EVs are coming, but can SA’s power grid support this rapidly rising technology?

Whether South Africans like it or not, electric vehicles – EVs, those zero-emission vehicles that must be plugged in to run – are coming. You may adore the purr of a powerful V6 engine, but... 

Ineos acquires Botswana’s Kavango Engineering

Ineos Automotive, the manufacturer of the Grenadier and Quartermaster, has acquired Botswana-based vehicle conversion specialist Kavango Engineering.  The business has been renamed Ineos Kavango,... 

MAN hands over first electric bus to Golden Arrow, local production to start in 2024

MAN Truck & Bus South Africa (MAN SA) has provided Cape Town’s Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) with its first Lion’s Explorer E electric bus. The bus now enters a test period until September next... 

R575m Goodwood social housing project gears up for its first tenants

Tenanting is set to begin in November on the 330-unit first phase of the Goodwood social housing megaproject, which will, once completed, provide affordable rental opportunities for more than 1 000... 

Hudson Rubber calls for auto-component import substitution for growth of economy

Import substitution in the local automotive industry is crucial for the growth of the South African economy, says Hudson Rubber Company MD Stoney Steenkamp. Hudson Rubber is a Hammanskraal-based... 

Feasibility study on Stellantis plant to inform IDC on its contribution

The State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) says the bankable feasibility study for the proposed multibillion-rand Stellantis vehicle assembly plant, in Coega, in the Eastern Cape, is... 

Metair ups profit despite Hesto bleed, export losses

Despite the loss of the Russian battery export market, as well as the poor performance of wiring harness maker Hesto, Metair still managed to chalk up a healthy increase in profit for the six... 

Bell to diversify production at Richards Bay plant through launch of new business

Bell Equipment is set to launch a new business, called Bell Heavy Industries (BHI), at the Mining Indaba in February next year. BHI will be an arm of Bell Equipment Company South Africa, which is... 

South Africa negotiating with Chinese automaker to build local plant – Cabinet

Government is negotiating with BYD, the Chinese automaker and the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, to possibly open a manufacturing plant in South Africa, Cabinet announced at... 

Automaker Stellantis to build R3bn plant in Coega

Vehicle manufacturer Stellantis says it will invest R3-billion to develop a greenfield manufacturing facility in Coega, in the Eastern Cape, along with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)... 

WBHO makes strong return, warns of potential contractor shortage for IPP jobs

Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) is back, “and we are back on a very strong footing”, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “We had an exceptional year in a difficult period.” 

City of Cape Town to launch dispute mediation process on PRASA devolution, service standards

Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the city is briefing its lawyers to launch an intergovernmental dispute on passenger rail devolution and service standards.  Hill-Lewis says the city has... 

SA component makers aim to invest R4.8bn

The South Africa component industry will invest R4.8-billion in the South African economy up to the end of next year, says National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers... 

Five more Western Cape rail corridors targeted for recovery – PRASA

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) says it has, to date, recovered eight lines in the Western Cape following the complete collapse of service during the Covid-19-pandemic. Six of the... 

Road freight growth subsiding, rail sector struggling – Ctrack index

The Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (Ctrack TFI) retreated further in July to an index level of 120.8, the lowest level this year since March’s 120.5.  This represents a decrease of 1.2% during... 

Overstocked Motus faces slowing South African new-vehicle market

Following seven months of trading, it is clear that the South African new-car market is unlikely to reach the 540 000 to 560 000 units expected at the beginning of the calendar year, says Motus CEO... 

Bell looks to diversify production at Richard Bay plant through BHI launch

Bell Equipment is set to launch a new business, called Bell Heavy Industries (BHI), at the Mining Indaba in February next year. BHI will be an arm of Bell Equipment Company South Africa, which is... 

Construction starts on Phase 2 of City of Cape Town’s Milnerton bulk sewer upgrade project

The City of Cape Town has broken ground on the next phase of the R470-million Milnerton bulk sewer upgrade project, with construction of a new pipeline set for completion by 2025.  This project... 

Stellenbosch University converts Toyota taxi into EV, testing to start shortly

The Department of Industrial Engineering at Stellenbosch University (SU) has joined forces with Rham Equipment to convert a Toyota Hiace Ses’fikele minibus taxi into a battery electric vehicle... 

Taxis critical to transport system, but rail has to be the backbone – Cape Town oil, gas sector

The recent minibus taxi strike in Cape Town cost the Western Cape economy an estimated R5-billion, while it also caused at least R18-million worth of damage in the city, according to provincial data. 

