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Sales, profitability key focus areas for new BMW SA CEO

By: Irma Venter 12th April 2021 In the challenging economic climate created by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, new BMW Group South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa CEO Peter van Binsbergen says his focus will be on the company’s profitability and that of its retail partners, as well as on having a customer-first approach. He says... →

Mahindra opens new parts warehouse in Gauteng

By: Irma Venter 9th April 2021 Mahindra South Africa has cut the ribbon on its new national parts warehouse in the Linbro Business Park, Gauteng. The new warehouse, situated near the intersection of the N1, M1 and N3 highways in Johannesburg, is around a third larger than Mahindra’s old Jet Park warehouse. →

Rajesh Gupta at the new warehouse

Volvo Car SA to bring host of EVs to South Africa

By: Irma Venter 9th April 2021 Volvo Car South Africa (SA) MD Greg Maruszewski says the local arm of the Swedish car manufacturer plans to bring the full range of Volvo electric vehicles (EVs) to South Africa, but adds that “business dynamics will obviously contribute to the decision”. Volvo Car SA will launch the Swedish... →

SA-UK PACT announces funding for uYilo’s EV capacity building project

By: Irma Venter 9th April 2021 The South Africa-UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (SA-UK PACT) programme has announced that it will fund ten local projects to the tune of more than £3-million. The aim is to help South Africa transition to a low-carbon, inclusive, climate-resilient economy and society. →

Botswana seeks opportunities to integrate into South African auto value chain

By: Irma Venter 9th April 2021 The Botswana government believes there is an opportunity for the country to participate in the South African automotive sector. “Around 60% of the components used in South African vehicles are still imported from outside Africa. Given Botswana’s proximity to South Africa, we see this as an... →

Suzuki sets new record – again

By: Irma Venter 8th April 2021 Suzuki Auto South Africa (SASA) yet again set a new all-time sales record, this time at 2 397 vehicles sold for the month of March. In doing so, the Japanese vehicle manufacturer broke its month-old record by nearly 12%. →

Tata Africa to expand its product range and footprint in Africa, says Brand

By: Irma Venter 7th April 2021 Tata International Africa (TIA) aims to double its turnover in the next four years, says CEO Len Brand. Brand has been leading a turnaround at the group that will see TIA enter its third year of profitability for the financial year ending March 31. →

Len Brand

Consumers are delaying car purchases owing to Covid-19 – Deloitte report

By: Irma Venter 6th April 2021 Deloitte’s 2021 Global Automotive Consumer Study has found that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on consumer behaviour in the automotive industry. The study surveyed more than 24 000 consumers in 23 countries, including South Africa. →

March sales hint at a more positive 2021 than expected – Nada

By: Irma Venter 6th April 2021 Considering the number of vehicles sold in March, it is possible that 2021 may deliver better sales than expected, says National Automobile Dealers’ Association (Nada) chairperson Mark Dommisse. “It is evident that the delayed replacement cycle is starting to catch up, helped by interest rates... →

Volvo aiming to be EV-only group by 2030

By: Irma Venter 2nd April 2021 Volvo Cars says it aims to become a fully electric vehicle (EV) company, on a global level, by 2030. By then, the company intends to sell only fully electric cars and phase out any car in its global portfolio with an internal combustion engine, including hybrids. →

Metair won’t build lithium-ion plant in South Africa unless it secures offtake deal

By: Irma Venter 2nd April 2021 Newly appointed Metair CEO Riaz Haffejee says the group is in a “good position” to be a “good partner” to a lithium-ion (li-ion) battery manufacturer in South Africa, or to partner with a vehicle manufacturer to produce these batteries. He says the group is currently piloting a plant at its... →

Ford donates R2.5m to bolster government’s Covid-19 surveillance system

By: Irma Venter 2nd April 2021 Ford South Africa has donated R2.5-million to help fund the enhancement of the National Occupational Health Surveillance System (OHSS), a programme implemented by the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH). The OHSS monitors workers in the public and private sectors using data supplied... →

