Feasibility study on Stellantis plant to inform IDC on its contribution

The State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) says the bankable feasibility study for the proposed multibillion-rand Stellantis vehicle assembly plant, in Coega, in the Eastern Cape, is... 

R575m Goodwood social housing project gearing up for its first tenants

Tenanting is set to begin in November on the 330-unit first phase of the Goodwood social housing megaproject, which will, once completed, provide affordable rental opportunities to more than 1 000... 

Ford to add plug-in hybrid to Ranger bakkie line-up in 2025

Ford will add a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to its Ranger bakkie line-up from early 2025. The source plant for the vehicle is not confirmed yet, says Ford Motor Company of Southern... 

Drakenstein municipality rolls out new, green switchgear

The Drakenstein municipality, in the Western Cape, has adopted Schneider Electric’s green RM AirSeT switchgear, which it says will reduce the municipality’s carbon footprint by using pure air... 

Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus service logs 68% growth since 2021

Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus service has logged 18.32-million passenger trips for the 12 months from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. This is significantly more than the target of 16.9-million passenger... 

Metair ups profit despite Hesto bleed, export losses

Despite the loss of the Russian battery export market, as well as the poor performance of wiring harness maker Hesto, Metair still managed to chalk up a healthy increase in profit for the six... 

Road freight growth subsiding, rail sector struggling – Ctrack index

The Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (Ctrack TFI) retreated further in July to an index level of 120.8, the lowest level this year since March’s 120.5.  This represents a decrease of 1.2% during... 

Overstocked Motus faces slowing South African new-vehicle market

Following seven months of trading, it is clear that the South African new-car market is unlikely to reach the 540 000 to 560 000 units expected at the beginning of the calendar year, says Motus CEO... 

Auto maker Stellantis to invest R3bn in new Coega plant

Vehicle manufacturer Stellantis says it will invest R3-billion to develop a greenfield manufacturing facility in Coega, in the Eastern Cape, along with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)... 

WBHO makes strong return, warns of potential contractor shortage for IPP jobs

Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) is back, “and we are back on a very strong footing”, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “We had an exceptional year in a difficult period.” 

Bell looks to diversify production at Richard Bay plant through BHI launch

Bell Equipment is set to launch a new business, called Bell Heavy Industries (BHI), at the Mining Indaba in February next year. BHI will be an arm of Bell Equipment Company South Africa, which is... 

Auto sector should consider increased import substitution – Hudson Rubber

Import substitution in the local automotive industry is crucial for the growth of the South African economy, says Hudson Rubber Company MD Stoney Steenkamp. Hudson Rubber is a Hammanskraal-based... 

Construction starts on Phase 2 of City of Cape Town’s Milnerton bulk sewer upgrade project

The City of Cape Town has broken ground on the next phase of the R470-million Milnerton bulk sewer upgrade project, with construction of a new pipeline set for completion by 2025.  This project... 

Stellenbosch University converts Toyota taxi into EV, testing to start shortly

The Department of Industrial Engineering at Stellenbosch University (SU) has joined forces with Rham Equipment to convert a Toyota Hiace Ses’fikele minibus taxi into a battery electric vehicle... 

Taxis critical to transport system, but rail has to be the backbone – Cape Town oil, gas sector

The recent minibus taxi strike in Cape Town cost the Western Cape economy an estimated R5-billion, while it also caused at least R18-million worth of damage in the city, according to provincial data. 

Stellantis’ Eurorepar enters the local spare parts market

Vehicle manufacturer Stellantis has announced the launch of Eurorepar into the South African automotive spare parts industry.  Eurorepar was founded in 2004 by Peugeot Citroën, now a member of the... 

Cape Town to launch dispute on PRASA devolution, service standards

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the city is briefing its lawyers to launch an intergovernmental dispute on passenger rail devolution and service standards.  Hill-Lewis says the city has... 

MINI SA appoints new boss as it heads for all-electric future

BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) has appointed Carmen Myles as the new head of MINI South Africa (SA), effective September 1. In her current role as BMW SA transaction pricing and product offers... 

SA negotiating with BYD to build local plant – Cabinet

Government is negotiating with BYD, the Chinese automaker and the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, to possibly open a manufacturing plant in South Africa, Cabinet announced last... 

VIN-search for written-off vehicles launched, but body repairers want more

The South African Insurance Association (SAIA) has launched a Web-based facility that allows consumers to research the status of a vehicle within the industry’s Vehicle Salvage Database (VSD)... 

