The idea of a conglomerate, which is a convoluted, cross-ownership of one business by the other, and so forth, is kind of messy. It's a business model that allows big companies to become even bigger. Here in South Africa we have our own, for example Bidvest, and Imperial Holdings. Even more familiar are foreign ones, more especially Hyundai, and Samsung, both of which are big in South Africa.

Hyundai and Samsung make everything! If you happen to be in Korea's capital, Seoul, you will probably be driving in a motor vehicle made by Hyundai, insured by Samsung, and heading to a hotel jointly owned by Hyundai and Samsung. It's a crazy life, where these two (a predominantly car making business and an electronics maker), permeate in everything that makes your daily life function!

Fortunately, Samsung and Hyundai in South Africa don't have that privilege, but it's worthwhile knowing how they fair in a totally different market to their native South Korea. For example, South African car buyers are spoiled for choice; it's not just a Hyundai/Kia or nothing kind of place here. By the way, Hyundai and Kia are the same company. Today, Imperial Holdings through its Associated Motor Holdings, and the joint venture Amalgamated Automobile Distributors, imports most of the Hyundai cars we have on South African roads. And as recently as last month's (March 2014) figures showed that the group sold a total 6001 cars. That has translated to a 10.9% market share, behind leaders Toyota, Volkswagen, and Ford Motor Co. That's pretty impressive given that only a few years ago, South Africans shun Korean cars for being of substandard quality to their European and American counterparts. Hyundai has proven itself a formidable force in the vehicle market, with popular small cars such as the i10, i20 and i30, and the latest Hyundai Veloster. Which we recently reviewed here. The statement about us having second thoughts about Korean cars when they where first becoming readily available is quite possibly the same way we view Chinese cars today. If history repeats itself, it won't be long before we become fond of cars made in China. And the great thing about these ones is that the Chinese are actually planning on building manufacturing plants in SA, which should make their cars even cheaper.

Samsung is an even bigger force in the business of making everything, and here at Used Cars For Sale, we're certain they're planning on building their own cars as well..., okay, maybe not. But until then, we shall stick to using their smartphones! The reason we have fallen in love with Hyundai's cars is simple – they've gotten better and better of time. Just like fine wine, they have matured into something like the current iX35, which is a great SUV. And Samsung has not been different as well. Many of you will be reading this from a Samsung Galaxy S3 or tablet, and the technology that's in the phone, like the one that's made your screen adaptive to our website, is one of the things we're highlighting. Keeping up with innovation is what makes good companies great, and both these are great companies!

Author: Pierre Theron