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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
CAR dealers have reduced prices of ex-Japanese vehicles by 30 percent at Beitbridge Border Post as they battle to clear huge stocks.
Major dealers such as Quest Royal, Wright Cars, Car Cade and KDG have from mid November last year reduced prices of old stock to create space for new stocks from Durban.
Quest Royal Investments manager Hayat Hayat said they were running a valentines’ special sale starting from Monday, February 3 to February 15 at both Quest Royal and Wright Cars garages.

He said they were looking at clearing at least 500 cars during that period.
On average it cost about $2, 500 for one to get a modest car from dealers on the South African side.
The same vehicles will be sold for between $1, 700 and $2,000 during the promotion period.

It is understood that many dealers had ordered many cars towards the festive season in anticipation of brisk business.
“We have reduced the prices by 30 percent as a Valentine special promotion. We have over 500 cars in our yard and all these should be out during the first two weeks of February. We will review the prices at the end of two weeks,” Stewart Shamhuyarira, another dealer said.
He said they had agreed in principle with other dealers to slash prices in line with market demands.

Other dealers who declined to be named said they had to review the prices because the demand had fallen.
“We are used to selling at least 20 to 30 cars per month but business has been relatively low hence we have reduced the prices in line with the agreement with other players.

“We are now selling vehicles at prices just similar to those at the main port in Durban,” said onother dealer.
On average about 200 vehicles arrive in the country through Beitbridge Border Post from South Africa per day while between 70 and 80 vehicle imports are processed at the Manica Bonded warehouse on daily basis.