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Automotive News

Nissan develops technology to halve recycling cost of rare earths

By: Reuters 3rd September 2021 Japan's Nissan Motor Co has developed a new technology to halve the cost of recycling rare earths used in magnet motors for electric vehicles (EVs), the company said on Friday. With tension simmering between China and the United States, automakers are trying to reduce their reliance on a key... →

Internal combustion engine car sales in permanent decline – BloombergNEF

By: Irma Venter 3rd September 2021 There are currently 12-million passenger electric vehicles (EVs) on the road. There are also more than one-million commercial EVs, including buses, delivery vans and trucks, as well as more than 260-million electric mopeds, scooters, motorcycles and three-wheelers in traffic globally. This is... →

New intervention aims to improve engineering skills pipeline in Eastern Cape

By: Irma Venter 3rd September 2021 An intervention launched with public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges in the Eastern Cape is expected to aid the output of engineering training and boost the pipeline of skills required by South Africa’s automotive industry. The intervention will place mechanical... →

Plan to split Metair into two to be revisited, following return to profitability

By: Irma Venter 3rd September 2021 Metair will revisit its plan to potentially split into two, following the recovery of its business in the six months to end-June. Metair manufactures, assembles, distributes and retails energy storage products and automotive components in Africa, Europe, Turkey, the Middle East and Russia. →

Chery returns to local market with former Haval boss at helm

By: Irma Venter 3rd September 2021 Chinese car manufacturer Chery is returning to the South African market, this time as a wholly owned subsidiary of its parent company. The company’s previous foray into South Africa was through McCarthy, and then the Imperial group, now known as Motus. →

Audi to launch six EV models in South Africa next year

By: Irma Venter 3rd September 2021 Audi South Africa will go full throttle on electric vehicles (EVs) next year, when it plans to introduce six electric models across three different model ranges to the local market. The launch follows the announcement earlier this year by the German luxury brand that by 2026 every new Audi model... →

Dask to manufacture Saint-Gobain bonding tapes in South Africa

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd September 2021 Engineering consumables manufacturer and distributor Dask Distributors has partnered exclusively with Saint-Gobain Tapes Solutions to locally manufacture automotive bonding tapes for original-equipment manufacturers (OEM) assembly plants in South Africa. Dask Distributors notes that it is now... →

Durban Car Terminal sets new record in August

By: Irma Venter 2nd September 2021 Growing transshipments and improving new-vehicle exports from South Africa have seen the Durban Car Terminal set a new record in August, with the facility handling 54 520 fully-built units in a single month. This follows the previous handling record of 51 407 fully-built units, set in June this... →

New-vehicle sales jump by 25% in August, exports down 16%

By: Irma Venter 1st September 2021 New-vehicle sales in August increased by 24.6%, to 41 425 units, compared with the same month last year. Out of the total industry sales an estimated 83.6% represented dealer sales, with 12% of vehicles going to the rental industry. Around 2.5% of new vehicles were sold to industry corporate... →

Image of cars being exported from Durban harbour

Volkswagen celebrates 70 years of manufacturing in South Africa

By: Irma Venter 1st September 2021 The first Volkswagen manufactured in South Africa, a Beetle, rolled off the assembly line on August 31, 1951. This means the German manufacturer this year celebrates its seventieth anniversary of producing cars in South Africa →

Image of the first Beetle made at the Uitenhage plant in 1951

The first Beetle manufactured at the Uitenhage plant in 1951

EV push sees spike in 'ínfluencer conversations' about the issues - GlobalData

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 1st September 2021 As several countries have committed to bringing in cleaner fuelled cars in a bid to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is quickly gaining traction in automotive markets around the world. This shift towards electrification is also propelling mining and power... →

New-vehicle supply constraints could ease towards the end of the year – Motus

By: Irma Venter 31st August 2021 Automotive group Motus expects new-vehicle supply, currently constrained by a global computer chip shortage, to start normalising towards the end of the year, says CEO Osman Arbee. “Yes, there are some constraints with the supply of new vehicles globally – not only in South Africa. There are... →

Mbalula extends licence renewal grace period, unveils interventions to improve processes

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 27th August 2021 To give motorists a fair opportunity to renew their licences, while it is rolling out a number of measures to improve efficiencies and resolve challenges at licensing departments, the Department of Transport is extending the grace period for the renewal of licences to March 31, 2022. All learners... →

