San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-29
MOTOR TRADE
,PR0sPER0Us|N
SOUTH AF RIGA
Despite Business Depres-
sion, All Types of Cars
in Big Demand.
y. 5. CARS POPULAR
Automobile Of American
Design and Canadian
Make Best Seller.

Washington, d. c.. April 2s.-Tht
/ year 1923 promises TO be banner
I year for the automotive business in
South Africa, according to reports ia
the Department of Commerce from
Il Trade Commissioner L. .. Stevenson
\ Johannesburg Consul q. N. Donald
Johannesburg; and Vice Consul A
4 II. CawstoH, Cape Town. 20,
In spite of the general depression
during 1922, there was 4 steady in
crease in demand for motor vehicles
/ OF ali kinds. Stocks of cars held in
bond, which have so hampered the i'm
port trade since 1920, have practically
disappeared, the 20 cars still located
at the principal centers at the end
of 1922 representing current stocks
(which will be cleared and replaced as
Hnew models come in.
\ While the total number Of cars i'm
{ittted during 1922 was more than
tdonble the number i'll 1921, the value
Twas only one-third greater. American
Gears, manufactured in the United
Estates and Canada, comprise over ~
|lper cent OF all cars brought into South
HAfrica, and this shift in, ratio OF val
,ues to numbers reflects chiefly the re-
|Fults Of lowered prices on the Ameri-
can output rs compared with prices in
RlY2I. r.. -. .
The most gratifying feature about
he comparatively heavy shipments re-
:eived in the last quarter OF the year
that they sold shortly after arrivals.
ihe unusually large number imported
iuring November and Dccember-546
and J3S, respectively-;s the period,
January May, ranged between ISL and
PS1; in the period, June-October, be-
ween All and 100.
y American Cars Popular.
The best selling car in south Africa
s an American designed, Canadian
manufactured, lightweight make selling
or ECO and EJJU. Next TO this, the
pest sellers are lightweight American
airs selling Tor 1900 and 1000. Amer
can manufacturers will find diff
uity in dispoSing of cars in South
Africa which sell Tor more than $1,000
p the United States. There are more
i've passenger touring cars sold then
I any othe> types. 4 fair number
I twO-passenger road. tiers are sold,
nd one Cape Town dealer has lately
ound the iour-passcnger sport model
cry popular. 4.
Although closed cars have had little
emand heretofore, a number of Amer
an makes were imported recently
nd sold practically on sight, their
wered prices, together with favor
pie ocean freight rates, making it
ossible to quote them at an attrac-
We figure. In spite of the warm
Gather which prevails during most
-the year, the wind and dust ard
ie neavy rainfall in many section
axe closed car desirable, and the
emand Tor that type is likely to grow.
While it is generally supposed that
e greater number of motor vehicles
,erated in South Africa are in the
rming districts, official registration
cures for 921 show that 53.S per
mt were located in the nine princi-
ii urban centers, led by johannes
Irg, Cape Peninsula and Durham.
Sydney Is Motor Center.
The entire commonwealth of Aus
ALA is seldom given to on. distrib-
or, but is divided into states. The
incipal market is in the State of
w South Wales. with Sydney, the
pital, as the port of entry and
incipal consuming and distributing
inter-. The state of Victoria is a
Pse second with Melbourne, the cap
i city, the chief center. These
o centers absorb approximately so
cent Of all the motor vehicles
ported into Australia. Exclusive
encies are granted for each of the
S populpus states of South Aus
Lila, West Australia, Queensland and
smania, in the case of popular cars,
on a new and comparatively I'M
bwn product, it is not uncommon
the Sydney or Melbourne dis
butor to have the privilege of ap-
nting sub-agents for the above
ties until such time as the volume
business warrants arrangements,
he Trade Commissioner j. W.
nger. ~.
Light car makrs and manufacturers |
of light motorcycles in the United |
hsdom continue to produce at high |
ssure; several large manufacturers
motor engines, particularly motor
lie engines, are reported to have sold
re engines in the current year than
e. ttrse whole Of 1922, says As
liant Trade Commissioner W. NJ.
*. Placing Of orders for heavier
senger cars and motorcycles has
en- off slightly owing 10 Indictment Il
ther. A large number Of man. u