New-vehicle sales jump by 31.8%, exports up 38.6%

By: Irma Venter 1st April 2021 The expected turnaround in South Africa’s new-vehicle market has started, says Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council. Naamsa on Thursday released the new-vehicle sales statistics for March, which is the first month of the year to produce comparable year-on-year numbers, considering the fact... →

The AA launches the first of many planned auto centres

By: Irma Venter 31st March 2021 The Automobile Association (AA) has opened its first AA Auto Centre, with the aim to “provide motorists with cost-effective, reliable and trusted services”. The centre is located in Strijdom Park, Johannesburg. →

Willem Groenewald and Noelan Vandayar

AAAM hosts exploratory visit by component manufacturers in Ghana

By: Irma Venter 31st March 2021 The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) in March hosted an exploratory visit by automotive component manufacturers to Ghana. The AAAM says the objective was to introduce potential investors to the Ghanaian automotive market. →

The component manufacturer delegation in Ghana

Kia SA to assess local EV appetite, infrastructure with EV6 test unit(s)

By: Irma Venter 30th March 2021 Kia Motors South Africa (KMSA) will “initially, at the very least” bring a single EV6 unit to the domestic market to “gather intelligence” and to conduct “feasibility studies” on the possibility of introducing this electric vehicle (EV) to the local market, says KMSA marketing GM Christo... →

The Kia EV6

Jaguar Land Rover SA shows the AA the ropes on EV recovery

By: Irma Venter 29th March 2021 Jaguar Land Rover South Africa (JLRSA) has partnered with the Automobile Association (AA) to train a group of line managers on electric vehicle-specific roadside assistance and vehicle recovery. JLRSA’s training academy in Pretoria opened its doors to the AA to share its technical expertise on a... →

First Extreme E racing season kicks off on April 3

By: Irma Venter 26th March 2021 The new established Extreme E off-road racing series is about to kick off, with the vehicles of the nine participating teams on their way across the Mediterranean to the inaugural race on April 3 and 4, in Saudi Arabia. Extreme E is an off-road racing championship for all-electric sports-utility... →

AAAM, German partner to develop Ethiopian auto policy

By: Irma Venter 26th March 2021 The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) has been appointed to develop an automotive policy for the Ethiopian government that will ultimately aim to encourage global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs, or vehicle manufacturers) and component manufacturers to invest in... →

David Coffey

Suzuki sets yet another monthly sales record, sells 100 000th car

By: Irma Venter 26th March 2021 Suzuki Auto South Africa ended February with total sales of 2 142 units. This is a new record for the brand since the Japanese carmaker entered the South African market in 2008, and only four months since Suzuki broke through the 2 000-barrier for the first time ever. →

African auto industry financing MoU signed

By: Irma Venter 26th March 2021 The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the financing and promotion of the automotive industry in Africa. “The strategic partnership with AAAM will facilitate the... →

Supply an issue as new-vehicle market continues to recover, says Motus

By: Irma Venter 24th March 2021 The South African new-vehicle market is on the recovery path, with sales bouncing back in February compared with January. The main issue currently holding back manufacturers is not market appetite, but the ability to supply sufficient vehicles to meet demand, says vehicle retailer Motus. →

Volvo Car SA to bring host of EVs to South Africa, says MD

By: Irma Venter 19th March 2021 Volvo Car South Africa (SA) MD Greg Maruszewski says the local arm of the Swedish car manufacturer plans to bring the full range of Volvo electric vehicles (EVs) to South Africa, but adds that “business dynamics will obviously contribute to the decision”. Volvo Car SA will launch the Swedish... →

EVs to account for lion’s share of global vehicle sales by 2038 – South African auto body

By: Irma Venter 19th March 2021 Electric vehicle (EV) sales are forecast to exceed internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales by 2038, with sales in the European Union (EU) projected to comprise 40% EVs by 2030, and 80% by 2040, says Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council in its fourth-quarter (Q4) business review. “The... →

Naamsa adopts new name

By: Irma Venter 19th March 2021 The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) has announced a change in its naming conventions, as it says it represents a wider community of stakeholders than only vehicle manufacturers. “Traditionally, we were established to primarily represent the interests of... →

