Engineering News | Passenger Cars, Bakkies & Vans

https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Follow @EngNewsZA

Advertise on this page? Click Here to Learn More

Passenger Cars, Bakkies & Vans News

VW’s Lionesses Den initiative seeks business pitches from female entrepreneurs

By: Irma Venter 10th July 2020 Volkswagen and Lionesses of Africa are on the hunt for three winning business pitches to win a total of R175 000 in cash to support their businesses. As part of its partnership with Lionesses of Africa, the one-million-plus-strong all-female business network in Africa, Volkswagen has introduced... →

BMW, German govt in R76m partnership to upgrade South African hospitals

By: Irma Venter 10th July 2020 German carmaker BMW and the German government will assist in upgrading eight South African hospitals and four clinics in the fight against Covid-19, in a project valued at R76-million. BMW will contribute €2.7-million, with the German government to add €1.6-million. →

Barloworld to exit logistics, shed 2 500 jobs in auto, logistics unit

By: Irma Venter 10th July 2020 Barloworld will be exiting the logistics sector, says CEO Dominic Sewela. Announcing the company’s financial results for the six months ended March 31, he said that the business had been given a three-year period to turn around, with a decision on its future scheduled for September. →

Mazda unveils new BT-50, supplied by Isuzu

By: Irma Venter 7th July 2020 Mazda Motor Corporation has lifted the veil on its all-new Mazda BT-50 bakkie. Fully redesigned for the first time in nine years, the new BT-50 is supplied by fellow Japanese manufacturer, Isuzu Motor Limited. →

The new BT-50

EVs are starting to buoy the global metals market

By: Bloomberg 7th July 2020 The market gloom over the metals that will power the cars of the future is starting to lift. Supply overhangs and then the coronavirus pandemic had crushed short-term prospects for the minerals used to make rechargeable batteries. But new government commitments to green transport in China and... →

Covid-19 pushes back start of Navara production at Nissan SA

By: Irma Venter 6th July 2020 The start of assembly of the one-ton Navara pickup at Nissan South Africa’s (Nissan SA’s) Rosslyn plant, in Pretoria, has been pushed back from November this year to early next year, says Nissan Group of Africa MD Shinkichi Izumi. “Covid-19 has caused a slight delay in the start of production.” →

Shinkichi Izumi

Jaguar Land Rover, partners to launch wireless charging taxi project in Oslo

By: Irma Venter 3rd July 2020 In a programme known as ‘ElectriCity’, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will join Nordic taxi operator Cabonline (NorgesTaxi), the region’s largest charge point operator Fortum Recharge, US technology developer Momentum Dynamics and the City of Oslo to build wireless, high-powered charging infrastructure... →

EV rally to maintain demand for battery metals despite Covid-19

By: Donna Slater 3rd July 2020 Although subdued as a result of Covid-19, demand for battery metals, including cobalt, lithium and copper, will remain strong as a result of growth in the global electric vehicles (EV) market, business intelligence company CRU UK cobalt, lithium and battery markets senior analyst George Heppel... →

Components makers face cash crunch, demand imbalance

By: Irma Venter 3rd July 2020 The National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (Naacam) is not aware of any dedicated automotive components company that has closed its doors following the Covid-19 lockdown period, says executive director Renai Moothilal. “But I don’t think the full impact of the... →

Used-car market poised to grow as new-vehicle prices surge

By: Irma Venter 3rd July 2020 The depreciation of the rand could see new-car prices increase by up to 10% over the next quarter, says National Automobile Dealers Association (Nada) chairperson Mark Dommisse. He says the dealership environment is currently seeing a “resilience” in the used-car market, with a “bit of hunger”... →

Motus to cull 40% of rental fleet as Covid-19 takes toll

By: Irma Venter 3rd July 2020 Automotive group Motus will reduce its vehicle rental fleet by 40% and close 20 sites within its rental business, says CEO Osman Arbee. Motus operates the Europcar and Tempest vehicle hire brands, operating through 100 car rental outlets in South Africa and 17 outlets in neighbouring countries. →

Value of AutoTrader used-car sales surge to R7.3bn in June

By: Irma Venter 2nd July 2020 AutoTrader data shows that the value of used-car sales through its platform increased by 46% month-on-month in June, while the market in the Western Cape – which saw a 101% increase in sales last month – is on the boil. The Volkswagen Polo Vivo was the most popular used car sold in the Western... →

