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Mercedes-Benz Vans launches the electric Sprinter in South Africa

By: Irma Venter 19th August 2024 Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa (MBVSA) has launched the fully electric Sprinter (eSprinter) panel van in the local market. The eSprinter is available in standard- and long-wheel base, with pricing starting at R1.27-million. →

What auto industry wants from government to keep the wheels turning

By: Irma Venter 16th August 2024 South Africa’s seventh administration has taken office amidst a flagging domestic economy desperately seeking traction. The automotive industry, South Africa’s biggest manufacturing industry, has seen vehicle sales declining steadily as embattled consumers increasingly seek the seemingly... →

Golden Arrow, Eskom sign memorandum of cooperation on electric buses

By: Irma Venter 12th August 2024 Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) and power utility Eskom have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) which sets out the terms for ongoing engagement related to GABS’ planned introduction of electric buses into the public transport sector. GABS in July signed a deal to acquire 120 electric buses... →

An electric test bus in the GABS fleet

$613m in JET-IP grants have been allocated to projects, Presidency reports

By: Terence Creamer 7th August 2024 The Presidency has released new details showing that $613-million of the $821-million in grants pledged to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) have now been allocated to projects. The disclosure has been made in the second instalment of the online ‘JET Grants... →

Head of the Project Management Office in the Presidency Rudi Dicks

SA’s automotive prospects clouded by high taxes and exports risks

By: Darren Parker 2nd August 2024 The importance of export growth as an automotive industry strategy is crucial to mitigate the numerous risks associated with South Africa's low growth environment. "We see export growth as a really key strategy to somewhat derisk the South African industry from a low growth environment . . . and... →

Mercedes-Benz’s hydrogen trucks start customer trials in Germany

By: Irma Venter 1st August 2024 Daimler Truck has started the first customer trials of its hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz GenH2 trucks in Germany. A total of five units will enter the fleets of Air Products, Amazon, Holcim, Ineos and Wiedmann & Winz. →

Five test units will enter the fleets of Air Products, Amazon, Holcim, Ineos and Wiedmann & Winz

Golden Arrow to acquire 120 electric buses from BYD

By: Irma Venter 31st July 2024 Cape Town’s Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) has signed a deal to acquire 120 electric buses from Chinese automotive powerhouse BYD, following four years of testing. Delivery of the 65-seater units is scheduled to start late this year, with all the buses expected to be operational before December... →

One of the BYD test buses in the GABS fleet

Zero Carbon Logistics signs MoU with China’s Sany on N3 truck chargers

By: Irma Venter 29th July 2024 Zero Carbon Logistics (Zero CL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer Sany to be the technology provider for its proposed off-grid electric truck charging network on the N3. Zero CL says Sany will develop and operate six renewable energy charging... →

The signing ceremony in China between Zero CL and Sany

Vayu Robotics launches autonomous delivery robot in the US, signs deal for 2 500 units

By: Irma Venter 26th July 2024 California-based Vayu Robotics this week announced the real-world deployment of an autonomous on-road delivery robot. The robot, combining AI models with low-cost sensing, is being rolled out in the US with an e-commerce customer, in a move to slash the cost of e-commerce deliveries. →

A video illustrating the end-to-end operation of Vayu's bike-lane delivery robot

Half of China’s NEV brands likely to fail, exports poised for steep growth

By: Irma Venter 26th July 2024 More than 130 brands are currently competing in China’s new-energy vehicle (NEV) market, says GlobalData Automotive Division China operations manager John Zeng. Three brands, however, dominate the market, with Tesla, BYD and Seres having taken 42% of the NEV market in the first quarter of this year. →

Short-haul logistics should lead EV adoption

By: Nadine Ramdass 26th July 2024 Electric vehicles (EVs) are a viable option for fleets, particularly in the short-haul deliveries sector, and these fleets are likely to drive the adoption of EVs in South Africa, says telematics solutions provider Webfleet sales director Justin Manson. Short-haul deliveries specialise in local... →

An image of Webfleet's Fleet Manager app

ENHANCED CONTROL Companies can use telematics systems to monitor and manage their fleet's power use

EV charging network expansion progressing

By: Nadine Ramdass 26th July 2024 Automotive manufacturer Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) is midway through its project with electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider Chargify to expand the local charging network, by investing in 127 charging stations across South Africa, says MBSA Co-CEO and Mercedes-Benz Cars... →

