Continental Auto Exports — Operations Plan
CAE’s operational headquarters will be located in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, within the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This location provides direct access to South Africa’s automotive OEM plants (BMW in Rosslyn, VW in Uitenhage, Ford in Silverton, Toyota in Prospecton)…
Section 6 · Business Plan
Operations Plan
CAE’s operational headquarters will be located in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, within the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This location provides direct access to South Africa’s automotive OEM plants (BMW in Rosslyn, VW in Uitenhage, Ford in Silverton, Toyota in Prospecton)…
RoRo and container ocean freight via the Port of Durban, with a 21–28 day transit to the United States.
6.1 Operational Headquarters
CAE’s operational headquarters will be located in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, within the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This location provides direct access to South Africa’s automotive OEM plants (BMW in Rosslyn, VW in Uitenhage, Ford in Silverton, Toyota in Prospecton) and the Port of Ngqura/Port Elizabeth, one of Africa’s most efficient vehicle handling ports.
6.2 Supply Chain Architecture
The supply chain is structured across four primary tiers, from vehicle sourcing through to US port delivery. Each stage is managed through standardised operating procedures and quality checkpoints.
6.2.1 Sourcing Strategy
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Direct procurement from OEM plants (BMW, Toyota, Ford, VW, Mercedes-Benz)
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Partnership agreements with certified pre-owned dealerships in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape
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Auction sourcing for select vehicle categories through reputable wholesale channels
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Minimum quality threshold: vehicles less than 3 years old with fewer than 60,000km for CPO segment
6.3 Logistics Infrastructure
| Route Component | Detail | Lead Time |
|---|---|---|
| Inland Transport (SA) | Vehicle carriers from OEM/dealer to port | 1–3 days |
| Export Port (SA) | Port Elizabeth / Durban | 2–5 days processing |
| Ocean Freight | RoRo or Container to US | 21–28 days |
| US Destination Ports | Los Angeles, Houston, Baltimore | Varies |
| US Customs Clearance | CBP, DOT, EPA documentation | 3–7 days |
| Final Mile (US) | Trucking to dealer/buyer location | 2–5 days |
Total estimated lead time from order placement to US delivery: 35–50 business days, depending on shipping route and customs processing times.
6.4 Compliance Framework
Regulatory compliance is the cornerstone of CAE’s operational model. All vehicles exported to the US must comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) administered by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and emission standards administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). CAE will maintain a dedicated compliance team and will partner with registered importers and approved modification facilities.
6.5 Technology Infrastructure
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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): SAP Business One for inventory management, procurement, financial accounting, and supply chain coordination
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Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Salesforce for dealer relationship management, sales pipeline tracking, and customer communication
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Logistics Management System: CargoWise for freight forwarding, customs documentation, and shipment tracking
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B2B Digital Platform: Custom-built web portal for US dealer inventory browsing, quote requests, and order management
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