Colombian Renault and Toyota assembler Sofasa has had its best year for output and profit year since it was founded in 1969.
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In 2005, Sofasa, owned 60% by Renault, 28% by Toyota and 12% by Mitsui stitched together 44,735 vehicles from CKD kits and sold them in Colombia (58.1%), Venezuela (33%) and Ecuador (8.9%), thank to the Andean Countries Community and the Andean Automotive Agreement. Production was up 22.7% year on year.
Better yet, Sofasa notched up net profit of $US15m, its best result in 37 years.
Sofasa, an acronym for Sociedad de Fabricación de Automóviles SA, assembles cars including Renault’s Twingo, Clio II (both hatchback and sedan) and Mégane I, alongside Toyota’s Prado (Colorado) 90 and the Daihatsu Delta midsize truck.
The Twingo, launched in Colombia in 1996, was the country’s best selling car, with 7,456 units shifted.
Sales of spare parts grew 34.3% to $36.3m, another record.
Managed by CEO Luis Fernando Peláez, the Medellín based plant last year launched Renault’s Logan, making Colombia the first Latin America country to get the car. The success of this project resulted in Peláez being appointed to lead the Logan production plan in Brazil.
Juan Vargas
