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Passenger Cars, Bakkies & Vans News

Metair to commission first li-ion battery line in November

By: Irma Venter 14th August 2019 Metair hopes to commission its first lithium-ion (li-ion) battery production line on November 5, says MD Theo Loock. Metair is an international manufacturer, distributor and retailer of energy storage solutions and automotive components. →

Nissan, BMW in talks to pull South Africa into electric car era

By: , Bloomberg 12th August 2019 Nissan Motor, BMW and Volkswagen are among carmakers in talks to bring the electric-car revolution to South Africa, as the nation’s auto-factory floors risk being left behind in the global switch to greener vehicles. The industry is preparing a unified stance on electrification to present to the... →

Oven temperature critical in automotive manufacturing

9th August 2019 For successful paint cure, irrespective of the paint chemistry being used, it is critical to measure and control the temperature of the car body as it travels through the oven. →

Fuel Economy Tour to crown real-life fuel consumption winners

By: Irma Venter 7th August 2019 WesBank and First National Bank have joined forces to sponsor a Fuel Economy Tour of South Africa. The WesBank Fuel Economy Tour, for standard production passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, will take place from November 12 to 16. →

Three scenarios for EV uptake in SA; spark missing for the best one, says Jaguar

By: Irma Venter 6th August 2019 There are three possible scenarios for electric vehicle (EV) uptake in South Africa, says Jaguar Land Rover South Africa (JLRSA) dealer network director and electrification project leader Brian Hastie. EVs are projected to make up around 50% of all global new light-duty vehicle sales by 2040, up... →

Global aluminium demand set to outpace growth – Fitch

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 6th August 2019 The global aluminium market is likely to experience a number of deficits over the coming years as solid demand growth, driven by the construction and automotive sectors, outpaces production growth, says Fitch Solutions Macro Research. Fitch expects the global primary aluminium market to remain... →

Cost of motoring continues to rise, says WesBank

By: Irma Venter 5th August 2019 Despite July’s interest rate cut, the cost of motoring continues to rise steadily, says WesBank. WesBank’s Mobility Calculator, a tool used to track and calculate motoring expense, has risen to R7 851.39 a month. →

New-vehicle sales yet again in the red, exports up by 22%

By: Irma Venter 2nd August 2019 New vehicle sales continued their downward trend in July. Total market sales for July declined by 3.7%, to 46 077 units, compared with the same month last year. New passenger car sales exercised the biggest drag on the market, dropping by 8.2%, to reach 29 477 units. Sales of new bakkies,... →

Ghana Msibi

Ford acquires defence contractor to get robot rides on the road

By: , Bloomberg 30th July 2019 As Ford Motor bears down on a self-imposed deadline to field robotaxis and driverless delivery vehicles in two years, the automaker has acquired a small defense contractor whose experience could help get auto-piloted cars on the road. This month, Ford paid an undisclosed sum to acquire Quantum... →

AIH, PAC form new SA company to tackle automotive projects

By: Irma Venter 29th July 2019 Automotive Investment Holdings (AIH) and the PAC Group (PAC) have inked a deal for the formation of the PAC Group South Africa (PAC SA). The new company is 51% owned by AIH and 49% owned by PAC. →

PAC Group CEO Shah Firoozi

The lithium mine buildup is outpacing the electric-car boom

By: , Bloomberg 29th July 2019 Lithium miners are bulking up for a booming future when electric cars go mainstream. But speed bumps loom, with prices tumbling on a burst of new production and demand growth slowing in China. Between mid-2015 and mid-2018, prices for lithium, the soft, silvery-white metal crucial for... →

Lithium ore at Bald Hill, Australia.

Driving EVs in Africa

By: Tracy Hancock 26th July 2019 Compared with the rest of Africa, South Africa has the most electric vehicles (EVs) on the road and the most extensive charging infrastructure, with new additions being made by a range of stakeholders and interest groups. This is according to the information available on EVs in Africa, says... →

EVs demand remains low in local industry

By: Tracy Hancock 26th July 2019 Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa remains low, mostly owing to the high cost of the limited options available to South African motorists. The Electric Vehicle Industry Association indicaties that of the about 12.5-million registered vehicles on South Africa’s roads, 1 000, or... →

