The Sigma Motor Corporation was a South African motor vehicle assembler and distributor. It operated under the Sigma name until 1985 and was based in Silverton, Pretoria. Among the vehicles sold were various models of Mazda, Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Citroën.
The Silverton Assembly Plant was originally built in 1961 for Chrysler, and assembled Chrysler Valiants. Chrysler sold its 25% shareholding in January 1983[1] with the remaining shares being held by Anglo American. Earlier, Leyland had approached Sigma about using one of its engines for the Rover V8.[2] In 1978, there were proposals for Sigma to merge with British Leyland's South African subsidiary in 1979, to form a company called "Sigma Leyland", in which Sigma would have 51 per cent of shares and British Leyland 49 per cent.[3] However, the deal fell through almost immediately.[4] This left Leyland South Africa without a dealer network.[5]
Peugeot and Citroën South Africa (PACSA) was taken over by Sigma in early 1979[6] and French car production was moved from the former PACSA plant in Natalspruit near Alberton to their "Sigma Park" plant east of Pretoria.[7][8] Sigma's Mazda and Peugeot light commercials were briefly assembled by Sigma Leyland at Blackheath, Cape Town.[8]
Products
Sigma made great efforts to develop local models, not sold elsewhere in the world. In their first three years, they developed three such models: the Mitsubishi-engined Mazda 323 GLC 1.6, the luxurious Chrysler L-series, and the 2.6-litre Colt Galant.[9] Sigma also sometimes had to choose between Mitsubishi and Mazda products, since the market was limited and local content laws made small production runs uneconomical. For instance, the second generation Mazda Capella was never offered in South Africa, as Sigma chose to build the Colt Galant instead.[10]
It is unclear what models were actually assembled at the Silverton Assembly Plant. Some models may have been imported rather than locally assembled. In 1982, models listed for sale were:[11]
By January 1984, Mazda 626 and Mitsubishi Tredia models had been added to the line-up, together with additional variants of the 323, L300 and B-Series (B2200). The Canter trucks were then badged as Mitsubishi rather than Peugeot.[12]
In May 1984, the Mitsubishi Starion EX was added at R31,995.[13]
Successor
In 1984, after undergoing losses over the past two years, Sigma was restructured into a new company known as Amcar.[14] The following year, it was merged with Ford South Africa to create the South African Motor Corporation (Pty) Ltd., known as Samcor for short.[15] In 1988, Ford Canada divested its equity interest in Samcor and donated most of it to the Samcor Employees' Trust.[16] However, Samcor continued to build Ford as well as Mazda and Mitsubishi products.[17] In 1993, with sanctions being lifted in anticipation of the end of apartheid, Ford Motor Company acquired a 45 per cent stake in Samcor.[16] In 2000, it completed a buyout of Samcor shares and renamed the company Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA).[18] As of 2015, FMCSA still operates from the same site in Silverton.
Slogan
The slogan "Quality First" was used in advertising.[19]
^ abSouth Africa News Update, South African Consulate-General, 1993, page 5
^International Motor Business, Volumes 149-152, Economist Intelligence Unit, 1992, page 92
^Marketing Success Stories, Michael Colin Cant, Ricardo Machado, Oxford University Press, 2002, page 268
^CAR magazine (South Africa) October 1982, multiple pages
January 07, 2023
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Not to be confused with Sigma Motors in Pakistan The Sigma Motor Corporation was a South African motor vehicle assembler and distributor It operated under the Sigma name until 1985 and was based in Silverton Pretoria Among the vehicles sold were various models of Mazda Mitsubishi Peugeot and Citroen Contents 1 History 2 Products 3 Successor 4 Slogan 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory EditThe Silverton Assembly Plant was originally built in 1961 for Chrysler and assembled Chrysler Valiants Chrysler sold its 25 shareholding in January 1983 1 with the remaining shares being held by Anglo American Earlier Leyland had approached Sigma about using one of its engines for the Rover V8 2 In 1978 there were proposals for Sigma to merge with British Leyland s South African