South African-made Hilux bakkies take top two spots at Dakar 2025

It was a big start to the year for Toyota as its locally designed and built Hilux racing bakkies secured first and second place at Dakar 2025. Yazeed Al Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk – team Overdrive... 

Port of Maputo sees 1% dip in volumes in 2024

Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) handled a total volume of 30.9-million tons last year – 1% less than in 2023. MPDC’s direct operations moved 14.2-million tons, an increase of 14% from the... 

Norway new-car market now 89% electric

Just short of 89% of the new cars sold in Norway last year were battery electric vehicles (BEVs), according to statistics released by the Norwegian Road Federation. In 2023, the BEV share reached... 

PPC, Sinoma sign MoA for R3bn low-carbon replacement plant

Cement group PPC has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with cement equipment and engineering company Sinoma Overseas Development Company for the construction of a new R3-billion low-carbon... 

Three new offshore supply vessels commissioned for Southern African oil company

Singapore shipbuilder Strategic Marine has commissioned three new offshore supply vessels for an unnamed national oil company in Southern Africa. The vessels will be used for passenger transfer to... 

Naamsa announces 82 500-unit correction to export numbers on back of in-house VW error

Last year's drop in new-vehicle exports from South Africa was not nearly as catastrophic as indicated initially. Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council this week issued a significant correction... 

Golden Arrow readies first electric BYD busses for February deployment

Cape Town’s Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) is readying the first of its newly acquired BYD fully electric buses for deployment in February. “The plan is to have close to 20 on the road before the... 

Signs of recovery in truck market after a ‘really tough year’ – Serco CEO

The uptick in orders and inquiries at truck and trailer builder Serco in the final quarter of last year is being boosted this year by stability in electricity supply, as well as the relatively... 

Finalists announced for 2025 Car of the Year

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has announced the 17 finalists in the Car of the Year (COTY) competition. They are, in alphabetical order: BMW 5 Series Sedan BMW M5 BMW X3... 

Energy debate likely to shift from availability to affordability – Cape Town mayor

With power utility Eskom breaching 300 days without loadshedding, the national energy debate is likely to shift from availability to affordability, says Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.... 

Cape Town mayor believes GNU will stand firm until Ramaphosa’s departure

City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says his gut tells him that the Government of National Unity (GNU) will survive at least the next two years. Addressing the Cape Town Press Club this... 

MBA North warns construction firms against flouting immigration laws

Master Builders Association North (MBA North) has warned construction firms that  deliberately flouting immigration laws and occupational health and safety regulations could result in fines,... 

China’s MG makes SA debut

MG has returned to the South African market after exiting the country in 2016. The former British brand belongs to Shanghai giant SAIC Motor, which acquired it in 2007. 

Dealer body ‘cautiously optimistic’ about 2025

National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) chairperson Brandon Cohen says he is “cautiously optimistic” about new-vehicle sales in 2025. This follows a 3% decline in the total market last... 

Picup to start rolling out electric vehicles this year

Picup Technologies has started providing electric mobility solutions to its driver network, all of whom are independent contractors, for deliveries within a five-kilometre radius in selected urban... 

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 eager to tap into work-from-anywhere market as it hosts Nomad Week

The City of Cape Town will host the first-ever Nomad Week in March. The event, a global gathering of digital nomads, will be hosted in collaboration with Work Wanderers, an organisation that... 

Mathe Group reaches 1m tyre recycling milestone; targets further investment

KwaZulu-Natal-based radial truck tyre recycler, Mathe Group, has processed its one-millionth radial truck tyre, bringing the total amount of rubber crumb produced for re-use in industrial and... 

First public EV charge point trialled on remote island of St Helena

The isolated British Overseas Territory of St Helena, 1 900 km off the south-west coast of Africa, has wrapped up its first public electric vehicle (EV) charge point trial.  This is the latest step... 

Port of Maputo sees 1% dip in volumes in 2024

The Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) handled a total volume of 30.9-million tons last year – 1% less than in 2023. MPDC’s direct operations moved 14.2-million tons, an increase of 14% from... 

South African made Hilux bakkies take top two spots at Dakar 2025

It was a big start to the year for Toyota as locally designed and built Hilux racing bakkies secured first and second place at Dakar 2025. Yazeed Al Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk – team Overdrive... 

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... 

PPC, Sinoma sign MoA for R3bn low-carbon replacement plant

Cement group PPC has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with cement equipment and engineering company Sinoma Overseas Development Company for the construction of a new R3-billion low-carbon... 

Grindrod’s NovaMarine acquires AllSurvey Industrial

Marine safety and survival equipment service provider NovaMarine has acquired marine and industrial engineering company AllSurvey Industrial (ASI). Established in 1986, ASI’s principal activity is... 

V&A Waterfront hopes to break ground on R20bn project later this year

The V&A Waterfront hopes to break ground later this year on a proposed R20-billion development to be rolled out in phases over the next 15 to 20 years. The new development and its funding have... 

Car repair programme takes in 39 participants from mining communities

A joint initiative between Anglo American’s enterprise development arm, Zimele, and partners 3M and Super Auto Paints, are equipping 39 people from Limpopo and Northen Cape with panel-beating and... 

UAE group partners with SA’s GoMetro for EV fleet ecosystems

Admiral Mobility UAE and South African mobility management platform provider GoMetro have formed a joint venture (JV) to assist commercial fleet operators to transition to electric fleets in the... 

China’s MG makes its SA debut; kicks off with two SUV ranges, 25 dealers

MG has returned to the South African market after it exited the country in 2016. The former British brand belongs to Shanghai giant, SAIC Motor, which acquired it in in 2007. 

Toyota sales slip by 10% as the economy and 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 has,... 

Dealer body ‘cautiously optimistic’ about 2025; move to cheaper cars, hybrids to continue

National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) chairperson Brandon Cohen says he is “cautiously optimistic” about new-vehicle sales in 2025. This follows a 3% decline in the total market last... 

New-vehicle sales down 3% in 2024, exports down 2.2%

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

MBA North warns construction firms against flouting immigration law

Master Builders Association North (MBA North) has warned construction firms that  deliberately flouting immigration laws and occupational health and safety regulations could result in fines,... 

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... 

Continental ups share of renewable, recycled material in its tyres, aims for 40%-plus by 2030

Continental Tires is increasing the proportion of recycled materials in its tyres. More tyre plants have now been converted to use polyester fabric made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate... 

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...