Cadillac to Begin South African Sales

General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac brand will launch sales in South Africa early next year.

The luxury marque will sell the BLS midsize sedan, SRX cross/utility vehicle and STS fullsize sedan.

The front-wheel-drive BLS is built by Saab Automobile in Trollhattan, Sweden. The SRX and STS are assembled at the Lansing (MI) Grand River plant.

Cadillac plans to begin exporting right-hand-drive vehicles to South Africa this year, with shipments to Australia to follow later in 2007.

Cadillac sales outside the U.S. grew 13% during the year's first six months, GM says. One of the largest overseas markets for the brand is China, where GM says sales rose 44.5% to 1,607 units through the year's first half. Cadillac sells the CTS sedan, SRX and XLR roadster in China.

Robert Socia, president and managing director of GM South Africa, says the auto maker will begin a direct distribution network in South Africa, and dealerships are set to open in the cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.