Thread: The Uri

phelakuti,


The owner of the Uri was still in Windhoek not too long ago. I have just forgotten his name. Could possibly be a German name. After Nam they moved to SA.

The biggest fault that I can remember was the fact that in the beginning they used 2nd hand engines. And there was also something not lekker about the whole operation at Gobabis/Witvlei (in that area). If I scratch long enough, I'll even come up with a photo or two of the vehicle.

scratching is not a bad idea, Uri in khoi terms mean louse as in lice...funny name for a buggy car hey

The Namibian, August 5, 2004:


NAMIBIA'S only independent vehicle manufacturer, Uri Offroad Vehicles (Pty) Ltd, has thrown in the towel after months of uncertainty and waiting on Government orders.

According to sources, the company was hit by a a double whammy: Government bureaucracy and a strong Namibian dollar - which devastated the company's commercial order.

The maker of the legendary, all-steel, multi-purpose vehicle - which has become a symbol of national pride for 4x4 enthusiasts and mining companies and put the little Namibian town of Witvlei on the map - ceased operations and handed all outstanding orders to its sister company, Uri Vehicle Manufacturing SA, in Pretoria.

The majority shareholding of Uri SA is still in Namibian hands but no more Uris will be built here.

Some 30 employees were retrenched in November last year, when the factory at Witvlei scaled down.

Another 12 people were laid off last week.

"For eight months we were on the brink of something big," Managing Director Joachim Cranz, told The Namibian this week.

"Government has repeatedly promised to support us by giving us orders.

But nothing happened.

And we simply couldn't run on promises any more."

According to a former employee, Uri had to compete with commercial vehicles with widely different specifications, all built in South Africa.

"We couldn't offer immobilisers and central locking," the employee said on condition of anonymity.

"The Uri is purpose-built vehicle, the likes of which exists nowhere else.

Government has finally come around, but it's too late for local manufacturing."

Cranz said the strong rand had also damaged their position.

"We supply a lot of vehicles to mines.

With the rand as strong as it is, they don't earn as much as they did and cut their orders."

Ironically, The Namibian Police finally put through an order for 36 Uri in late June.

"We had to say 'sorry', we've closed down.

Oneword, you are praiseworthy.

I wonder if Namibia and the pride of this people could have let such an opportunity pass them by. Had it not for the incompetence that is at times confused with politics---bureaucratic red tapes and bottlenecks, Namibia could have taken advantage of such opportunities that in due course reward with the illusive national pride. It is through such small steps that major changes are realized.

Not really! It was a pretty half-baked project at best; not thought through and implemented in a investor or consumer-friendly fashion.

I admit, though, that had certain people not been greedy, it could probably have worked.

A uri-que vehicle!!!!!!!!!! And bakshish???????????????????????? Don't mix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!