Samcor
Encyclopedia
The South African Motor Corporation, known more commonly as Samcor, was a South Africa
n car
manufacturer created in 1985 through the merger of Ford
's South African subsidiary and Anglo-American Motor Corporation, which produced Mazda
s for the local market. In 1988, Ford divested
from South Africa and sold its stake in Samcor.
As a result of the merger, Ford and Mazda began to share models in South Africa, as they already did in other markets, with the Europe
an-sourced Ford Escort and Sierra
being replaced by the Laser
/Meteor
and Telstar
, based on the Mazda 323 and 626
respectively. This badge engineering
of Mazdas as Fords proved less popular with buyers in South Africa than in other countries such as Australia
.
In addition to Ford and Mazda products, Samcor also assembled Mitsubishi
commercial vehicles, with the Mitsubishi L300 minibus being badged as the Ford Husky.
Although Samcor's exports were mainly confined to Southern Africa
, from 1991 to 1993, it exported the South African version of the Mazda 323 to the UK, as the Sao Penza
. However, just over 1,000 were sold and just four remain.
In 1994, Ford bought a 45 per cent stake in Samcor, and in 1998, bought the remaining share, renaming the company Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufacturer created in 1985 through the merger of Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
's South African subsidiary and Anglo-American Motor Corporation, which produced Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
s for the local market. In 1988, Ford divested
Disinvestment from South Africa
Disinvestment from South Africa was first advocated in the 1960s, in protest of South Africa's system of Apartheid, but was not implemented on a significant scale until the mid 1980s...
from South Africa and sold its stake in Samcor.
As a result of the merger, Ford and Mazda began to share models in South Africa, as they already did in other markets, with the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an-sourced Ford Escort and Sierra
Ford Sierra
The Ford Sierra is a large family car that was built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993. It was designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Quément. The code used during development was "Project Toni"....
being replaced by the Laser
Ford Laser
The 1985 KC Laser/GC Meteor was the model's first major redesign. All body styles were carried over, with the addition of a station wagon from 1986. A new "TX3" variant, which was half-way between "GL" & "Ghia" in specification level, replaced the "Sport" variant from the KB series. Unlike the...
/Meteor
Ford Meteor
Introduced in 1981, Ford Meteor was the name given to the sedan version of the Ford Laser, based on the Mazda Familia in markets including Australia and South Africa. Following much the same strategy in Europe was the Ford Orion, a four-door saloon which had Escort mechanicals...
and Telstar
Ford Telstar
The Ford Telstar is an automobile that was sold by the Ford Motor Company in Asia, Australasia and Africa, comparable in size to the European Ford Sierra and the American Ford Tempo. It has been progressively replaced by the Ford Mondeo....
, based on the Mazda 323 and 626
Mazda 626
The Mazda 626 is an automobile that was produced by Mazda for the export market. It was based on the Japan-market Mazda Capella. The 626 replaced the 616/618 and RX-2 in 1979 and was sold through 2002, when the new Mazda6 took over as Mazda's large family car...
respectively. This badge engineering
Badge engineering
Badge engineering is an ironic term that describes the rebadging of one product as another...
of Mazdas as Fords proved less popular with buyers in South Africa than in other countries such as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In addition to Ford and Mazda products, Samcor also assembled Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors
is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...
commercial vehicles, with the Mitsubishi L300 minibus being badged as the Ford Husky.
Although Samcor's exports were mainly confined to Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
, from 1991 to 1993, it exported the South African version of the Mazda 323 to the UK, as the Sao Penza
Sao Penza
The Sao Penza was a car sold in the United Kingdom between 1991 and 1993 by Automotive Holdings, a subsidiary of Mazda Cars Ltd, the official UK importer. It was simply a rebadged version of the Mazda 323, imported from South Africa, where the 1985 model was still assembled by Samcor...
. However, just over 1,000 were sold and just four remain.
In 1994, Ford bought a 45 per cent stake in Samcor, and in 1998, bought the remaining share, renaming the company Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.