Production of Mercedes-Benz’s new generation C-Class to start this year

By: Irma Venter 19th March 2021 Mercedes-Benz has lifted the veil on its new-generation C-Class. Production of the model is set to start later this year – for the local and export markets – at the Mercedes-Benz South Africa plant, in East London, following a R10-billion investment by the German parent company. →

Local lithium-ion plant would require offtake agreement first, says Metair

By: Irma Venter 18th March 2021 Newly appointed Metair CEO Riaz Haffejee says the group is in a “good position” to be a “good partner” to a lithium-ion (li-ion) battery manufacturer in South Africa, or to partner with a vehicle manufacturer to produce these batteries. He says Metair is currently piloting a plant at its battery... →

Riaz Haffejee

Auto sector needs 485 new Tier 2 businesses to reach SAAM goals – RMB

By: Irma Venter 17th March 2021 The South African Automotive Master Plan (SAAM) envisages growing local content in South African assembled vehicles from around 37% (as of 2015) to 60% by 2035. “To meet this objective, the South African automotive industry needs to create 485 new businesses in Tier 2 automotive products by... →

Ford donates R2.5m to bolster govt’s Covid-19 surveillance system

By: Irma Venter 16th March 2021 Ford South Africa has donated R2.5-million to help fund the enhancement of the National Occupational Health Surveillance System (OHSS), a programme implemented by the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH). The OHSS monitors workers in the public and private sectors, using data... →

Neale Hill

Nissan appoints new AMIEO chairperson

By: Donna Slater 12th March 2021 Nissan Motor has appointed Guillaume Cartier its new Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) chairperson, replacing Gianluca De Ficchy who served for three years as Nissan Europe chairperson and then the expanded AMIEO region. Effective April 1, Cartier will lead all Nissan... →

Incoming Nissan Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania chairperson Guillaume Cartier

Electricity tariff hike will make local auto sector less competitive globally – AIDCEC

By: Irma Venter 12th March 2021 The Eastern Cape Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDCEC) has warned that the 15% electricity tariff increase that comes into effect on April 1, will slam the brakes on the South African automotive supply chain's drive to achieve greater levels of global competitiveness. The AIDCEC says... →

Strong used-car, aftermarket sales see Motus bounce back

By: Irma Venter 12th March 2021 A buoyant used-car market and strong aftermarket parts sales have helped mobility group Motus bounce back from the significant decline the group experienced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic in the last half of the previous financial year. Reporting on the company’s results for the first six... →

February new-car sales dip by 13.3%

By: Irma Venter 12th March 2021 New-vehicle sales fell by 13.3% in February, to 37 521 units, compared with the same month last year, reports Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council. An estimated 31 635 units, or 84.3%, were dealer sales, with 10% going to the vehicle rental industry, 3.4% to government, and 2.3% of total... →

Mercedes-Benz SA postpones launch of its first EV to 2022

By: Irma Venter 12th March 2021 Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has postponed the local introduction of its first fully electric vehicle (EV), the EQC. “The market introduction and start of sales of the EQC was set to take place in 2020, but, due to the significant disruption of Covid-19 and other contributing factors, we... →

SA-UK PACT announces funding for uYilo’s EV capacity building project

By: Irma Venter 11th March 2021 The South Africa-UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (SA-UK PACT) programme has announced that it will fund ten local projects to the tune of more than £3-million. The aim is to help South Africa transition to a low-carbon, inclusive, climate-resilient economy and society. →

Prepaid car accident cover now available in South Africa

By: Irma Venter 11th March 2021 Car-accident cover on demand is now available in South Africa. Vaai.co compares its product to cell phone airtime – “you buy the cover you can afford only when you need it, and recharge when you need to do so”. →

Thabang Butelezi and Duncan Barker

Motus acquires 49% stake in GetWorth

By: Irma Venter 10th March 2021 Motus Holdings has acquired a 49% stake in preowned vehicle company GetWorth. Motus says the acquisition will fast-track its positioning in the online and warehouse retailing segment. →

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