The Department of Trade & Industry has said that it expects some conclusions into its review of the motor industry by the end of the month, although it cautioned the industry not to expect huge bail-outs as seen in the US.

At the end of last month, Trade & Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa set up the task team, which met for the first time on Friday, following a request by the motor industry.

“By the end of March we need to have agreed about possible measures we will implement,” said director-general Tshediso Matona, adding that the team used the meeting to discuss practical measures that could be introduced to help the motor industry.

Last week the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa), said new vehicle sales for the first two months of 2009 slumped by 36% to 65,529 units, from 102,684 vehicles sold in the same period last year.