An image of a Mercedes-EQ Indoor Charging Solution

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Chargify have partnered to install EV charging solutions across South Africa

ECape launch for WOW platform to bring taxi industry into the digital age

By: Irma Venter 24th July 2024 The newly launched Wealth On Wheels (WOW) platform is set to roll out technologies such as digital cash payments, fleet and vehicle management systems with GPS, and camera monitoring in minibus taxis. The initiative could assist minibus owners in enhancing their operations and maximising their... →

Vulindlela 2.0, green industrialisation, infrastructure at centre of GNU’s growth vision

By: Terence Creamer 18th July 2024 A second round of economic reforms under Operation Vulindlela, together with green industrialisation and scaled-up infrastructure development have been placed at the centre of the Government of National Unity’s (GNU’s) agenda for driving inclusive growth and job creation, which President Cyril... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivering his opening of Parliament address

Localisation to be used to create early-stage demand in targeted sectors - Tau

By: Terence Creamer 16th July 2024 While proclaiming industrial policy to be the “centre piece” of the government of national unity’s economic development strategy, new Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau indicated he would be leaning on local procurement to create early-stage demand in targeted sectors. In his... →

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau

Global EV sales growth continues, but significant slowdown in some markets – BloombergNEF

By: Irma Venter 12th July 2024 Electric vehicle (EV) markets around the world are not all travelling in the same direction, or at the same speed, in 2024, says research group BloombergNEF (BNEF) in its newest EV Outlook Report. While global sales of EVs continue to rise, some markets are experiencing a significant slowdown,... →

Audi SA adds six rapid public chargers to its network

10th July 2024 Audi and partner Rubicon have added six 150 kW DC rapid public chargers for electric vehicles (EVs) at locations across South Africa. The new chargers will be located along the N1, N2 and N3 corridors within easy reach for city dwellers, but also those motorists travelling longer distances. →

EV charging points to grow by 194% as governments switch focus to infrastructure

By: Irma Venter 9th July 2024 A new study from Juniper Research has found that the total number of electric vehicle (EV) charging points globally will grow by 194% to 64-million over the next five years, up from 21.8-million this year. The research found that private EV sales have slowed in the last year owing to a number of... →

Lexus, Mini, Toyota, Suzuki and Hino take platinum in Dealer Satisfaction Index

By: Irma Venter 9th July 2024 Lexus, Mini, Toyota and Suzuki have all taken top honours in this year’s National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) awards for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs). Truck brand Hino won platinum in the commercial vehicle (CV) category. →

Image of NADA Dealer Satisfaction Index awards trophy

Ford celebrates one-millionth Ranger, says PHEV production to start before year-end

By: Irma Venter 5th July 2024 Ford South Africa (SA) has celebrated the assembly of the one-millionth Ranger at its Silverton plant in Pretoria. While the first million bakkies took 24 years, the second million is set to happen before the decade is out, should production continue at the current rate of roughly 200 000 units a... →

Half of China’s NEV brands likely to fail; exports set for steep growth

By: Irma Venter 26th June 2024 More than 130 brands are currently competing in China’s new-energy vehicle (NEV) market, says GlobalData Automotive Division China operations manager John Zeng. Three brands, however, dominate the market, with Tesla, BYD and Seres having taken 42% of the NEV market in the first quarter of this year. →

‘Second wave’ of Operation Vulindlela set to prioritise ‘green and digital’ growth

By: Terence Creamer 25th June 2024 The ‘second wave’ of government’s Operation Vulindlela initiative is poised to be widened to include additional structural reforms to those that have been pursued to date in electricity, freight logistics, telecoms, water and skills with the goal of stimulating higher levels of economic growth... →

South Africa could leverage its potent solar and wind resources to power green manufacturing

Ford celebrates 1m Rangers; looks to PHEV production start before year-end

By: Irma Venter 25th June 2024 Ford South Africa (SA) has celebrated the assembly of the one-millionth Ranger at its Silverton plant in Pretoria. While the first million bakkies has taken 24 years, the second million is set to happen before the decade is out, should production continue at the current rate of roughly 200 000... →

Ockert Berry

Global EV sales growth continues, but significant slowdown in some markets – BloombergNEF

By: Irma Venter 24th June 2024 Electric vehicle (EV) markets around the world are not all travelling in the same direction, or at the same speed, in 2024, says research group BloombergNEF (BNEF) in its newest EV Outlook Report. While global sales of EVs continue to rise, some markets are experiencing a significant slowdown,... →