Fikile Mbalula

Lockdown, recent civil unrest could stunt auto-sector green shoots – TransUnion

By: Irma Venter 27th August 2021 While the latest indicators for the second quarter (Q2) of the year suggest an uptick in the local car market, the combined effects of the lockdown measures prompted by the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and the civil unrest witnessed in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in July could take a heavy... →

Used-car market continues to surge, prices set to rise further

By: Irma Venter 27th August 2021 Digital motoring marketplace AutoTrader saw a 36% increase in searches for used vehicles in the second quarter of this year, compared with the same period last year. However, normalising for the Covid-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter of last year, vehicle-search growth would have been... →

BMW SA loses R200m in sales owing to unrest, Transnet hacking

By: Irma Venter 27th August 2021 The recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng, as well as the subsequent cyberattack on Transnet that caused major disruptions to South Africa’s port operations, cost BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) an estimated R200-million in lost vehicle sales, says corporate communications and... →

Tracker partners with Locus to bolster its fleet offering

By: Irma Venter 26th August 2021 In a move aimed at strengthening its fleet offering, Tracker has partnered with Locus, a platform that automates supply chain decisions, to power its planning, optimisation and execution management processes. The partnership “leverages Tracker’s telematics expertise and footprint, combined with... →

Eleksa to launch R200 000 CityBug electric car in South Africa

By: Irma Venter 24th August 2021 Pretoria-based electric mobility importer Eleksa will introduce the CityBug to the South African market in September. The vehicle, described as an urban electric vehicle (EV), is a two-door four-seater, and will be priced at around R200 000. Anton Jordaan from Eleksa says charging the vehicle... →

The CityBug

New transport initiative aims to empower almost a thousand women

By: Irma Venter 23rd August 2021 A new initiative championed by the Commercial Transport Academy (CTA) will aim to empower almost a thousand women in the transport sector. The Women Inspiring Women to Lead in Transport initiative comprises three structured programmes: CTA Excellence; Run With It; and Iron Women. →

CTA CEO Nicci Scott

Festival of Motoring postponed to next year

By: Irma Venter 23rd August 2021 “Given the latest surge in Covid-19 cases and the worsening of the third wave, Messe Frankfurt South Africa has decided to postpone the 2021 Festival of Motoring (FoM),” says Messe Frankfurt South Africa MD Joshua Low. “The safety of our exhibitors, attendees and staff is of the outmost concern... →

Image of new dates of Festival of Motoring

Metair sees potential in aftermarket, auxiliary batteries as EV revolution looms

By: Irma Venter 20th August 2021 The demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is driven largely by government incentives in regions such as the European Union (EU), which aims to become a zero-carbon economy, as well as increased consumer demand for greener products and a change in technology, says Metair CEO Riaz Haffejee.... →

Image of an assembly line worker at BMW SA

US moves to secure critical minerals for EV supply chain

By: Darren Parker 20th August 2021 Modern civilisation was built on fossil fuels, with the invention and commercialisation of the internal combustion engine during the 1800s setting the stage for petroleum-based vehicles to be dominant worldwide for the next 150 years. Various oil majors continue to produce huge volumes of oil and... →

Image of Engineering News and Mining Weekly magazine cover

Series production of Mercedes’ first battery electric truck to start in October

By: Irma Venter 20th August 2021 Mercedes-Benz Trucks will start series production of its first battery-electric truck in Germany in October. The electric Actros (eActros) is destined for urban heavy-duty distribution haulage markets. →

Hyperloop punted as less-polluting, efficient transport solution

By: Irma Venter 20th August 2021 Hyperloop Transport Technologies (HyperloopTT) has unveiled HyperPort, a high-speed cargo and freight solution which it says is “capable of increasing capacity and efficiency while decreasing pollution and congestion at ports worldwide”. Developed in partnership with terminal operator Hamburger... →

Daimler split into trucks as well as cars and vans units gets board nod

By: Irma Venter 20th August 2021 The management and supervisory boards of German car and truck maker Daimler have given the go-ahead for the group to split into two: Mercedes-Benz Group and Daimler Truck. Daimler shareholders are set to decide on the company realignment at an extraordinary general meeting on October 1. →

