Features | Automotive Industry| Motor Vehicles

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Automotive Industry

Volvo upgrading its sedan segment with new S90

19th February 2016 Swedish premium automobile manufacturer Volvo will be shaking up the premium sedan segment with the new S90, an executive class sedan, which was launched last month at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit in the US. The luxury sedan, which has made its first public... →

Affordability and function key in buying a new car

19th February 2016 While a first car might mean freedom for both a newly licensed child and the taxi-operating parents, Japanese motor vehicle manufacturer Datsun believes that parents should consider the vehicle’s form, function and affordability before over hastily purchasing. Datsun South Africa GM Des Fenner... →

CHEAP, ECONOMIC AND RELIABLE The running and maintenance costs of an old car can easily outweigh the costs of buying an affordable, new economy car

Donaldson filters ensure seamless Dakar

19th February 2016 With racing taking place in high altitudes during the Dakar rally, trusted filtration systems, such as those provided by filtration company Donaldson Filtration Solutions, are key for bakkies attempting to conquer the race. Owing to this, Midrand-based racing outfit Toyota Gazoo Racing Team... →

FILTRATION FOR FLUID RACING Donaldson Fuel filters, used by Toyota Gazoo racing during Dakar 2016, insured that the direct injection engines were fed the cleanest fuel possible

Automotive industry highly unlikely to show growth in 2016 – KPMG

By: Simon Sonnekus 19th February 2016 The lacklustre economy, consumers’ desparate financial position and affordability of vehicles are three key areas that will stunt the growth of the South African automotive industry this year, says audit, advisory and tax services firm KPMG. According to KPMG automotive sector partner Gavin... →

GRIM YEAR AHEAD FOR MOTOR INDUSTRY
The weakened economy has made the auto motive market less conducive for buying and even operating vehicles

Photo by Duane Daws
GRIM YEAR AHEAD FOR MOTOR INDUSTRY The weakened economy has made the auto motive market less conducive for buying and even operating vehicles

New Suzuki transmission given green light for SA market

19th February 2016 Japanese vehicle producer Suzuki has unveiled their refined hybrid version of an automatic and manual transmissions to be used in its range of motor vehicles. →

AGS TRANSMISSION Suzuki keeps the cost of this auto-shifting option low while also ensuring that repairs and maintenance remain easy and cost effective

Kimmo

20th August 2015 Paperboard and corrugated pallet manufacturer Kimmo, which previously traded as CX Pallets, manufactures honeycomb paperboard, an extremely thick and sturdy material for use in protective transport packaging. Having invested in state-of-the-art honeycomb paperboard manufacturing technology, Kimmo... →

Motor vehicle manufacturing to grow by up to 3% in 2015

By: Bruce Montiea 24th July 2015 The outlook for the South African motor vehicle manufacturing industry in 2015 is modestly positive, with an expected marginal volume increase of up to 3% in domestic sales, says National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa director Nico Vermeulen. This is mainly based on... →

Photo by Bloomberg
ASSEMBLY LINE Growth is expected in South Africa’s motor vehicle manufacturing industry

Survey reveals latest auto trends, innovations

By: Kimberley Smuts 24th July 2015 The automotive sector is feeling the pressure from the strict regulatory standards being enforced globally, as well as increasingly tech-savvy consumers who not only expect, but demand, new and innovative services, says professional services firm KPMG in its ‘Global Automotive Executive Survey... →

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY PRESSURE The automotive sector is feeling the pressure from the strict regulatory standards being enforced globally

Luxury vehicle brand appoints local model to showcase new products

24th July 2015 Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer Maserati has appointed top South African model Genevieve Morton to present its model range in the company’s 2015 brochures and to feature in a worldwide social media campaign. →

EXUDING LUXURY Local model Genevieve Morton presents one of Maserati’s models in a recent relaunch of the luxury motor manufacturer's brochures

Small-capacity turbo engine wins Engine of the Year for the fourth time

24th July 2015 American automotive manufacturer Ford’s 1.0 ℓ EcoBoost engine won the 2015 International Engine of the Year Award for the fourth consecutive time. The award was presented by automotive publication Engine Technology International in Stuttgart, Germany, last month. →

BOOSTING ECONOMICALLY Ford’s EcoBoost engines employ turbochargers to increase power whilst maintaining small capacities

Child-seat concept redefines travelling comfort and safety

24th July 2015 With the launch of a new child seat concept, Swedish vehicle manufacturer Volvo Cars’ design team has completely reimagined how children can travel safely in the future. →

FOCUSED ON SAFETY A safe, rearward-facing seating position enables a child to keep eye contact with either the driver or the rear passenger

Company introduces new fuel management system

By: Kimberley Smuts 24th July 2015 Asset management solutions provider QCIC delivered and released its QIC-Fuel solution in February and is optimistic that it will have at least ten companies on its system before December. The fuel management solution works in conjunction with the company’s flagship QIC-Fleet global system for... →

BRIAN MCKENZIE The QIC-Fuel solution enables the user to monitor the fuel by taking a sample of each sensor as the vehicle moves