New-vehicle market showing strain – WesBank, NADA

New-vehicle sales stumbled in August, showing the first potential signs of strain amid growing economic headwinds, says WesBank. To date this year, the market has shown resilience, despite... 

Road freight growth subsiding; rail sector struggling – Ctrack index

The Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (Ctrack TFI) retreated further in July to an index level of 120.8, the lowest level this year since March (120.5).  This represents a decrease of 1.2% during... 

SA component industry pledges R4.8bn in investments

The South Africa component industry will invest R4.8-billion in the South African economy up to the end of next year, says National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers... 

New-vehicle sales drop by 3.1% in August, exports up 33.5%

Total new-vehicle sales in August dropped by 3.1%, to 45 679 units, compared with the same month last year. The new-passenger-car market reached 28 951 units last month – a decline of 6.7% when... 

SA’s SP Forge expects strong boost in North American exports in 2024

SP Metal Forgings Group (SP Forge) will see a significant bump in wheel hub exports to the US next year, says MD Ken Manners. SP Forge has operations in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape. 

BMW to launch electric bike in SA next year

BMW Group South Africa will introduce the electric CE 02 motorbike to the South African market in the second quarter of next year. The CE 02 is neither an e-scooter nor an e-motorcycle. The German... 

Mahindra unveils new concept Pik Up, says its first electric vehicle will go on sale at end of 2024

Indian vehicle manufacturer Mahindra has unveiled a new concept bakkie aimed at international markets, South Africa included. The new-look vehicle is a significant departure from the Bolero and... 

Private-sector participation at Cape Town Port seen generating R6bn in additional exports

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) says it is seeking an urgent meeting with national government on private-sector participation in the Port of Cape Town. This follows the announcement that the Port of... 

Five more Western Cape corridors targeted for recovery – PRASA

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) says it has, to date, recovered eight lines in the Western Cape following the complete collapse of service during the Covid-19-pandemic. Six of the... 

R1.2bn Fynbos development set to be Africa’s first biophilic building

Construction on The Fynbos development is set for completion at the end of next year, with the first apartments ready for occupation in early 2025. The R1.2-billion building is located in Bree... 

Overstocked Motus faces slowing South African new-vehicle market

Following seven months of trading, it is clear that the South African new-car market is unlikely to reach the 540 000 to 560 000 units expected at the beginning of the calendar year, says Motus CEO... 

All-electric FIA World Rallycross Championship heads to Cape Town

The FIA World Rallycross Championship is set to make its way to Killarney International Raceway on October 7 and 8 for the penultimate round of the season. An evolution of the popular FIA European... 

Taxis critical in transport system, but rail has to be the backbone – Cape Town

The recent minibus taxi strike in Cape Town cost the Western Cape economy an estimated R5-billion, while it also caused at least R18-million in damages in the City of Cape Town, this according to... 

Stellenbosch University converts Toyota taxi to EV, testing to start shortly

The Department of Industrial Engineering at Stellenbosch University (SU) has joined forces with Rham Equipment to convert a Toyota Hiace Ses’fikele minibus taxi into a battery electric vehicle... 

Trust, patience see Maputo port yield record results – Grindrod

The Port of Maputo is reaping the results of an $800-million investment that has taken the port from handling five-million tons overall in 2007, to a record 27-million tons last year, says Grindrod... 

Stellenbosch, German universities to develop electric tractor

Stellenbosch University’s (SU’s) Department of Industrial Engineering is partnering with the Technical University of Munich, in Germany, to develop an electric tractor (e-tractor). The SU team,... 

Nissan set to end NP200 production next year

Nissan South Africa (SA) will end production of the NP200 half-ton bakkie in March next year, says Nissan SA country director Kabelo Rabotho. This follows 16 years of production at Nissan’s Rosslyn... 

Much pricier Mtentu Bridge construction restarts five years after Aveng walkout

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has announced the restart of construction work on the R4.05-billion Mtentu Bridge contract, in the Eastern Cape. The Aveng Strabag joint... 

Stanlib acquires 51% of solar and battery platform

Stanlib Asset Management has acquired 51% of Solareff, through its Stanlib Infrastructure Fund II.  Stanlib Asset Management is a local investor in sustainable infrastructure. 

Suzuki SA’s car parc reaches 200 000-plus vehicles

Suzuki Auto South Africa (Suzuki SA) in July handed over the keys to its 200 000th vehicle, ending the month with sales of 4 361 units. This means that overall South African sales for the Japanese...