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VWSA to introduce ID.4 EV test fleet in SA next year

By: Irma Venter 4th November 2021 Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has taken the next step in its electric mobility strategy, which kicked off in 2020 with the launch of an electric-Golf test fleet. The e-Golfs were used for research purposes and testing by motoring media, as well as Volkswagen dealers in an effort to gain... →

Vodacom Business and Toyota extend Wi-Fi, telematics solution to SMEs

By: Irma Venter 3rd November 2021 The Web-based tool MyToyota Fleet Lite has been added to the Toyota Connect hub as part of a tripartite agreement between Vodacom Business, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) and Netstar. “Keeping businesses connected is critical in today’s environment and Fleet Lite, being an innovative Wi-Fi... →

Image of a person holding a phone with the Toyota Connect app

Sharp production drop at VW, Daimler as semiconductor shortage takes toll

By: Irma Venter 29th October 2021 Two German automakers this week reported that they have been heavily impacted by the global semiconductor shortage and that the problem is likely to persist beyond this year. Volkswagen (VW) saw third-quarter vehicle deliveries decline by 26%, to 1.1-million vehicles. →

Waste material used in roads construction

By: Anna Moross 29th October 2021 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been involved in several new research initiatives geared towards providing alternative waste material products for use by the road pavement industry in South Africa. →

An image of the demonstration project evaluating the feasibility of using waste plastic in road construction

ROAD RESEARCH PROJECT The research focus of the CSIR has been centred around creating a more inclusive and sustainable approach to future road construction

Toyota Gazoo Racing announces four-car team and new vehicle for Dakar 2022

By: Irma Venter 29th October 2021 Toyota Gazoo Racing will enter a four-car team in the upcoming Dakar Rally, set to start in Saudi Arabia on January 2, 2022. As was the case this year, the team will be spearheaded by Nasser Al-Attiyah and navigator Mathieu Baumel. →

EV revolution to be felt in SA in 2022, but affordability concerns linger

By: Irma Venter 29th October 2021 South African new-vehicle buyers will have a choice of about 20 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2023. This is a significant jump from the current four models available in local showrooms. While electric cars have been rapidly gaining traction abroad, especially in Europe and China, South... →

Innovation implemented in road project

By: Anna Moross 29th October 2021 Consulting engineers firm WSP has used not only innovative technology in the upgrading of the National Route 3 (N3) project but also aims to ensure the use of sustainable materials throughout construction. →

An image of the digital design of the national route 3 project Mappings

NATIONAL ROUTE 3 PROJECT WSP has implemented a building information modelling (BIM) and digital design strategy during the design phase and will continue to do so in the construction phase

Daimler Truck, BP to pilot hydrogen project in the UK

By: Irma Venter 28th October 2021 Daimler Truck and BP Advanced Mobility (BP) have announced that they will work together to accelerate the introduction of a hydrogen network in the UK, aimed at decarbonising freight transport. The parties intend to pilot the development of hydrogen infrastructure and the introduction of... →

Image of BP hydrogen station and Mercedes-Benz truck

South Africa to set up finance workstream to assess climate-finance offers

By: Terence Creamer 22nd October 2021 The South African government is set to establish a high-level technical workstream, which will work under the direction of a Cabinet subcommittee, to evaluate possible concessional finance offers that could be made in support of the country’s just energy transition strategy. The workstream is yet... →

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy

New methods, technology key in driving net zero goal

By: Anna Moross 22nd October 2021 The South African road infrastructure and construction industry can learn from international markets and apply several key lessons on its journey to achieving the goal of net zero, ensuring a balance between emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere, says consulting engineers... →

An image of Marshall Muthen WSP in Africa’s highways, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and rail director

MARSHALL MUTHEN South Africa can futureproof the road network infrastructure and its construction by taking digital roads into consideration to achieve the net zero goals and implement digital technologies

Technologies play powerful role in climate change efforts

By: Anna Moross 22nd October 2021 Technology is a critical accelerator in the efforts to implement climate change actions, and according to South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) energy efficiency and data & knowledge management GM Barry Bredenkamp, there is a major shift in the design of energy-consuming... →

An image of Barry Bredenkamp, the energy efficiency and data & knowledge management GM at Sanedi.

BARRY BREDENKAMP Small- and large-scale renewable-energy technologies solutions are also developing at a rapid rate and digitalisation is inevitable

Payabill launches online global payment solution for small businesses

By: Irma Venter 22nd October 2021 Nedbank is promising prospective car buyers a “complete end-to-end digital vehicle shopping experience, saving them vast amounts of time and energy, through the new Avo virtual vehicle-mall feature”. “While there are already quite a few websites and aggregators where people can browse vehicles,... →

How South Africa plans to secure backing for its ‘Just Transition Financing Facility’ at COP26

By: Terence Creamer 21st October 2021 South Africa aims to meet with other governments and multilateral finance institutions on the sidelines of the upcoming COP26 gathering to progress talks on raising concessional funding, in phases, for a Cabinet-endorsed ‘Just Transition Financing Facility’ to fund green projects in the... →

Cabinet wants ‘Just Transition Financing Facility’ to fund green projects in the electricity, automotive and hydrogen sectors.