June new-vehicle sales decline by 31%, exports down 39%

By: Irma Venter 2nd July 2020 The South African new-vehicle market returned to its first full month of sales in June since the Covid-19 lockdown started. However, this did not mean a return to the level of sales seen before the pandemic, as the domestic market remains under pressure. →

New study pushes for safer used vehicles to be imported into Africa

By: Irma Venter 1st July 2020 A new study by the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA), funded by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Region I, shows that the unregulated importation of cars into many African countries has had a negative effect on the continent’s environment, health, society and economy.... →

VW’s Lionesses Den initiative seeks to reward female entrepreneurs

By: Irma Venter 1st July 2020 Volkswagen and the Lionesses of Africa are on the hunt for three exceptional business pitches to win a total of R175 000 cash. As part of its partnership with Lionesses of Africa, the one-million-plus-strong all-female business network in Africa, Volkswagen has introduced 'The Lionesses Den' and... →

Premium market expected to decline by 20%, says BMW SA boss

By: Irma Venter 30th June 2020 The South African premium new-car market will probably decline by around 20% in 2020, says BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (BMW SA) CEO Tim Abbott. Although he expects a slight improvement in the second half of the year from the first half, “we don’t see a recovery better than that”. →

Tim Abbott

Barloworld to exit logistics, shed 2 500 jobs in auto, logistics business

By: Irma Venter 30th June 2020 Barloworld will be exiting the logistics sector, says CEO Dominic Sewela. Announcing the company financial results for the six months ended March 31, he said that the business had been given a three-year period to turn around, with a decision on its future scheduled for September this year. →

Dominic Sewela

BMW partners with SA, German govts in R76m project to upgrade hospitals

By: Irma Venter 29th June 2020 German car maker BMW and the German government will assist in upgrading eight South African hospitals and four clinics in the fight against Covid-19, in a project valued at R76-million. BMW will contribute 2.7-million Euros, with the German government to add 1.6-million Euros. →

Taxi assistance approved in principle, says TAG’s Van der Merwe

By: Irma Venter 29th June 2020 Government has taken the policy decision to financially assist minibus taxis, but the mechanism to do this has not yet been determined, says Transport Authority of Gauteng (TAG) head Jack van der Merwe. “The short answer is that government has made a decision that taxis are a very important role... →

Durban car terminal sets new record

By: Irma Venter 26th June 2020 The Durban Car Terminal (DCT) has broken its handling record for two years running, with exports and transhipments playing a key role in the latest achievement. The terminal handled more 526 000 fully built vehicles/units (FBUs) against a target of 487 000 FBUs during the 2019/20 financial... →

Toyota starts construction on R365m parts warehouse

By: Irma Venter 26th June 2020 Work has begun in earnest at the Toyota Parts Distribution Warehouse in Atlas Road, East Rand, where Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) is doubling the facility’s size from 40 000 m² to 80 000 m². TSAM is investing R365-million in the project and, when completed in 2021, the facility will be the... →

Toyota's parts warehouse is doubling in size

Increased double-cab sales, brand digitalisation high on new Isuzu SA boss’s to-do list

By: Irma Venter 26th June 2020 Isuzu Motors South Africa (Isuzu SA) has a new captain at the helm. Describing himself as a plaasjapie from Alexandria, in the Eastern Cape, Billy Tom (50) has been appointed CEO and MD from July 1. He succeeds outgoing MD Michael Sacke, who has opted to pursue other opportunities. →

Auto sector facing shock at all levels, says Deloitte report

By: Irma Venter 25th June 2020 The African automotive sector is facing major volatility at all levels of its value chain as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 global crisis, says a Deloitte Covid-19 survey, titled The Economic Impact of the Automotive Value Chain (AVC). “Stakeholders across the sector, from traditional original... →

Subaru Southern Africa appoints new MD

By: Irma Venter 24th June 2020 Subaru Southern Africa has appointed Andrew Marshall as its new MD from June 1. Marshall has more than 20 years' experience in the automotive sector. →

Andrew Marshall

Motus cuts deep into its car rental business as tourism grinds to a halt

By: Irma Venter 23rd June 2020 Automotive group Motus will reduce its vehicle rental fleet by 40% and will close 20 sites within its rental business, says CEO Osman Arbee. Motus operates the Europcar and Tempest vehicle hire brands, operating through 100 car rental outlets in South Africa and 17 outlets in neighbouring countries. →