subsidiary in 1979 to form a company called Sigma Leyland in which Sigma would have 51 per cent of shares and British Leyland 49 per cent 3 However the deal fell through almost immediately 4 This left Leyland South Africa without a dealer network 5 Peugeot and Citroen South Africa PACSA was taken over by Sigma in early 1979 6 and French car production was moved from the former PACSA plant in Natalspruit near Alberton to their Sigma Park plant east of Pretoria 7 8 Sigma s Mazda and Peugeot light commercials were briefly assembled by Sigma Leyland at Blackheath Cape Town 8 Products EditSigma made great efforts to develop local models not sold elsewhere in the world In their first three years they developed three such models the Mitsubishi engined Mazda 323 GLC 1 6 the luxurious Chrysler L series and the 2 6 litre Colt Galant 9 Sigma also sometimes had to choose between Mitsubishi and Mazda products since the market was limited and local content laws made small production runs uneconomical For instance the second generation Mazda Capella was never offered in South Africa as Sigma chose to build the Colt Galant instead 10 It is unclear what models were actually assembled at the Silverton Assembly Plant Some models may have been imported rather than locally assembled In 1982 models listed for sale were 11 Model Local Price ZAR Mazda 323 1 3 1 5 1 5 AT S SL SLX R7 220 R9 450Mazda RX 7 probably imported R27 000Mitsubishi Colt 1600 2000 2000 AT 2600 2600 AT R8 795 R11 995Peugeot 305 Sedan GR ST R8 600 R9 630Peugeot 504 GR GR SW Super 7 R8 910 R11 030Peugeot 505 SR SR AT STI STI AT R11 875 R15 700Citroen CX2400 Prestige probably imported R38 000Mazda B Series 1600 2000 R6 595 R8 050Mazda trucks T2000 petrol T3000 diesel R10 450 R13 050Mitsubishi Canter L300 van minibus R10 115 R11 355Peugeot trucks Canter SWB LWB R12 550 R13 150By January 1984 Mazda 626 and Mitsubishi Tredia models had been added to the line up together with additional variants of the 323 L300 and B Series B2200 The Canter trucks were then badged as Mitsubishi rather than Peugeot 12 In May 1984 the Mitsubishi Starion EX was added at R31 995 13 Successor EditIn 1984 after undergoing losses over the past two years Sigma was restructured into a new company known as Amcar 14 The following year it was merged with Ford South Africa to create the South African Motor Corporation Pty Ltd known as Samcor for short 15 In 1988 Ford Canada divested its equity interest in Samcor and donated most of it to the Samcor Employees Trust 16 However Samcor continued to build Ford as well as Mazda and Mitsubishi products 17 In 1993 with sanctions being lifted in anticipation of the end of apartheid Ford Motor Company acquired a 45 per cent stake in Samcor 16 In 2000 it completed a buyout of Samcor shares and renamed the company Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa FMCSA 18 As of 2015 FMCSA still operates from the same site in Silverton Slogan EditThe slogan Quality First was used in advertising 19 See also EditSamcorReferences Edit Chrysler ends South Africa Role New York Times 1983 01 27 Leyland Sigma merger talks confirmed The Star 12 May 1978 Autocar Volume 149 1978 page 19 The Economist Volume 271 Issues 7075 7087 page 91 Haler Justin ed July 1979 Editor s Log SA Motor Randburg South Africa SA Motor Pty Ltd 17 7 7 Paratus Volume 33 South African Defence Force page 87 Industrial South Africa Industrial Publishing Corporation 1982 page 97 a b Howard Tony ed June 1979 From the Marketplace SA Auto Pretoria South Africa 1 10 21 Haler Justin ed July 1979 Super Lux version of Sigma Colt SA Motor Randburg South Africa SA Motor Pty Ltd 17 7 19 Wapenaar Piet June 1979 Editorial Grapevine SA Auto Pretoria South Africa 1 10 10 CAR magazine South Africa October 1982 p237 CAR magazine South Africa January 1984 pp205 206 CAR magazine South Africa May 1984 p221 Financial Mail Volume 93 Part 1 1984 page 445 Press Digest Issues 72 94 FOSATU 1985 a b South Africa News Update South African Consulate General 1993 page 5 International Motor Business Volumes 149 152 Economist Intelligence Unit 1992 page 92 Marketing Success Stories Michael Colin Cant Ricardo Machado Oxford University Press 2002 page 268 CAR magazine South Africa October 1982 multiple pages Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sigma Motor Corporation amp oldid 1044822328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