BMW to launch electric bike in SA next year

BMW Group South Africa will introduce the electric CE 02 motorbike to the South African market in the second quarter of next year. The CE 02 is neither an e-scooter nor an e-motorcycle. The German... 

Mahindra unveils new concept Pik Up, says its first electric vehicle will go on sale at end of 2024

Indian vehicle manufacturer Mahindra has unveiled a new concept bakkie aimed at international markets, South Africa included. The new-look vehicle is a significant departure from the Bolero and... 

Private-sector participation at Cape Town Port seen generating R6bn in additional exports

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) says it is seeking an urgent meeting with national government on private-sector participation in the Port of Cape Town. This follows the announcement that the Port of... 

Stellenbosch University converts Toyota taxi to EV, testing to start shortly

The Department of Industrial Engineering at Stellenbosch University (SU) has joined forces with Rham Equipment to convert a Toyota Hiace Ses’fikele minibus taxi into a battery electric vehicle... 

Trust, patience see Maputo port yield record results – Grindrod

The Port of Maputo is reaping the results of an $800-million investment that has taken the port from handling five-million tons overall in 2007, to a record 27-million tons last year, says Grindrod... 

Nissan set to end NP200 production next year

Nissan South Africa (SA) will end production of the NP200 half-ton bakkie in March next year, says Nissan SA country director Kabelo Rabotho. This follows 16 years of production at Nissan’s Rosslyn... 

Much pricier Mtentu Bridge construction restarts five years after Aveng walkout

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has announced the restart of construction work on the R4.05-billion Mtentu Bridge contract, in the Eastern Cape. The Aveng Strabag joint... 

Stanlib acquires 51% of solar and battery platform

Stanlib Asset Management has acquired 51% of Solareff, through its Stanlib Infrastructure Fund II.  Stanlib Asset Management is a local investor in sustainable infrastructure. 

Suzuki SA’s car parc reaches 200 000-plus vehicles

Suzuki Auto South Africa (Suzuki SA) in July handed over the keys to its 200 000th vehicle, ending the month with sales of 4 361 units. This means that overall South African sales for the Japanese... 

July new-car sales increased by only 1.3% year-on-year

Affordability becoming an issue in new-car market – WesBank New-vehicle sales showed marginal growth in July, inching up by 1.3%, to 43 389 units, compared with the same month last year. 

Cape Town approves seven-year road contracts

Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate has received the green light from the city council to enter into long-term road contracts, spanning seven financial years, to facilitate the “uninterrupted... 

New passenger car brand head for VSWA

Niels Wichmann has been appointed as the new head of the Volkswagen passenger cars brand for Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA), effective August 1. Wichmann replaces Steffen Knapp, who will... 

Antidumping duties on Chinese tyre imports welcomed

The South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) says it welcomes the decision by Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel to impose antidumping duties on what it calls... 

Ford’s Silverton plant achieves record daily production volume

Ford South Africa’s Silverton assembly plant, in Pretoria, has achieved its highest daily production number yet – 704 vehicles. Based on three-shift 24-hour production, the plant is capable of... 

Toyota SA targets 2024 introduction of hybrid Hilux produced at Prospecton plant

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has confirmed that it is targeting the introduction of a mild-hybrid Hilux bakkie into the South African market next year. TSAM says the hybrid version of South... 

Mercedes, Super Group unveil blueprint for luxury dealerships

Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has unveiled the second of its local dealerships to have adopted the German carmaker’s new ‘luxury’ retail brand appearance, launched globally in 2018, and in... 

16 of TiAuto’s stores complete Phase 1 solar conversion

Sixteen of TiAuto’s retail stores have completed their conversion to solar power, as part of Phase 1 of a project to reduce the group’s dependence on Eskom and to move to renewable energy. The... 

Ever-expanding Maltento eyes opportunities in aquaculture and cosmetics 

The Maltento insect farm started as a small, test-scale operation in a home bathroom in Craighall Park, Johannesburg.  Almost seven years later, founder and CEO Dean Smorenburg has seen the... 

inDrive launches ‘name your price’ freight service in SA

California-based mobility and urban services platform inDrive has launched a name-your-price freight service in South Africa, targeting small businesses and individuals. InDrive is already active... 

What to do with an old mine? Turn it into a self-driving test track

BMW has launched a new test site in Sokolov, Czechia, aimed at developing self-driving and self-parking. The German car maker says the 300-million euro Future Mobility Development Center (FMDC)...