RESOLUTION NEEDED South Africa can benefit from strengthened efforts to foster the partnerships and political will required to support existing intentions to grow the electric vehicle industry

New-vehicle sales decline indicative of economic health

By: Tracy Hancock 26th July 2019 Buying a new vehicle is the second-most important purchase for many South Africans; but new-vehicle sales have declined over the past five years and remain under pressure, says National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) CEO Michael Mabasa. Continuing its downward... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
LOOKING POSITIVE South Africa’s vehicle manufacturing output is set to rebound in the second quarter this year partly owing to improved post-election stability following the elections

Aspiring rare-earth producers should focus on niche products – F&S

By: Creamer Media Reporter 23rd July 2019 Aspiring rare earth material producers aiming to compete with the likes of Australia’s Lynas Corporation and Iluka Resources will have to focus on manufacturing customised products for clients to break into the market. This is according to research and consulting firm Frost and Sullivan (F&S),... →

Automotive acoustics testing facility opened

19th July 2019 Multinational engineering and technology company Robert Bosch’s subsidiary Bosch Engineering has put into operation its new acoustics testing centre. Bosch Engineering specialises in development services for vehicle and engine manufacturers. →

SING IT LOUD The indoor acoustics testing facility negates external factors that might affect the outcome of an acoustic certification

Renault and Nigeria's Coscharis Group form partnership

By: Reuters 18th July 2019 French carmaker Renault and Nigerian conglomerate Coscharis Group have formed a partnership to assemble and distribute Renault vehicles in Nigeria, the companies said on Thursday. The Coscharis Group plant will start assembling Renault Logan and Renault Duster vehicles and will distribute the... →

Govt to see a 19% drop in road-generated revenue by 2030, study predicts

By: Irma Venter 18th July 2019 By 2030, government will see a 19.45% loss in its total road-generated revenue, owing to technological and societal trends, forecasts Johann van Rensburg, a PhD candidate conducting research on transport finance. Van Rensburg delivered a paper entitled ‘Disruptive Transport Technologies:... →

Ford, now accounting for 1% of GDP, introduces third shift at Silverton plant

By: Irma Venter 17th July 2019 Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) is introducing a third shift at its Silverton assembly plant, in Pretoria, to meet growing international and local demand for its new Ranger pick-up, Ranger Raptor performance pick-up and Everest sports-utility vehicle. The additional shift, which... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Ford Middle East and Africa operations VP Ockert Berry

Numsa meeting with auto employers for second round of wage talks

By: African News Agency 16th July 2019 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said on Tuesday that they were preparing to meet with auto employers for the second round of wage talks after an agreement couldn't be met at their previous meeting. "The wage agreement in the sector has lapsed and we need to negotiate... →

Cartrack surpasses one-million subscriber mark

By: Nadine James 16th July 2019 JSE-listed Cartrack has passed the one-million subscriber mark, as a result of its rapid expansion beyond Southern Africa into Europe and Asia-Pacific. In a statement on Tuesday, Cartrack Global CEO Zak Calisto confirmed that there were few global competitors of its size and even fewer which were... →

Bidvest buys Eqstra Fleet Management for R3bn

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th July 2019 JSE-listed services, trading and distribution company Bidvest has entered into an agreement to acquire Eqstra Fleet Management and Logistics from JSE-listed industrial group enX for an enterprise value consideration of R3.1-billion. Eqstra provides full fleet management solutions, including... →

Africa’s vehicle policies threatening its air quality, warns Nissan’s Dando

By: Irma Venter 10th July 2019 If not regulated, Africa could become one of the world’s fastest developing polluters, says Nissan Group of Africa sales and operations director Jim Dando. There are currently about 45-million vehicles in Africa, at 27 vehicles per 1 000 inhabitants, compared with 481 vehicles per 1 000 people in... →

Jim Dando

Aurecon highlights potential of tech to transform the transport industry

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th July 2019 Many stakeholders believe the transport industry is on the cusp of disruptive transformation, as big as with the advent of the motorcar in the early 1900s. The only way for the South African transport industry to compete would be to embrace innovation and adapt to the disruption accordingly,... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Aurecon COO Dr Gustav Rohde

Audi unveils virtual reality buying experience at Centurion dealership

By: Irma Venter 4th July 2019 Elzanne Marais has a first-of-a-kind job in South Africa. However, it is one that should become increasingly prolific as local dealerships start to embrace the digital economy. Marais is the customer private lounge (CPL) consultant at Audi Centre Centurion. →