Osman Arbee

FMCSA supplies 50 000 face shields for frontline health workers

By: Donna Slater 22nd June 2020 Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has assembled and supplied 50 000 face shields for the US Department of Defence to shore up its response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the Southern African region. The face shields are being produced in a specially prepared and sanitised facility at... →

Component makers face cash crunch, demand imbalance

By: Irma Venter 22nd June 2020 The National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (Naacam) is not aware of any dedicated automotive component company that has closed its doors following the Covid-19 lockdown period, says executive director Renai Moothilal. “But, I don’t think the full impact of the... →

Photo by Donna Slater
Renai Moothilal

Electric vehicle rally to maintain demand for battery metals despite Covid-19

By: Donna Slater 19th June 2020 Although subdued as a result of Covid-19, demand for battery metals, including cobalt, lithium and copper, will remain strong as a result of growth in the global electric vehicles (EV) market, business intelligence company CRU UK cobalt, lithium and battery markets senior analyst George Heppel... →

Naamsa expects 25% drop in vehicle exports, production and sales

By: Irma Venter 19th June 2020 The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) expects a drop of roughly 25% in the production, sales and exports of new vehicles in and from South Africa, says Naamsa CEO Mike Mabasa. “This is a huge number. When we started the year, the outlook was for a 5%... →

Metair clinches multibillion-rand contracts as Ford expands in South Africa

By: Irma Venter 19th June 2020 Metair has secured multiple contracts from Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) as the local arm of the US vehicle maker prepares to launch new vehicles for the local and export markets. The new launches form part of a fresh investment and production expansion programme at Ford to meet... →

African car market can grow materially despite Covid-19 setback

By: Irma Venter 19th June 2020 Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, new-vehicle sales in sub-Saharan Africa, outside South Africa, can grow from about 100 000 a year to about two-million a year in the next 15 years – and this is a “very, very conservative” estimate, says African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) CEO... →

It’s a buyer’s market for used cars, says AutoTrader

By: Irma Venter 18th June 2020 Used car buyers are in for a treat – some of the country’s most-loved vehicles are now selling for R10 000 to R40 000 less than what they cost in March, says the country’s largest motoring marketplace, AutoTrader. The company’s team of data specialists analysed the average prices for cars sold in... →

Used car market to grow as new vehicles face price surge

By: Irma Venter 17th June 2020 The depreciation of the rand could see new-car prices increase by up to 10% over the next quarter, says National Automobile Dealers' Association (Nada) chairperson Mark Dommisse. He says the dealership environment is currently seeing a “resilience” in the used-car market, with a “bit of hunger”... →

Mark Dommisse

Glencore agrees deal to sell cobalt to Tesla for new car plants

By: Bloomberg 17th June 2020 Glencore will sell cobalt to Tesla for use in vehicles being produced at new car plants in China and Germany, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The deal could involve Glencore supplying as much as 6 000 t of the metal a year for lithium-ion batteries that power electric cars,... →

New refinery offers hope on clean fuels; Toyota SA to start hybrid production in 2021

By: Irma Venter 12th June 2020 There has been no progress on introducing cleaner fuel to South Africa since government withdrew the regulations regarding the Clean Fuels Two (CF2) programme in 2017, says Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM). CF2, first published by government in 2012, was originally scheduled to come into force... →

The Lexus UX 250h EX hybrid

TymeBank set to hit two-million-customer milestone ahead of schedule

By: Martin Creamer 12th June 2020 Fully-digital retail finance house TymeBank is poised to achieve its two-million-customer milestone three months ahead of schedule, African Rainbow Capital (ARC), its majority shareholder, stated on Friday. Following its official launch in February last year, TymeBank acquired one-million... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Dr Patrice Motsepe

Clobbered by lockdown, vehicle sales declined by 68% in May

By: Irma Venter 12th June 2020 The new-vehicle market recorded 12 932 unit sales during May as the industry spluttered back to life following the Alert Level 5 national lockdown. This number is 68% down on May last year and represents only about 30% of the market activity seen in the first two months of the year. →

Company Post

Local Manufacturing and Assemblies

more

Topics In These Articles

RSS Feed

About

Engineering News is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Engineering News is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe