Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) is “deeply engaged” with the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), as well as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), on events that led to MBSA halting its monthly reporting of model- and volume-specific sales to Naamsa at the end of 2011, says MBSA commercial vehicles VP Kobus van Zyl.

“We have made huge progress in our discussions. We hope to, early next year, return close to where we were in the past in reporting in more detail again.”

MBSA CEO and president Dr Martin Zimmermann indicated early in 2012 that the company was waiting on government, through the DTI and the Competition Commission, to provide a clear indication that there would be no legal implications in releasing segment- and model-specific sales data, before reporting local sales in detail again.

MBSA stopped the release of all segment-specific data on the back of a global directive from its German parent company, Daimler. It now only provides one comprehensive number for passenger car sales and one for commercial vehicle sales.

Zimmermann said at the time that the directive followed antitrust regulations in Europe, which progressively inhibit the sharing of information among competitors, as it could lead to collusion. He added that South African competition law often followed that drafted in Europe.

Van Zyl indicates that the DTI will be a “major role-player” in MBSA’s decision to return to the reporting fold.

“If they get more involved in the collection of data, it takes away all the risks of a possible antitrust challenge. If government makes the information available, then it cannot be anticompetitive. Government cannot lay a charge of antitrust behaviour against itself.”

Not all vehicle importers and manufacturers report their monthly sales to Naamsa, most notably Hyundai and Kia, as well as some Chinese distributors, largely for what they say are competitive reasons. They do, however, have access to the detailed sales reports of other manufacturers.

This has often been a source of conflict among vehicle brands in South Africa.

However, the involvement of the DTI, or government, as opposed to an industry body, could see a situation where every manufacturer may be obligated to report its sales.