Semiconductor shortage will slow global auto sales recovery – S&P

By: Irma Venter 21st October 2021 The intensifying semiconductor shortage will slow the post-Covid-19 global recovery of light-vehicle sales over the next two years, says S&P Global Ratings in a newly published report. "In our revised scenario, we now expect light-vehicle sales will increase more moderately by about 2% to 4% in... →

SA green-tech company pilots 100% electric reefer trailers in The Netherlands

By: Irma Venter 20th October 2021 Four companies have initiated a nine-month pilot project in The Netherlands, which will see diesel refrigeration systems in semi-trailers replaced by zero-emission battery-electric prototypes. This is the first time that refrigerated trailers are being run by 100% electric eco-sustainable power. →

Image of a reefer trailer powered by Maxwell and Spark

The four trailers in this pilot will have a modified Thermo King reefer engine (Advancer A400), in combination with a specialised battery system from Maxwell and Spark (70 kWh)

‘Optimistic outlook’ for Volvo to start electric truck sales in South Africa in 2024

By: Irma Venter 18th October 2021 Volvo Trucks South Africa (SA) should start the local testing of electric trucks within the next two years, says Volvo Trucks SA product support senior manager Erica Parry. “Sales will be determined by various factors but, most importantly, the investment and availability of charging facilities... →

Volvo Trucks aims for all new-vehicle sales to be electric by 2040

By: Irma Venter 15th October 2021 Volvo Trucks aims for 50% of all global new-vehicle sales to be electric by 2030, says global product management senior VP Jessica Sandström. By 2040, the goal is for 100% of global sales to be fossil-fuel free, whether that will be through the sale of battery-electric of fuel-cell electric trucks. →

The Volvo FM Electric truck

Jaguar Land Rover trials world-first digital supply chain for leather using blockchain technology

By: Irma Venter 15th October 2021 Jaguar Land Rover has trialled the use of secure blockchain technology “to ensure full transparency within a sustainable leather supply chain”. In the world-first, the British automaker partnered with supply chain traceability provider Circulor, UK leather manufacturer Bridge of Weir Leather... →

Image of the leather supply chain in Jaguar using blockchain

Cartrack owner acquires 70.1% of Picup Technologies in R70m deal

By: Irma Venter 15th October 2021 Karooooo has acquired 70.1% of Picup Technologies (Picup) in a deal valued at R70-million. Karooooo owns 100% of Cartrack, a mobility software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that maximises the value of automotive and workflow data by providing real-time data analytics solutions for smart... →

Company establishes green rare earth fluoride manufacturing plant based on Necsa intellectual property

By: Donna Slater 14th October 2021 Over the past two years, Pretoria-based rare earth (RE) minerals refinery Rare Earth Refiners (RER) has designed, built and commissioned a demonstration plant for the green production of RE fluorides using a R15-million grant from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). REs, and especially... →

An image of the rare earth fluoride production machine based on intellectual property developed by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation

The rare earth fluoride production machine based on intellectual property developed by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation

Ramaphosa lends his weight to plans for raising concessional funding for ‘just transition’

By: Terence Creamer 11th October 2021 President Cyril Ramaphosa has doubled down on his argument that South Africa needs to act with “urgency and ambition” in transitioning to a low-carbon economy, but stressed that such increased ambition could not be achieved without financial support from developed economies. In his latest weekly... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Hyundai to electrify all of its new commercial vehicle models by 2028

By: Irma Venter 8th October 2021 The Hyundai Motor Group has set out its plans to popularise hydrogen by 2040 through the introduction of new technologies and mobility solutions in the transport and other industrial sectors. At its recent Hydrogen Wave global online forum, Hyundai unveiled plans that will see the electrification... →

The Trailer Drone

Local EV appetite is growing, but perception problems remain – AutoTrader survey

By: Irma Venter 6th October 2021 The newest AutoTrader South African Electric Vehicle Buyers Survey indicates that local electric vehicle (EV) appetite has grown year-on-year, says AutoTrader CEO George Mienie. AutoTrader is one of South Africa’s largest digital automotive marketplaces. →

George Mienie

Messe Frankfurt South Africa appoints Michael Dehn MD

By: Donna Slater 5th October 2021 Events organiser Messe Frankfurt South Africa has appointed Michael Dehn as its new MD, effective October 1. He succeeded Joshua Low who resigned from the company. →

