Flourochemicals SA, NMU, TIA sign MoA to advance innovation programme as plant RFP beckons

Flourochemicals South Africa (FSA), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and Nelson Mandela University (NMU) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to advance the Fluorochemicals Strategic... 

GridCars to deploy truck-charging infrastructure at three highway sites

Electric vehicle (EV) charging group GridCars says it will deploy charging infrastructure for large trucks at three sites along major South African highways in the next 12 months. The grid-tied... 

May vehicle sales climb higher as new-energy segment also accelerates

South Africa’s new-vehicle market continued its positive run as sales increased by 12.8% in May compared with the same month last year. The 51 071 new vehicles that found new owners last month... 

Chinese car industry notches up first Car of the Year win in SA as T2 takes the crown

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has selected the Jetour T2 as the 2026 Car of the Year (COTY). The T2’s selection marks the first-ever victory for a Chinese brand in the... 

Grid Access Unit must move out of Eskom sooner rather than later – Sola Group CEO

Eskom’s Grid Access Unit (GAU) must be moved to the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) as soon as possible, says Sola Group CEO Dom Wills. Speaking at a Webber Wentzel Power... 

Cape Town tightens grip on metal crime

In the ten months between July last year and April this year, the City of Cape Town’s (CoCT’s) Metal Theft Unit made 88 arrests and recovered more than a kilometre of stolen cable and more than 800... 

Clean record for Fidelity Services’ new-tech cash-in-transit vehicles

Fidelity Services Group (FSG) says not a single attack has been recorded against any of the group’s new purpose-engineered cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicles since their deployment at the end of 2023.... 

Tata Africa gears up for launch of electric bus, small electric truck, and Xenon bakkie

Tata Africa aims to launch a fully electric commuter bus in South Africa “within the next few months”, says Tata Africa Holdings CEO Jacques Taylor. The vehicle will be assembled locally, and will... 

Toyota launches its first fully electric vehicle in the South African market

South Africa’s long-running market leader has finally launched its first fully electric vehicle in the domestic market – the Toyota bZ4X. Priced rather steeply at R1.18-million, this battery... 

Affordable housing construction to start at Salt River Market site this year

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has handed over the Salt River Market site for the construction of 970 inner-city affordable housing units by developer Communicare. Salt River Market is among four... 

Fiat’s electric three-wheeler to hit SA market at the end of the year

Fiat South Africa (SA) says its first micro-mobility vehicle, the Tris, is scheduled to land in South Africa and selected sub-Saharan African markets at the end of the year. Fiat is a Stellantis... 

Japan’s Marubeni Corporation acquires TiAuto Investments

Japan-based trading and investment company Marubeni Corporation has acquired South Africa’s automotive retail and services group TiAuto Investments. Founded in 1967, TiAuto is an automotive... 

Safety concerns mount as crash tests deliver yet another set of worrying results – AA

The newest #SaferCarsForAfrica crash tests have revealed a worrying trend of sub-standard safety in entry-level vehicles across various price points, says the Automobile Association of South Africa... 

GeT Metal Group unveils initiative that turns old tyres into industrial fuel

GeT Metal Group and its subsidiary GeT Alloys have announced that they have eliminated virgin fossil fuels from their aluminium melting operations, with a new waste-to-energy initiative... 

Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber sounds alarm on 11% electricity tariff hike

The Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Business Chamber is “very concerned” about the 11% average increase in electricity tariffs proposed by the metro council. CEO Denise van Huyssteen says the proposed... 

Used-car prices holding above 2025 levels; Chinese brands reshaping market value – AutoTrader

South Africa’s used-car market is showing signs of recalibration, rather than a broad-based price decline, says AutoTrader, with new data from the online platform showing that average prices... 

BMW rolls out pilot studies on humanoid robot use in US, German plants; no deployment planned for SA

BMW is rolling out a pilot project to deploy humanoid robots at its Leipzig plant, in Germany. This follows the completion of the first pilot deployment of humanoid robots at the BMW Spartanburg... 

Heavy-hitters sign deal to develop hydrogen supply chain from Japan to Europe

Daimler Truck, MB Energy and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) to establish a liquefied hydrogen supply chain to Europe via the Port of Hamburg. Under this... 

Nearly 30% of all new cars sold this year to be electric – IEA

The latest edition of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) Global Electric Vehicle (EV) Outlook 2026 forecasts that nearly 30% of all new cars sold globally this year will be electric.... 

Record vehicle exports in 2025, but component exports continue to decline as EV sales grow

Despite multiple global and local headwinds, new-vehicle exports from South Africa reached a new record last year. Component exports, however, yet again failed to show growth in 2025. Speaking at... 