Audi unveils electric car that will compete in 2022 Dakar Rally

By: Irma Venter 20th August 2021 Audi Sport has started testing the new Audi RS Q e-tron, which it plans to enter in the 2022 Dakar Rally. Audi says it wants to be the first car manufacturer to use an electrified drivetrain in combination with an efficient energy converter to compete for overall victory against conventionally... →

Metair to revisit plan to split in two as it returns to profit

By: Irma Venter 19th August 2021 Metair will revisit its plan to potentially split into two following the recovery of its business in the six months to end June. Metair manufactures, assembles, distributes and retails energy storage products and automotive components in Africa, Europe, Turkey, the Middle East and Russia. →

Riaz Haffejee

Chery returns to the local market with former Haval boss at the helm

By: Irma Venter 18th August 2021 Chinese car manufacturer Chery is returning to the South African market, this time as a wholly owned subsidiary of its parent company. The company’s first foray into South Africa was through McCarthy, followed by the Imperial group, now known as Motus. →

UK provides new funding for research to develop cleaner automotive technologies

By: Rebecca Campbell 18th August 2021 The UK government and UK automotive industry are jointly funding four projects intended to significantly advance low carbon emission vehicle technologies, it was announced on Wednesday. The total funding comes to £91.7-million (about R1.88-billion), and is being awarded through the Advanced... →

Stellantis to invest €30-billion-plus in electrification, software development

By: Irma Venter 17th August 2021 Stellantis, the manufacturer and owner of the Jeep, Peugeot, Opel, Alfa, Fiat and Citroën brands, says its low-emission vehicle (LEV) mix for passenger cars in Europe is targeted to grow to more than 70% through to 2030. In the US, its LEV mix for passenger cars and light-duty trucks is expected... →

Serco steps up truck repairs following KZN unrest, estimates 100 trucks destroyed

By: Irma Venter 17th August 2021 Truck and trailer building company Serco says it is fast-tracking the construction of vehicles, as well as repairs to vehicles, as it works to help the transport and food sectors return to normal in the wake of the recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng. Serco CEO Clint Holcroft says... →

Clint Holcroft

EV makers eye bigger battery-metals role by inking mining deals

By: Bloomberg 17th August 2021 Electric vehicle (EV) makers are pushing for an intermediary role in mining to secure supplies of key battery metals, according to the head of Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. “We’ve had discussions on that and Tesla has definitely explored these options,” CEO Randy Smallwood said Friday in a phone... →

Wheaton Precious Metals CEO Randy Smallwood

FCA SA, PCSA merge into Stellantis SA; no impact on employment numbers

By: Irma Venter 16th August 2021 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles South Africa (FCA SA) and Peugeot Citroën South Africa (PCSA) have officially merged in the domestic market, reflecting the marriage between its parent companies into a new company called Stellantis. “Stellantis is now an official entity in the South African landscape,... →

Leslie Ramsoomar

New generation Isuzu mu-X to arrive by the end of the year

By: Irma Venter 16th August 2021 Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSA) says the second generation seven-seater mu-X sports-utility vehicle will be launched in South Africa later this year. “The upcoming Isuzu mu-X is a game changer for us, as it offers class-leading driver assistance technology, new state-of-the art powertrains, and... →

The new Isuzu mu-X

Robots Shelby and Miles lend a helping hand at Ford Weather Factory

By: Irma Venter 13th August 2021 Ford’s Weather Factory allows engineers to simulate a range of extreme conditions under one roof. This means vehicles can be tested in conditions similar to those found in the Sahara Desert, in Siberia, or atop the tallest Alpine peaks. However, even the most experienced human test drivers may... →

Photo of robot in action at the Ford Weather Factory

Unrest, Transnet cyberattack cost BMW SA R200m in lost sales

By: Irma Venter 13th August 2021 The recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng, as well as the subsequent cyberattack on Transnet that caused major disruptions to South Africa’s port operations, cost BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) an estimated R200-million in lost vehicle sales, says corporate communications and... →

BMW X3s ready to be exported from Rosslyn plant

Toyota’s ‘much-loved and admired’ Johan van Zyl passes away

By: Irma Venter 13th August 2021 Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) chairperson Dr Johan van Zyl passed away at the end of July from complications related to Covid-19. TSAM said in a statement mourning the loss of ‘The Doc’, as he was affectionately known, that he had an uncanny sense of knowing just what consumers wanted, and... →

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