Volvo to launch trucks with combustion engines that run on hydrogen

By: Irma Venter 6th June 2024 Volvo Trucks says it is developing trucks with combustion engines that run on hydrogen. On-road tests will begin in 2026, and the global commercial launch is planned towards the end of this decade. →

The Volvo hydrogen truck

Capital cost of energy transition ‘only one part of the picture’

By: Terence Creamer 30th May 2024 The yearly $1.9-trillion being invested currently on clean energy would have to more than double and be more evenly distributed to place the world on track to meet net-zero emissions by 2050, a new International Energy Agency (IEA) report confirms. However, it also stresses that such investments... →

Schneider launches local EV charging solution

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd May 2024 Energy management and automation company Schneider Electric has launched a local electric vehicle (EV) charging solution, to cater for African countries’ transition away from fossil fuel-powered cars. The solution, called EVLink, is part of Schneider’s EcoStructure eMobility offering and was... →

Daimler Truck Southern Africa launches electric heavy-duty truck range

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd May 2024 Original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) has launched a line of electric heavy-duty trucks, called eActros, as part of its Power Up electric mobility offering. The fully battery-electric truck range includes the Mercedes-Benz eActros 300, comprising 4 x 2 and 6... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Marleny Arnoldi
Daimler Truck Southern Africa's Mercedes-Benz eActros electric heavy commercial truck

Zero Carbon Charge signs MoU with Free State govt on EV charger rollout

By: Irma Venter 20th May 2024 Zero Carbon Charge (Zero CC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Free State provincial government on the introduction of what it describes as a “network of solar-powered, offgrid, ultrafast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the province”. The rollout promises the... →

Thabo Meeko and Joubert Roux

Yet more Chinese imports on their way, this time electric, and available to rent

By: Irma Venter 17th May 2024 Local importer of Dongfeng Sokon Automobile (DFSK) battery electric vehicles (BEV), Enviro Automotive, says it will make a number of additions to its vehicle line-up. The company introduced the DFSK brand to South Africa in July 2022, with the introduction of the EC35 panel van and EC31 one-ton... →

The DFSK EC35 four-seater panel van

Opinion: Government must come to the party on new-energy vehicles

17th May 2024 The automotive sector requires policy certainty and investment incentives to meet the challenges of the future and sustain its vital role in the economy, writes Nedbank Commercial Banking manufacturing national manager Amith Singh. →

Amith Singh

Startup to build 120 off-grid e-truck charging sites

By: Irma Venter 17th May 2024 Electric vehicle charging startup Zero Carbon Charge has launched a new subsidiary, Zero Carbon Logistics, which it says will roll out 120 off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) electric truck charging sites on national highways across South Africa. According to Zero Carbon Charge, the project will... →

Auto exports soar to new record; shift to EVs sees drop in catalytic converter numbers

By: Irma Venter 7th May 2024 Despite a tough domestic economy undermining a recovery in new-vehicle sales to pre-pandemic levels, record vehicle exports in 2023 ensured that the South African automotive sector still managed to outperform the rest of the manufacturing sector, says Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council... →

Norman Lamprecht

VW Africa laments power outages in Eastern Cape, but Electricity Minister said to be tackling the problem

By: Irma Venter 3rd May 2024 Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) suffered four power outages at its Kariega plant in the second week of April, says VWA MD and chairperson Martina Biene. This happened while there was no loadshedding scheduled for the Eastern Cape. →

Electric trucks too expensive? Now you can rent one from Volvo Trucks SA

By: Irma Venter 3rd May 2024 Volvo Trucks South Africa (SA) has introduced an equipment-as-a-service (EaaS) model for its new electric truck rental business. Following last year’s launch of Volvo electric trucks in South Africa, the company has been importing a range of configurations to suit local conditions. →

Cape Town takes another stab at rolling out electric buses for its MyCiTi service

By: Irma Venter 3rd May 2024 The City of Cape Town should have battery electric buses (e-buses) operational on its MyCiTi bus service by 2027, says Urban Mobility MMC Rob Quintas. It will be the city’s second stab at rolling out the zero-emission technology, following an unsuccessful attempt as an early adopter in 2018. →

Hyundai unveils nano cooling film able to slash interior heat in cars

By: Irma Venter 26th April 2024 The Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled what it says is the world’s first application of a nano cooling film. The South Korean car maker describes the film as “a revolutionary vehicle window tint that offers a significant improvement in interior cooling performance compared to conventional tint... →

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