Hino introduces diesel-electric hybrid truck; readies to test prototype dual-fuel truck

Hino South Africa (SA) is introducing a limited number of diesel-electric hybrid models in its 300 Series range to the local market, says Hino SA VP Anton Falck. “We are initially importing 32... 

Atlantic Aerodrome Phase 1 set to open in the Swartland in September

The R500-million, first phase of the new purpose-built general aviation and turboprop base, Atlantic Aerodrome, is set to open its doors in the Swartland, in the Western Cape, in September. The... 

Italy’s SDF agricultural machinery group sets up shop in the Western Cape

The Western Cape has secured another international investment, with Italian agricultural machinery manufacturer SDF opening its South African commercial subsidiary in Paarl. The 100-year-old... 

New-vehicle sales continue to soar in May; new energy vehicle sales see big jump

South Africa’s new-vehicle market continued its positive run as sales increased by 12.8% in May compared with the same month last year. The 51 071 new vehicles that found new owners last month... 

Volkswagen Group Africa produces one-millionth Polo at its Kariega plant

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has reached a major milestone with the production of the one-millionth current generation Polo at its Kariega plant, in the Eastern Cape. Lucky number one-million is... 

Volvo Trucks tests hydrogen combustion engine trucks, aims for pre-2030 launch

Volvo has begun on-road testing of heavy trucks powered by hydrogen combustion engines, with commercial launch planned before 2030. The Swedish truck maker believes its hydrogen-powered trucks will... 

Ferrari launches its first ever fully electric car

Italian super-car manufacturer Ferrari has shocked purists and petrolheads by unveiling its first ever battery electric vehicle – the Luce. Pronounced loo-chay, it translates into ‘light’ or... 

The case for EVs strengthening as diesel volatility increases – Everlectric

The economics of diesel vehicles have become increasingly unstable, says Everlectric chief commercial officer Paul Plummer. “For years, the debate around electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa has... 

Khayelitsha Cookies reach UK shelves, skies

Cape Town-based artisanal biscuit producer Khayelitsha Cookies has secured more than R1.4-million in deals from two UKbacked companies. One agreement will see its products served onboard British... 

No sweet spot found yet as govt, auto industry mull shoring up local manufacturing

The South African automotive industry and government have not yet found “that sweet spot” that would shore up the local manufacturing sector as it faces declining local parts content and increasing... 

Toyota, govt hand over locally developed hydrogen refuelling station

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), together with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and Hydrogen South Africa (HySA), have handed over a locally developed mobile hydrogen... 

Kanu opens new R25m manufacturing site to support Isuzu plant

Kanu Commercial Body Construction has opened its new manufacturing facility in the Aloes Industrial Complex in Gqeberha, adjacent to Isuzu Motors South Africa’s (IMSAf’s) Vehicle Conversion and... 

Chinese car industry notches up first Car of the Year win in SA as T2 takes the crown

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has selected the Jetour T2 as the 2026 Car of the Year (COTY). Now in its fortieth year, the event marks the first-ever victory for a Chinese... 

Clean record for Fidelity Services’ new-tech cash-in-transit vehicles

Fidelity Services Group (FSG) says not a single attack has been recorded against any of the group’s new purpose-engineered cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicles since their deployment at the end of 2023.... 

Zeda sees profit dip as rental business weighs on performance

While buoyed by a solid performance in the leasing market, JSE-listed Zeda saw its profit for the six months ended March 31 dip as a lukewarm domestic economy, global headwinds and changing new-car... 

Cape Town’s Metal Theft Unit closes 136 non-compliant scrap traders; recovers 800 kg of stolen metal

In the ten months between July last year and April this year, the City of Cape Town’s (CoCT’s) Metal Theft Unit made 88 arrests and recovered more than a kilometre of stolen cable and more than 800... 

Tata Africa gears up for launch of electric bus, small electric truck, and Xenon bakkie

Tata Africa aims to launch a fully electric commuter bus in South Africa “within the next few months”, says Tata Africa Holdings CEO Jacques Taylor. The vehicle will be assembled locally, and will... 

New-vehicle sales soar as exports fall for third straight month

South Africa’s new-vehicle market delivered its strongest April performance in 13 years, with domestic sales rising 13% year-on-year, to 47 979 units. According to data from naamsa | The Automotive... 

EGA commissions solar panel plant in Paarl

Ener-G-Africa (EGA) has commissioned its Western Cape solar panel manufacturing facility in Paarl. The plant has a nameplate assembly capacity of up to 150 MW a year on a three-shift operation. 

Golden Arrow targets 6m km electric bus run this year, considering wheeling options

Cape Town’s Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) has deployed 120 electric buses since January this year, traveling a combined 115 000 km to 120 000 km a week. “At this rate, we should get close to...