Vuma calls for reflection on increase in number of cars

Maputo, 10 Jun (AIM) – The head of the Confederation of Mozambican Business Associations (CTA), Agostinho Vuma, has called for reflection on the significant increase in the number of cars in the country, especially in Maputo city and province.

According to Vuma, who was speaking recently at the multi-brand automobile fair, “Maputo Auto Show”, “the dynamic level of annual growth of the Mozambican car fleet and the vehicles that this industry handles obliges us, as never before, to seriously reflect on policies, particularly on the import and sale of vehicles.”

According to Vuma, “in this reform exercise, aimed at boosting this sector, it will be necessary to establish quotas in terms of vehicles imported into our country”.

Vuma’s reflection is based on the growing number of vehicles in the country which, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), in 2021 stood at 1.1 million vehicles, including 802,000 light vehicles and around 135,000 heavy vehicles, as well as around 9,624 tractors.

By the end of 2022 the number had grown to 1.2 million vehicles, an increase of around five percent, of which 528,179 were in Maputo city and province.

According to the Bank of Mozambique, the value of the imports of vehicles and accessories reached 473.4 million dollars in 2023.

Amid these figures, Vuma stressed the pressing need for policies and reforms to make the automotive sector more attractive to investors.

“In order to create more efficient legislative measures and policies for the continued dynamization of the sector, we must continue to work with the government, which will convey the necessary confidence to investors, thus making it possible to increase the competitiveness of the car import and marketing sector,” he said.

(AIM)

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