Local focus on attracting auto OEMs good for South Africa

By: Donna Slater 24th July 2015 South Africa’s ongoing focus on attracting and maintaining investment from foreign automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) into South Africa is paying off, says logistic company DHL. →

ROB WILLIAMS Africa has the capability and the workforce to meet the demands of the global automotive industry

Private leasing of cars shows promise in South Africa

24th July 2015 Slow economic growth, more cautious lending by the banks, continued strains on consumer affordability and high inflation rates are some of the reasons why consumers are not buying cars, which is why specialist private leasing company Ariva MD Keith Watson sees a future in the leasing of cars in... →

Auto product range expands to meet local market demands

By: Kimberley Smuts 24th July 2015 Champion’s new wiper blades were launched globally this year and are specific to vehicle applications. Champion has been persistent in developing this product and hopes to be the first company to market wiper blades with this new technology. Meanwhile, global powertrain components and vehicle... →

AEROVANTAGE HYBRID BLADE Champion’s new wiper blades were launched globally this year and are specific to vehicle applications

Steel mezzanine floors boost auto dealers’ parking capacity

By: Donna Slater 24th July 2015 Steel mezzanine structures, manufactured by Linbro Park-based storage solutions company Pandae, are assisting automotive dealerships with easy-to-install additional parking space that will not result in downtime during construction. →

MEZZANINE FLOOR Super Mezzanine floors comprise iron beams for vertical and horizontal support, as well as galvanised steel grating

Growth unlikely for South Africa’s auto industry in 2015

By: David Oliveira 20th February 2015 Overall new vehicle sales in South Africa dropped 3% year-on-year in 2014, with 630 000 vehicles sold, compared with the 650 000 sold in 2013, says fleet administrator Imperial Fleet Management CEO Nicholas de Canha. “Despite the overall market being slightly down, the sales for bus, truck and... →

STABLE INDUSTRY South Africa’s automotive industry is still profitable and will remain so even if sales drop by 2% to 3% this year

Photo by Bloomberg
STABLE INDUSTRY South Africa’s automotive industry is still profitable and will remain so even if sales drop by 2% to 3% this year

Record-breaking vehicle sales in December 2014

By: David Oliveira 20th February 2015 South African vehicle sales broke all records for the month of December in 2014, with 51 462 vehicles sold. Previously, the highest sales record for the month of December was in 2006, when 49 283 vehicles were sold, says advisory firm KPMG industrial, automotive and construction market partner... →

Photo by Duane Daws
BREAKING RECORDS South African vehicle sales broke all records for the month of December in 2014, with 51 462 vehicles sold

Counterfeiting threatens auto manufacturing

By: David Oliveira 20th February 2015 Every year about R362-billion in counterfeit products are sold in South Africa – of which a substantial number are counterfeit automotive parts, says specialist intellectual property law firm Spoor & Fisher. “This is a serious problem – the local economy loses a significant amount of money... →

Labour Relations Act amendments could cripple auto industry

By: David Oliveira 20th February 2015 The changes to the Labour Relations Act (LRA), which came into force in January 2015, could impact negatively on the profitability of manufacturing companies in the automotive industry, says business law and litigation firm Fasken Martineau labour, employment and human rights partner Ludwig... →

ICT solutions could mitigate auto industry challenges

By: David Oliveira 20th February 2015 Providing a platform for the development of future technologies, information and communication technology (ICT) could enable automotive companies to meet current industry challenges, which include the rise of new growth markets, changing consumer behaviour and the need for improved fuel... →

Photo by Duane Daws
THE AGE OF THE CUSTOMER Customers like to have some control over the final product, particularly in terms of customisation

First H100 rolls off local assembly plant

By: David Oliveira 20th February 2015 Hyundai Automotive South Africa assembled the first H100 light commercial vehicle (LCV) at its Apex plant in Benoni, Gauteng, earlier this month. Hyundai marketing director Stanley Anderson tells Engineering News that the company hopes to assemble about 3 000 units this year and will supplement... →

SA FIRST Hyundai Automotive South Africa assembled the first H100 light commercial vehicle at its Apex plant in Benoni, earlier this month

Photo by Duane Daws
SA FIRST Hyundai Automotive South Africa assembled the first H100 light commercial vehicle at its Apex plant in Benoni, earlier this month

Vehicle leasing company aims to extend brand offering

By: David Oliveira 20th February 2015 JSE-listed Imperial group affiliate and specialist vehicle leasing company Ariva is aiming to expand its vehicle brand offering for its leasing service provision, says Ariva MD Keith Watson. Currently, the company offers leasing agreements of up to 60 months on vehicle brands such as Kia,... →

VEHICLE LEASING Ariva offers individuals the opportunity to lease a new vehicle after three years without having to pay an expensive settlement price

Photo by Bloomberg
VEHICLE LEASING Ariva offers individuals the opportunity to lease a new vehicle after three years without having to pay an expensive settlement price