Messe Frankfurt South Africa MD Michael Dehn

Bell Equipment to launch self-driving dump truck next year

By: Irma Venter 1st October 2021 Bell Equipment will launch its first autonomous articulated dump truck (ADT) on the global market next year, says Bell Equipment CEO Leon Goosen. The truck will also be available in South Africa. →

Commuter mobility platform to expand in Africa and beyond after raising R175m

By: Irma Venter 1st October 2021 Zeelo, a smart commuter mobility platform for organisations in South Africa and Europe, has raised R175-million to accelerate its expansion in Africa, the UK, the US and Europe. The funding will also aid investment in Zeelo’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology offering, and its continued... →

Engling to depart Mercedes-Benz South Africa, Brand to take over

By: Irma Venter 28th September 2021 Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has announced that its CEO and manufacturing executive director, Andreas Engling, will retire on May 1, next year. Engling has been with Mercedes-Benz since 1987, and with MBSA since 2017. →

Andreas Brand

1 200 jobs created as Ford prepares for new Ranger production at Silverton plant

By: Irma Venter 24th September 2021 Ford South Africa (Ford SA) has created about 1 200 incremental jobs by reintroducing a third shift to its operations at the Silverton assembly plant. The additional shift forms part of the US automaker’s $1.05-billion investment in the Pretoria plant to produce the next-generation Ranger bakkie,... →

First electric truck from China’s JAC Motors starts operations in South Africa

By: Irma Venter 24th September 2021 The first electric truck from Chinese auto maker JAC Motors has started operations in South Africa. The arrival of the electric N-series truck marks the start of JAC Motors South Africa's (JMSA’s) local electric vehicle (EV) programme, says public relations manager Braam Faul. →

Promotion of e-mobility key before SA starts producing batteries for EVs and hybrids

By: Irma Venter 24th September 2021 One of the first steps for South Africa to participate in the global battery supply chain for battery electric or hybrid vehicles would be the promotion of electromobility in the local market, proposes Mercedes-Benz production and supply chain management board member Dr Jörg Burzer. “This is one... →

Rare earth elements discovered

24th September 2021 Last month, mining company Australian Bauxite Limited (ABX) confirmed its discovery of rare earth element (REE) accumulations within its bauxite tenement in northern Tasmania that are enriched in the strategically important REE metals neodymium and praseodymium, along with terbium and dysprosium. →

Industry developed through strategy

By: Anna Moross 24th September 2021 While the Aluminium Federation of South Africa’s (AFSA’s) role in the South African Aluminium Industry Roadmap (SAAIR) has been to promote the roadmap and ensure that policymakers are aware of the envisaged, ambitious deliverables, there have been major challenges and milestones, including... →

MUZI MANZI At the height of the pandemic, the LME's aluminium prices plummeted to a low of $1 425/t in April of 2020, resulting in increased stockpiles

Company highlights advantages of aluminium for industry

By: Anna Moross 24th September 2021 Water-jet cutting company MAXJET GLOBAL highlights why aluminium is becoming one of the main materials used in the aerospace, automotive and signage industry and the steps taken to process aluminium through water-jet cutting. →

An image of the water-jet cutting machinery

WATER-JET CUTTING When using precision water-jet cutting and profiling with aluminium, there are different steps in the process of implementation for different projects

Porsche, Siemens join world-first project to produce e-fuel in Chile

By: Irma Venter 22nd September 2021 German sports-car manufacturer Porsche and Siemens Energy have joined forces with a number of international companies to build an industrial plant for the production of nearly carbon dioxide-neutral fuel (e-fuel) in Punta Arenas, Chile. A pilot plant is initially being built north of Punta... →

The project site in Chile

Nedbank expands its Avo app to include end-to-end digital vehicle shopping

By: Irma Venter 22nd September 2021 Nedbank is promising prospective car buyers a “complete end-to-end digital vehicle shopping experience, saving them vast amounts of time and energy, through the new Avo virtual vehicle-mall feature”. “While there are already quite a few websites and aggregators where people can browse vehicles,... →

Image of someone using the Nedbank Avo app

Netstar appoints new chief technology officer

By: Irma Venter 20th September 2021 Vehicle-recovery and fleet-intelligence company Netstar has appointed Clifford de Wit as its new chief technology officer. De Wit will take over from Francois Stols, who is retiring at the end of the year. →

Clifford de Wit

Hyundai South Africa gets new flagship as it launches Palisade

By: Irma Venter 17th September 2021 Hyundai has a new flagship model in its range – the million-rand Palisade luxury large sports-utility vehicle (SUV). The Palisade, which is just short of five meters, takes its place in the local Hyundai SUV line-up next to its slightly smaller sibling, the Santa Fe, as well as the Tucson, Creta,... →

The Hyundai Palisade

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