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Passenger Cars, Bakkies & Vans News

Hilux, Suzuki, Vivo big winners in 2019; premium brand sales on the decline

By: Irma Venter 8th January 2020 New-vehicle sales in South Africa in 2019 showed a strong buying-down trend, with under-pressure consumers either opting for trusted and/or value-for-money brands, rather than more premium cars. The South African total new-vehicle sales market declined by 2.8% in 2019, to 536 626 units, down from... →

New-vehicle sales dip 2.8%; exports set new record

By: Irma Venter 7th January 2020 The domestic new-vehicle sales market yet again retreated into negative territory, declining by 2.8% in 2019, to 536 626 units, down from the 552 227 units sold in 2018. New-vehicle sales declined by 1% in 2018 from the 557 703 units sold in 2017. →

Japan moves to contain fallout from Ghosn's daring escape

By: Bloomberg 7th January 2020 Waking from a week-long national holiday, Japan’s institutions are being spurred into action by Carlos Ghosn’s daring escape, which has shocked the nation and exposed shortfalls in its bail system and border control. The country’s transport and justice ministries moved to close the loopholes... →

Toyota Tsusho wins contract to build Egyptian vehicle terminal

By: Reuters 19th December 2019 A consortium led by Toyota Tsusho, a unit of Japan's Toyota Group, signed a contract on Thursday to set up and operate a roll-on, roll-off vehicle terminal at East Port Said in Egypt, the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) said. The consortium, which also includes Bollore Africa Logistics and... →

SA wants to be continent’s automotive producer of choice – Patel

By: Creamer Media Reporter 13th December 2019 Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel is hoping that regular meetings between government, labour and representatives from the vehicle assemblers and automotive component suppliers, will create a stable and predictable environment for automotive investment. The Automotive Executive Oversight... →

Bloodhound chief engineer on heat, dust and record-breaking dream

By: Irma Venter 13th December 2019 Dusty Hakskeenpan, in the Kalahari desert, is not exactly the place one expects a bunch of Brits to hang around during a hot African summer. It’s 260 km from the nearest big town – Upington – and average daytime temperatures hover somewhere in the mid-thirties, if not higher. But, the men and... →

BMW boss elected as new Naamsa president

By: Irma Venter 10th December 2019 The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) has elected BMW Group South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa CEO Tim Abbott as its new president. He will serve a two-year term. →

Tim Abbott

Correct textiles selection key in meeting standards

6th December 2019 The selection of textiles for use in automotive design and manufacture that adhere to stringent quality, acoustic, safety and environmental requirements is critical, says textiles manufacturer Fibertex SA sales manager Rosa Naidoo. She adds that Fibertex SA – part of the global Fibertex group –... →

INNER BEAUTY Fibertex nonwovens are used in automotive components and for vehicle interiors

Manufacturers join forces for sector development

6th December 2019 In the spirit of Kyodo, automotive manufacturers Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) and Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) have joined forces to create a black supplier development programme for local manufacturer Algoa Components Manufacturers (ACM). When ACM reported concerns about the future... →

'COMPONENT' SOCIAL INVESTMENT Both Toyota and Isuzu have undertaken the responsibility of developing an beleaguered local manufacturer

Positive outlook promotes investment in sector

6th December 2019 In light of the positive industry outlook for major automotive manufacturers such as Nissan, steel distributor Allied Steelrode has invested in process technology to assist its predominantly automotive component sector clients. Allied Steelrode's suite of steel beneficiation equipment ranges from... →

STEELY INVESTMENT Allied Steelrode CEO Arun Chadha and automotive sales GM Lee-Ann Geyser hope to meet customer expectations through investing in new equipment

Southern Africa has opportunity to lead in e-mobility space, says SAIIA

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th December 2019 Irrespective of which policy position government and the private sector decide to take, the global and Southern African landscape will be affected by the e-mobility revolution. Independent public policy think tank, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) on Thursday discussed... →

New-vehicle sales decline by 5.8% in November

By: Irma Venter 2nd December 2019 New-vehicle sales in November declined by 5.8%, to 44 738 units, compared with the same month in 2018. The newest sales numbers, released on Monday, indicated that November new-passenger car sales increased by a modest 1.3%, to reach 31 444 units, with strong support from the car rental industry,... →