Toyota named January’s top seller

20th February 2015 South Africa’s automotive domestic market sales reached 52 306 units in the first month of 2015, with automotive manufacturer Toyota achieving 21% of overall sales, ending the month with 11 191 units sold. Toyota topped the log of overall sales for January 2015, and ranked the top seller for... →

Most technologically advanced Ford hits local market

By: David Oliveira 20th February 2015 The new Ford Fusion, which was launched in Cape Town last month, is the most technologically advanced Ford vehicle ever introduced in South Africa, claims Ford Motor Company Southern Africa marketing, sales and service VP Mark Kaufman. New technologies featured in Ford’s latest vehicle offering... →

Local supply chain service on a par with global leaders

20th February 2015 The management and reporting structure standards of South Africa’s supply chain services in the automotive sector are equal, if not better, than those globally, says logistics and express services provider DHL automotive and technology director Rob Williams. He stresses that, to improve the... →

Market placement crucial to success

By: Donna Slater 25th July 2014 Categorising different vehicle models in specific segments could be a crucial factor when taking into account how car buyers envisage the new-car market, says Hyundai South Africa. →

POWERING THE A-SEGMENT Instead of marketing the Grand i10 as a B-segment vehicle, Hyundai has retained the vehicle’s A-segment classification

Engines donated to empower skills development

25th July 2014 Vehicle manufacturer Ford donated four diesel engines to State-owned entity, the Coega Skills and Training Development Centre, to enhance skills development in the automotive industry. →

TURBOCHARGING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT The Ford Struandale Engine Plant donated four turbo-diesel engines to propel skills development and training at the Coega Skills and Training Development Centre

Paint-booth dust eliminated with air knife

25th July 2014 Using ionised compressed air to remove dust from vehicle bodies before painting can assist vehicle manufacturers with quality control in the local and export markets. →

DUST-FREE ZONE A high velocity sheet of ionised air neutralises the static charge to release the dust

Online guide assists buyers, sellers

By: Donna Slater 25th July 2014 A comprehensive new automotive buying guide provides buyers of new and used cars with greater options, compared with other buying guides, reports online classifieds website Gumtree, a division of the eBay Classifieds Group. →

JEFF OSBORNE The new Car Check Price website is a pricing guide that enables vehicle buyers to make informed decisions

Connected vehicles set new benchmark

By: Donna Slater 25th July 2014 As vehicles become increasingly technologically advanced, the future of the automotive industry is shifting towards the ‘connected car’ that can communicate with external sources, such as the vehicle manufacturer, says mobile network service provider Vodacom Business’s machine to machine (M2M)... →

TONY SMALLWOOD New technology is ultimately heading towards creating communication between the connected car and the “smart city”

Trolley and jig fishtailing prevented with new castors

25th July 2014 The uncontrollable ‘fishtailing’ of towed trolleys and jigs – used in the manufacture of vehicles, for transportation of various vehicle components within a factory – can be prevented with spring-loaded automatic directional castors from wheel and castor company Tente. →

CONTROLLABLE CASTOR Precision bearing spring-loaded directional cams automatically stabilise the castor in the direction of travel

Turbochargers propel future of A-segment

By: Donna Slater 25th July 2014 The continual development and enhancement of turbochargers installed on small-capacity engines is set to become the future staple for A-segment cars, or entry-level vehicles, reports German vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen (VW) South Africa (SA). →

MORE POWER WITH LESS CAPACITY The new Polo hatchback’s fuel economy has been improved by as much as 20% with the reduction in engine capacity and the addition of a turbocharger

Slow start for vehicle leasing

By: Donna Slater 25th July 2014 Vehicle leasing in South Africa, compared with Europe and the US, has had a sluggish start, with the majority uptake coming from mature consumers, according to Edenvale-based vehicle-leasing company Ariva. →

DAVID SMITH A poor market acceptance of vehicle leasing stems from vehicle dealership showrooms, where instalment sales through banks are punted

Testing facilities upgraded to support export potential

By: Donna Slater 25th July 2014 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has set aside R6.1-million to enhance the vehicle-testing facility at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), in East London and Gauteng →

RIGOROUS TESTING The nature of the automotive industry is highly technical and is subject to a vast number of standards

Dual engine for new SUV

25th July 2014 Swedish vehicle manufacturer Volvo Car Group’s new XC90 sports utility vehicle (SUV) will offer an unrivalled combination of power and efficiency with a dual engine, when the CX90 is revealed later this year. →

TWIN ENGINE The new Volvo XC90 T8 version offers the features of a plug-in electric car, hybrid car and high-performance car

Energy efficiency important for industry growth

By: Donna Slater 25th July 2014 The growth of the automotive industry, in South Africa and worldwide, is being influenced by the ways in which vehicle manufactures are creating ways of using energy efficiently, according to government initiative the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA). →

TOYOTA SOUTH AFRICA Toyota South Africa was recognised as Energy Company of the Year in November 2013

Wide range of in-depth testing offered

By: Jonathan Rodin 21st February 2014 To ensure that of cars in South Africa are safe, several tests are offered by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) in support of regulatory requirements, thereby addressing a variety of customer needs, says SABS automotive GM Gerrie Kriek. →

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