Toyota sales decline by 10% as economy, Chinese newcomers bite

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) saw its new-vehicle sales slip by 9.8% in 2024 compared with 2023 – this in an overall market that was down 3%. The local arm of the Japanese manufacturer,... 

Cape Town moves ahead with plans to take over PRASA service

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) says it will have business plans in place by the middle of this year to take over the management of passenger rail services in the metro. This follows the city... 

SA–Norway project says tax tweaks can accelerate South Africa’s EV market

A bilateral country project involving the Electric Mission in South Africa and the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association has engaged the South African government, including the National Treasury... 

New-vehicle sales down 3% in 2024, exports plummet by 22.8%

New-vehicle sales in the domestic market declined by 3% in 2024, to 515 712 units, compared with 2023. This follows 0.5% growth in 2023, a 13.9% increase in 2022, and a 22.2% jump in 2021. 

150% investment allowance to boost EV production a good start, but more is needed – Mabasa

Legislation signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in late December introduces a 150% investment allowance for any capital investment made to enable the production of electric and hydrogen... 

New-vehicle market on the mend, while exports continue to plummet

New-vehicle sales in November continued the positive momentum seen in October,  increasing by 8.1%, to 48 585 units, compared with the same month last year. naamsa | The Automotive Business Council... 

Charge opens its first off-grid EV charging station

Charge (formerly Zero Carbon Charge) has cut the ribbon on its first off-grid, public electric vehicle (EV) charging service station in Wolmaransstad, in the North West. The station will form part... 

R900m film set to be built in Cape Town

The City of Cape Town has announced the approval of a lease agreement for part of a city-owned property in Paardevlei, Somerset West, which will see the construction of a R900-million film set by... 

Tap-and-go payment technology installed at toll gates on N3, N4 highways

FNB and Visa have completed the roll-out of tap-and-go payment technology across select toll gates ahead of the December holidays. Motorists at select toll plazas along the N3, TRAC N4 and... 

Macpherson wants frank debate on the 30% local procurement rule being abused by construction mafia

The country must have a frank discussion about the 30% local procurement rule, which has been abused by the so-called construction mafia, says Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean... 

World’s largest car-carrier calls at Durban and PE ports, vessel super-sizing to continue

The Höegh Aurora, the world’s newly crowned largest car carrier, in November called at both the Durban and Port Elizabeth ports as she makes her way around the world. The Aurora started operations... 

Kariega plant solar array expanded to over 12 000 panels

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) has added a further 3 MW of solar power to its local grid, bringing the total output of renewable energy to 5.9 MW. This is enough energy to power at least 2 000... 

Public Works to blacklist ‘criminal’ contractors as delayed projects soar to R3-billion

Out of the 206 infrastructure projects overseen by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) this financial year, 164 are experiencing delays, says Public Works and Infrastructure... 

Volkswagen rolls out electric tractors in Rwanda

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) has announced the start of operations of a modern farming pilot project in Gashora, Rwanda, that will see the roll-out of specially developed VW-badged electric... 

R7bn second-phase MyCiTi roll-out 50% complete, features SA’s first-ever sky circle

The R7-billion roll-out of the second phase of Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus service, linking Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and other communities across the metro south-east corridor, is 50% complete, says... 

Mining industry vows to ‘push back strongly’ against Eskom tariff hikes

South Africa’s mining industry will “certainly push back strongly” against Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes, says Minerals Council South Africa chief economist Hugo Pienaar. If granted, Eskom’s... 

Chromium secures increased share of SA mining revenue

Chromium accounted for 8% of South Africa’s mining revenue in June 2024, says PWC South Africa lead economist: macroanalysis Dr Christie Viljoen, up from 5% in 2023. Quoting Statistics South Africa... 

Automotive Industry Transformation Fund distributes R596m to 67 companies

The Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF) has since its inception in 2020 invested R596-million in 67 companies across the automotive value chain, says  CEO Jabu Selumane. “Our goal is to... 

South Africans mostly keen on EVs, but infrastructure concerns persist – Ford study

More than 40% of South Africans are considering purchasing an electrified vehicle (EV) in the next five years. This is according to a survey by Ford Motor Company, with most respondents preferring... 

Kia unveils its long-awaited one-ton bakkie

Korean vehicle manufacturer Kia has lifted the veil on its long-awaited one-ton bakkie, the Tasman. The vehicle, the first of its kind for Kia, had its global premiere at Jeddah International Motor... 

