Double Cab in automatic and manual guises, the 2,2TDCi 6-speed 4×2 and 4×4 Double Cabs and hopefully, the 2,2TDCi Super Cab with auto transmission.

Fast-growing Hyundai was, which was represented by ADI, had South Africa’s Car of Year, the Elantra, the i10, i20, Accent, Sonata, ix35, Santa Fe and H-100.

Other makes represented included Toyota and Subaru. Toyota was showing off single and double cab Hiluxes, the Fortuner, Prado, new Avanza and Land Cruiser in 200 and 70 Series along with the stalwart Corolla and an example of their new mobile workshop.

Subarus was on hand in the shape of the Impreza WRX, Forester Diesel, Tribecca and for the hot-blooded, Ian Howden’s racing STi Impreza.