Ford South Africa to pay R35m penalty in Kuga fire matter

By: Marleny Arnoldi 29th November 2019 The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has determined that Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) had not been negligent in its conduct with regard to 56 Ford Kuga 1.6 Ecoboosts that had caught fire in 2016. The commission did, however, find that FMCSA had engaged in prohibited conduct. →

South Africa’s auto sector most likely to attract more German investment

By: Marleny Arnoldi 28th November 2019 Through the Southern African–German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the German government on Thursday hosted a Baden-Württemberg Meets Gauteng business forum, to promote further trade and investment. Baden-Württemberg is the third-largest state in Germany and has as a gross domestic product... →

EV charging network gears up for numerous new models

By: Irma Venter 26th November 2019 Few people know that it is possible to travel on the N1 from Johannesburg to Cape Town with an electric vehicle (EV). EV charging solution specialist GridCars, a Solareff subsidiary, has installed around 100 of the 200 existing public charging stations around the country. Of these 100, 52 are DC,... →

Datsun launches automatic Go; says it is here to stay

By: Irma Venter 25th November 2019 The Datsun brand is set to remain in South Africa, says Datsun South Africa (SA) head Hide Kuwayama. He describes current media reports around the future of the brand as “speculation”. →

The Datsun Go CVT

Value-added service to enhance in-vehicle video camera solution

By: Darren Parker 22nd November 2019 Fleet and mobile asset management solutions group MiX Telematics has launched the gold MiX Vision Bureau Service, which further extends the value of the in-vehicle MiX Vision video camera solution. The service is managed by MiX Telematics’ team of professional video analysts and is offered as... →

GOING FOR GOLD The gold programme includes an array of driver-coaching tools to ensure that risky driver behaviour can be addressed proactively

Road wear an ongoing concern

By: Darren Parker 22nd November 2019 There are multiple factors that contribute to deteriorating road conditions in South Africa, and the road freight industry cannot be held solely responsible, says Road Freight Association (RFA) CEO Gavin Kelly. The volume of cars, trucks and buses using the roads far exceeds the volumes of 30 to... →

Decision on next-gen Isuzu bakkie to be made soon

By: Darren Parker 22nd November 2019 Truck and bakkie manufacturer Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAF), a subsidiary of Isuzu Motors, in Japan, is hoping that the next-generation (gen) Isuzu bakkie will receive manufacturing endorsement in South Africa later this year. The new bakkie was launched in Thailand last month before being... →

NEXT IN LINE The next generation Isuzu bakkie will replace the existing D-Max generation

Renault edges out Suzuki in inaugural WesBank Fuel Economy Tour

By: Irma Venter 19th November 2019 Renault has edged out Suzuki to take the crown as South Africa’s most fuel efficient brand in the inaugural WesBank South Africa Fuel Economy Tour. The five-day, 2 500 km event saw 40 competing vehicles travel from Johannesburg to Cape Town, via Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and George. →

Second-hand tyre survey shows 61% are not fit for use

By: Irma Venter 14th November 2019 The 2019 South African Tyre Manufacturing Conference (SATMC) Used Tyre Survey indicates that only 39% of tyres surveyed this year were deemed safe for use on the road. This is a sharp decrease on safe-to-reuse second-hand tyres when compared with the 47% recorded in the 2014 survey, says Sumitomo... →

Global appetite for SUVs could offset benefits of switch to EVs, IEA warns

By: Terence Creamer 13th November 2019 The growing global consumer appetite for bigger and heavier sports utility vehicles (SUVs) could offset the emission benefits set to arise from electric cars, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns in its latest World Energy Outlook. The global fleet of SUVs increased from 35-million in 2010... →

IEA executive director Dr Fatih Birol

Isuzu announces R1.2bn investment in next-gen bakkie programme

By: Irma Venter 11th November 2019 Isuzu Motors, of Japan, has confirmed that it will be investing R1.2-billion in the production of its next-generation one-ton bakkie in South Africa, while an additional total local parts and content value of R2.8-billion should be generated through the lifecycle of the assembly programme. This... →

The current generation Isuzu bakkie

Japan-South Africa Business Council aims to add to winning World Cup momentum

By: Terence Creamer 8th November 2019 Hot on the heels of South Africa’s famous Rugby World Cup victory in Yokohama on November 2, Japan and South Africa have formally agreed to create a business council that will seek to further strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries. The Japan-South African Business... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Japanese Ambassador to South Africa Norio Maruyama