Dealer association calls on Reserve Bank to lower interest rates

By: Irma Venter 2nd July 2019 National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) chairperson Mark Dommisse is calling on the Reserve Bank to lower interest rates this month – should inflation allow – in an attempt to stimulate the retail market. “It’s been quite a painful start to winter as the new-vehicle retail market –... →

Mark Dommisse

AIH spreads its wings to the international market

By: Irma Venter 2nd July 2019 Automotive Investment Holdings (AIH) is spreading its wings, with the firm officially venturing into the international market. AIH, a level two empowered company, is a well-known consulting and manufacturing entity within the South African and African automotive landscape. →

Corrie Kotzé, Dempsey Naidoo, Johan Cloete and Paulo Fernandes

Demand for new cars remains weak, says Naamsa

By: African News Agency 1st July 2019 The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) said on Monday that underlying demand conditions for new vehicles in South Africa remain weak. This as the new vehicle sales declined year-on-year by 724 units, or 1.6%, into June 2019. The aggregate domestic sales for... →

Datsun Go, NP200 cheapest vehicles to service and repair

By: Irma Venter 27th June 2019 The Datsun Go is the cheapest passenger car to service and repair in South Africa, according to the 2019 Automobile Association (AA)-Kinsey Report on vehicle parts, servicing and repair costs, compiled by Malcolm Kinsey. The report does not cover 100% of the market, but does include the more... →

The Datsun Go

Large carmakers including VW, FCA could face 2021 EU emissions fines – study

By: Reuters 26th June 2019 Volkswagen and FiatChrysler could face penalties of up to €1.83-billion and €746-million respectively, if they fail to meet the European Union's emissions targets set for 2021, according to AlixPartners. The study by the consulting firm, which was published on Wednesday, shows how hard it is for... →

BMW SA investigates software solution to counter problematic GridCars chargers

By: Irma Venter 25th June 2019 BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) will investigate updating the software on the 60 Ah version of the BMW i3 electric car, in an effort to assist with some older models of the vehicle apparently struggling to make use of selected GridCars fast chargers. The problem was first highlighted by the South... →

French car maker PSA opens $630m Morocco plant

By: Reuters 21st June 2019 French carmaker PSA on Friday opened its €555-million ($630-million) factory in Kenitra's Atlantic Free Zone, near Rabat. PSA will initially produce an annual 100 000 cars in 2020 increasing to 200 000 by 2023, Morocco's Industry Minister Moulay Hafid Elalamy said at an official inauguration... →

As South African demand stagnates, auto exports set new records

By: Irma Venter 21st June 2019 Automotive exports from South Africa had a positive 2018, setting a number of new records on the way up. In doing so, the industry managed to compensate for some of the losses seen in the South African new-vehicle sales market last year as the domestic economy continued its uphill battle, says... →

Naamsa seeks quick end to wage negotiations in auto sector

By: Irma Venter 14th June 2019 The National Association of Automotive Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) wants the quickest possible resolution to the looming wage negotiations between vehicle manufacturers and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), says Naamsa executive director and CEO Mike Mabasa.... →

Volvo Cars and Uber unveil production vehicle ready for self-driving

By: Irma Venter 12th June 2019 Volvo Cars and ride-hailing firm Uber have presented a jointly developed production car capable of driving by itself. Uber and Volvo Cars entered a joint engineering agreement in 2016 and have since developed several prototypes aimed at accelerating both companies’ self-driving ambitions. →

Continental Tyre to halt underground mining, agricultural tyre production in South Africa

By: Irma Venter 11th June 2019 Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) will discontinue the production of underground mining and agricultural tyres. This decision affects about 170 employees within CTSA’s manufacturing and sales organisation. →

South Africa should go all out with platinum and manganese to be in best of two decarbonising worlds

By: Martin Creamer 10th June 2019 South Africa, which has a wonderful platinum group metals (PGMs) endowment and an abundance of high-quality manganese ore, should go all out to be in the best of two new carbon-reducing technology worlds. On the one hand, it should do all it can to be in the world of hydrogen with the help of... →

Photo by Toyota/Anglo American
A fuel cell electric vehicle requires platinum

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