Astron Energy announces R220m development fund 

Fuel group Astron Energy has announced a R220-million development fund to empower small businesses in the Astron Energy value chain and its linked communities.   CEO Thabiet Booley describes the... 

2022 new-vehicle sales up 13.9%, as exports accelerate by 17.9%

New-vehicle sales in the domestic market increased by 13.9% in 2022, compared with 2021, says Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council. This follows a 22.2% jump in 2021, compared with 2020. 

Mahindra records 78% sales growth in 2022

Mahindra last year increased its new-vehicle sales by 78%, compared with 2021 – this in a total domestic market that expanded by a much more moderate 13.9%. The Indian group – an importer and local... 

Suzuki unveils its first electric concept, mulling local introduction

Small-car specialist Suzuki has unveiled its first all-electric concept vehicle. The Japanese carmaker says the eVX – emotional versatile cruiser – is a compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) that... 

Port of Maputo achieves new handling record, sees soaring chrome throughput 

The Port of Maputo achieved a new handling record in 2022, registering growth of 20% over 2021. The total volume handled last year was 26.7-million tons, compared with 22.2-million tons in 2021.  

Africa’s last-mile market set to double by 2030

The African last-mile delivery market was valued at $1.14-billion in 2021.  By 2030, this is expected to reach $2.35-billion, expanding at an annual compound growth rate of 8.45% between 2022 and... 

VWSA weighs African expansion with new Polo-based product – and yes, it may include a half-ton bakkie

The new CEO of Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) is a familiar face. Martina Biene returns to South Africa following a two-year stint as the head of the Volkswagen passenger brand before her... 

Motoring costs surge on the back of fuel and interest rate hikes – WesBank

In November last year, South African vehicle owners were paying, on average, R2 515 more a month to keep their cars on the road than in 2018, says WesBank in its newest mobility calculator. WesBank... 

Mercedes-Benz to make second hybrid in SA, but competitiveness concerns mount

Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) will add a second plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to the production line-up at its East London plant this year, says CEO Andreas Brand. The 50-year-old... 

Domestic car sales, exports accelerated for 11th consecutive month in November

Domestic new-vehicle sales in November recorded an eleventh consecutive month of year-on-year growth. Total sales increased by 18.2%, to 49 413 units, compared with the same month in 2021. 

Anglo’s fuel cell truck operating ‘akin to its diesel counterpart’

Anglo American’s big nuGen hydrogen-powered truck is currently functioning “akin in operation and cost to its diesel counterpart”, says Anglo American market development principal Fahmida Smith.... 

Hyundai rolls out solar project at head office, Gauteng dealerships

A steady roll-out of renewable energy projects has seen Hyundai Automotive South Africa (HASA) run its head office and several of its Gauteng dealerships on solar power when loadshedding kicks in.... 

Safe storage for traffic signal controllers

The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate is piloting underground chambers for the safe storage of traffic signal controllers and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems at intersections... 

Shoprite starts testing its first fully electric truck

The Shoprite Group has started testing a Scania heavy-duty electric truck as part of its delivery fleet. Robin Jooste, 28, from Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, has been selected to drive the vehicle.  

Cape Town signs R2.3bn water deal with national govt

The City of Cape Town council has approved a contract with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) that proposes boosting water supply to the metro by 40-million litres of drinking water a day... 

10 000th unit rolls off assembly line at FAW Trucks’ Coega plant

The 10 000th truck assembled at FAW Trucks South Africa’s plant in Coega – a JH6 28.500FT, 6 x 4 AMT truck tractor – has rolled off the assembly line. This follows the start of assembly in 2014, in... 

Toyota to evaluate local customers’ response to RAV4 plug-in hybrid in new pilot initiative

Following the introduction of the RAV4 GX hybrid last year and the RAV4 hybrid E-Four this year, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) says it will test the local market’s response to the RAV4 plug-in... 

Policy certainty key to unlocking EV investments, says WesBank

“Capital investment in the local automotive industry, which includes the vehicle and asset finance houses, requires certainty in policy frameworks so that [the industry] can make long-term... 

Vehicle availability, tourism seen improving in 2023

Zeda will invest in the renewal of its fleet next year, with the group expecting the supply of new vehicles to stabilise in 2023, says CEO Ramasela Ganda. Zeda is a mobility specialist that... 

Anglo’s fuel-cell truck operating ‘akin to its diesel counterpart’

Anglo American’s big nuGen hydrogen-powered truck is currently functioning “akin in operation and cost to its diesel counterpart”, says Anglo American market development principal Fahmida Smith.... 

Construction sector ailing as govt’s infrastructure plan stalls – MBA North

Following a harrowing two years for the construction sector, this year started with cautious optimism amid promises that a series of major infrastructure works would be fast-tracked, says Master... 

There are signs of life in the local construction sector – CIDB

There are some green shoots in the South African construction industry, despite predictions that the sector is facing imminent collapse, says Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) CEO... 

Ford ‘remains engaged’ with Transnet on development of southern rail corridor

Ford South Africa remains “actively engaged” with government and its rail arm, Transnet, to enable vehicle and component transport to and from the Gqeberha port, says Ford Motor Company Africa... 

First new Ford Ranger assembled at Silverton plant, where Phase 2 solar project is in the works

The first new Ranger – Job 1 – has been assembled at Ford’s Silverton plant in Pretoria. Production of the new-generation bakkie follows a R16-billion investment in the US car maker’s local... 

Standard Bank starts roll-out of digital taxi payment app

Standard Bank is starting to roll out a digital taxi payment app that it believes will relieve the stress of having the right cash on hand for a minibus taxi trip. The app is also set to assist... 

Local, global indicators suggest used-car market bubble may be about to burst – AutoTrader CEO

The used-car market has flourished in recent years, says digital vehicle marketplace AutoTrader. “Comparing AutoTrader trading data between the first quarter and third quarter this year to the same... 

Tracker gives tips on how to foil keyless access theft as vehicle crime soars 

Tracker’s latest Vehicle Crime Index (VCI), covering the period January to June, revealed that vehicle theft is up 7% in South Africa, with hijackings up 4%, over the same six months last year. The... 

Uber expands African offering, while Uber Eats sees healthy growth in SA

Mobility platform Uber has about 20 000 drivers and delivery people earning an income through the Uber and Uber Eats apps in South Africa, which have more than 2.1-million active platform users,... 

Auto industry’s supply woes unlikely to end in 2023 – Schäfer

It seems unlikely that the supply-chain issues in the global automotive industry will be resolved in the next year, says Volkswagen passenger car brands global CEO and former Volkswagen South... 

New-vehicle sales, exports accelerated in October

Domestic new-vehicle sales in October increased by 11.4%, to 45 966 units, compared with the same month last year. The new-passenger-car market reached 30 597 units in October – a 10.4% jump on the... 

Enviro Automotive to launch electric panel van, with bakkie, truck, car to follow

Enviro Automotive is set to launch its first battery electric panel van in the local market – the DFSK EC35. Enviro Automotive is the importer and distributor of Chinese-made DFSK electric vehicles... 

VWSA looks to assemble third model at Kariega plant, local EV production may start by 2035 – new CEO

Polo and Polo Vivo production will continue in South Africa beyond 2025, confirms newly appointed Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) CEO and chairperson Martina Biene. However, the local arm of... 

Hyundai eyes passenger-car market increase following decline

Hyundai Automotive South Africa (HASA) CEO Niall Lynch says the Korean importer hopes to secure more new-vehicle stock from its parent company in 2023. “If we had more cars, we could have sold more... 

SAICE decries Sanral tender awards as Chinese score most of the work

The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) says it is “deeply concerned” by the recent awarding of tenders by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to joint... 

AIDC-EC enters into global partnerships to make auto sector more competitive

The Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC-EC) has entered into partnerships with the Automotive Component Manufacturing Association of India (ACMA) and the Japan International... 

Thermal sensors for four Cape Town pedestrian crossings

The City of Cape Town has implemented thermal sensors at four pedestrian crossings in Blaauwberg, the first time this has been done in South Africa.  The sensors have been installed along Marine... 

New milestone for R1.9bn C Town wastewater plant upgrade

The R1.9-billion upgrade at Zandvliet Wastewater Treatment Works, in Cape Town, has seen the completion of a new membrane biological reactor (MBR).  Membrane technology is capable of treating... 

MBA North says its members being forced to condone unethical contractual practices

The Master Builders Association (MBA) North has issued a practice note for its members aimed at helping them fight back against what it calls unethical contractual practices that have become... 

Volvo Trucks SA plant starts Euro 5 assembly

Volvo Trucks South Africa (SA) has started assembly of Euro 5 specification trucks at its plant in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Euro 5 truck variants have been available in South Africa since 2012, but... 

Fuso’s new electric eCanter unveiled, first test units to arrive in SA next year

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) has unveiled its next-generation all-electric light-duty eCanter truck. Since its launch in 2017 as the first series-produced truck of its kind in...