Construction mafia remains a major problem, warns MBA North

The problem posed by the construction mafia on the ground remains a major stumbling block in the recovery of the construction industry, and especially its ability to create more jobs, says Master... 

SA’s ferroalloy industry has ‘entered the final stages of dying’, unless govt, industry step in, says ARM’s Bouwer

While Zimbabwe has taken steps to ban chrome-ore exports in favour of beneficiation, vast ore volumes are leaving South Africa without being beneficiated, says African Rainbow Minerals (ARM)... 

Balancell moves into bigger, new factory, seeks strict regulations on imports

Energy storage company Balancell has cut the ribbon on its new R80-million assembly plant in Ndabeni, Cape Town. The lithium ferro-phosphate battery assembler’s previous facility was limited to 250... 

Ford seeing progress in southern corridor development, albeit slow – Hill

The automotive industry is “definitely seeing progress” in its discussions with Transnet on developing the southern rail corridor between Gauteng and Gqeberha and Coega, in the Eastern Cape, says... 

Nissan is at work to make and sell more vehicles in South Africa – Klenkiewicz

Nissan South Africa (SA) will see production drop to under 20 000 units this year, down from almost 25 000 units last year, but it is not the end of local assembly at the Rosslyn plant, says MD... 

Mining industry to ‘push back strongly’ against Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes – Pienaar

South Africa’s mining industry will “certainly push back strongly” against Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes, says Minerals Council South Africa (MCSA) chief economist Hugo Pienaar. If granted, Eskom’s... 

Chromium secures bigger share of SA’s mining revenue

Chromium accounted for 8% of South Africa’s mining revenue in June 2024, says PWC South Africa lead economist macro analysis Dr Christie Viljoen, up from 5% in 2023. Quoting Stats South Africa... 

Rail masterplan to be finalised by October next year

The Department of Transport (DoT) aims to have the interim National Rail Masterplan (NRMP) ready by February next year, says DoT chief director Jan-David de Villiers. This will be followed by an... 

Consumers to be subsidised to buy electric vehicles – Ramaphosa

South African consumers should receive some form of subsidy to buy electric vehicles (EVs), in the nearer future, as has been the case in most major markets in the world. The subsidies are aimed at... 

Bring forward policy review, drop luxury tax on new-energy vehicles – Toyota CEO

The midterm review on the second iteration of government’s Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP) is scheduled for 2026, but the local automotive industry wants to bring this... 

First electric minibus taxis to be piloted in Cape Town next year

By this time next year, it will be possible to tell whether electric minibus taxis are viable people movers within the South African transport landscape. By then, newcomer to the domestic... 

Construction begins on Cape Town solar PV plant, battery storage tender released

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has started construction on a R200-million, 7 MW solar PV plant, located in Atlantis, with the first electricity to be delivered by the end of next year. The tender for... 

Chinese vehicle sales accelerating rapidly in South Africa

If you think you are seeing more Chinese vehicles on the road, you are correct. Chinese vehicle brands accounted for 9% of all passenger and light commercial vehicles (light vehicles) sold in South... 

Off-grid EV charger programme launched in the Eastern Cape

Zero Carbon Charge (Charge), in partnership with the Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC-EC), and together with the Eastern Cape provincial government, has broken ground on... 

Metair to acquire AutoZone chain

Metair is set to acquire the entire issued share capital of AutoZone Holdings. The JSE-listed Metair is a manufacturer, distributor and retailer of automotive components and energy storage solutions. 

Cape Town to wrap up desalination plant feasibility study in 2025, first water possible in 2030

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has started the feasibility study on the proposed Paarden Island desalination plant, says CoCT Water and Sanitation MMC Zahid Badroodien. The study is being undertaken... 

Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes untenable, reduction mechanisms being weighed – Ramokgopa

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is confident that government will be able to positively intervene in Eskom’s tariff-hike application for the 2025/26 financial year at the... 

New-vehicle sales down 4.1%, exports plunge by 38.1%

New-vehicle sales in South Africa in September dropped by 4.1%, to 44 081 units, compared with the same month last year. naamsa | The Automotive Business Council reports that the new-passenger-car... 

SAS partners with Fincantieri, Vard Marine to build offshore patrol vessels in South Africa

Sandock Austral Shipyards (SAS) in Durban has signed a technology partnership agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and its Canadian subsidiary Vard Marine to construct the Afrika class... 

BMW Group South Africa starts production of the new plug-in X3

BMW Group South Africa’s (BMW SA’s) Rosslyn plant, in Tshwane, has started production of the fourth-generation BMW X3, following a R4.2-billion investment. It is the only facility in the BMW global...