AIDC to deliver, operate auto SEZ, eighteen confirmed occupancies so far

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th November 2019 The Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) will deliver and operate Africa’s first automotive city project, on behalf of the Gauteng provincial government. The Tshwane Automotive City Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday. →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Automotive SEZ launch

VWSA notches up production record, in the hunt for annual record

By: Irma Venter 8th November 2019 Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has set a new record for the number of vehicles produced in one month. The company’s plant in Uitenhage, in the Eastern Cape, produced 16 453 vehicles in October, exceeding the company’s previous record, set a decade ago, in October, 2009, when the plant... →

BMW set to launch electric Mini in South Africa in 2020

By: Irma Venter 8th November 2019 BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) will launch the fifth fully electric vehicle (EV) to enter the local market in the middle of next year – the Mini Cooper SE. This move means BMW SA will also be the first manufacturer to have two EV models available in the local market. →

The Hyundai Atos returns as the new-car market continues to struggle

By: Irma Venter 7th November 2019 The Hyundai Atos is back. The re-entry of the small passenger car, following its departure in 2013, should strengthen Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s (HASA’s) position in the popular entry-level segment of the local market. →

The new Hyundai Atos

Toyota to invest R2.4bn to produce new passenger car in Durban

6th November 2019 Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) will invest R2.43-billion in the production of a new passenger car at its Prospecton plant, in Durban. The model has not been named. →

Photo by Dylan Slater
Andrew Kirby

Vehicle manufacturers to launch R6bn auto industry empowerment fund

By: Irma Venter 6th November 2019 The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) will launch a R6-billion Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF) to support black participation in the automotive industry supply chain. The fund was announced on Wednesday at the South African Investment... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Tim Abbott

R3.5bn Tshwane SEZ to support proposed doubling of production at Ford plant

By: Irma Venter 5th November 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially kickstarted construction of the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The R3.5-billion development, funded by government, will be housed next door to the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) plant, in Silverton. It will act as an... →

Service stations must invest in EV charging stations, says FNB’s Fester

By: Irma Venter 4th November 2019 With 867 electric vehicles (EVs) registered in South Africa, and with this figure likely to increase in the near future, fuel retailers can no longer ignore the imminent need to invest in battery electric vehicle charging infrastructure, says First National Bank (FNB) fuel brand specialist Ronél... →

BMW, ACSA unveil EV charging stations at three airports

By: Irma Venter 4th November 2019 Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and BMW South Africa have launched BMW ChargeNow electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) and King Shaka International Airport (KSIA). ORTIA and CTIA each have two ChargeNow... →

Tim Abbott and Fundi Sithebe

Expected new-car market turnaround failed to materialise, says Naamsa

By: Irma Venter 1st November 2019 The turnaround in the new-vehicle market, anticipated for the second half of the year has failed to materialised, says the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa. The current low growth environment and an increase in the country’s fiscal risks do not bode well for the... →

Tshwane Automotive SEZ expected to be jobs, industrialisation catalyst

By: Irma Venter 1st November 2019 The establishment of the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (SEZ) will – “without a doubt” – aid in job creation and economic growth, says Gauteng Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Morakane Mosupyoe. The proposed SEZ will be developed on 162 ha of land... →

Mahindra South Africa on track for another record year

By: Irma Venter 30th October 2019 Mahindra South Africa (SA) appears on track to deliver another new yearly sales record. Looking at sales for the first three quarters of 2019, the group had almost reached its full year sales volume for 2018 by September this year. →

Volkswagen launches pilot electric mobility project in Rwanda

By: Irma Venter 30th October 2019 Volkswagen has launched a pilot project, in partnership with Siemens, to test the feasibility of electric mobility in Africa. The pilot project, which will form part of the German car maker’s operations in Rwanda, was announced by Volkswagen Group South Africa CEO Thomas Schäfer, who is also... →

The launch of the electric mobility agreement was attended by Siemens Southern and Eastern Africa CEO Sabine Dall’Omo, Rwanda Trade and Industry Minister Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Rwanda Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, Schäfer, and Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda CEO Michaella Rugwizangoga

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