August new-vehicle market jumps 18.7%, exports up 6.2%

August new-vehicle sales, at 51 880 units, were up 18.7% compared with the same month last year, driven by ongoing affordable model imports, improving consumer confidence, favourable credit... 

Cape Town welcomed 2.4m overnight visitors last year – MMC Vos

Cape Town welcomed 2.4-million overnight visitors last year, this according to the latest ‘Economic Value of Tourism Report’, said City of Cape Town Economic Growth MMC James Vos as he launched... 

Cape Town airport keeps on growing as overseas travellers increase by 9%

Cape Town Air Access says Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) international terminal two-way passenger traffic grew by 9% year-on-year in July, with more than 219 500 two-way passengers moving... 

Lightstone expects 7.7% bump in new-vehicle sales, says 89% of buyers opting for 6-year-plus financing

Research house Lightstone says it anticipates a new-vehicle sales market for 2025 of around 555 500 units – up 7.7% on last year – of which 524 000 units will be passenger and light commercial... 

Made in Cape Town. Tackling rough terrain around the world. Meet South Industries

What do you do when you grow tired of the corporate grind? For mechanical engineer Stephan Bekker, the answer was to start his own bike-rim manufacturing company after spending several years... 

Tata returns to South Africa as part of Motus group

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV), a subsidiary of Tata Motors, is returning to South Africa after its 2019 exit, and is doing so in partnership with JSE-listed automotive group Motus as its... 

Western Cape government plans to build two new hospitals, redevelop one

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) aims to complete three hospital projects by 2033. The Klipfontein and Belhar regional hospitals are both planned as new facilities that will... 

Ford SA to slash jobs; Solidarity fears auto sector will see more cuts

The Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has announced that it will cut jobs at its Struandale Engine Plant, in Gqeberha, and at its Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria. The local arm of... 

WeBuyCars targets more than 50% sales growth in the next three years

JSE-listed WeBuyCars says its goal is to sell 23 000 vehicles every month by 2028, up from the current 15 000 units a month – a 53% jump in sales. As one of the country’s biggest and busiest... 

Competition Tribunal slaps Toyota, WesBank with R30m administrative penalty

The Competition Tribunal has handed WesBank, Toyota Financial Services (TFS) South Africa, Toyota Motor Corporation, TFS UK and Toyota South Africa Motors a R30-million administrative penalty... 

Norway says new-car sales have reached 94% electric, and its grid is doing just fine

While the surge in sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) was initially seen as a threat to Norway’s electricity grid, reality, and the fact that most people (81%) charge their cars at night,... 

Automotive Industry Transformation Fund tasked to track rollout of auto masterplan

The Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF) has assumed the role of Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) Secretariat to track the implementation of the South African Automotive Masterplan... 

Cape Town expects to have up to 2.9m more people by 2050, many of them older

The 2022 national census indicated that Cape Town had a population of 4.8-million people. According to the city’s newly published 2050 draft long-term plan, officials project that Cape Town will... 

Automotive component, fuel, retail sectors sign three-year wage deal

The component manufacturing, fuel and automotive retail sectors have signed a three-year wage agreement. Wage talks within the Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO) started on April 10 and... 

Grindrod still hunting for new CEO; confirms Transnet rail slot allocation

JSE-listed ports and logistics group Grindrod is still on the hunt for a new CEO following Xolani Mbambo’s June resignation. Speaking during the company’s financial results announcement for the six... 

Logistical challenges, shortage of big contractors impacting construction in Africa – report

Logistical limitations and a lack of supply-chain capacity in the African construction market risk creating a barrier to investment, says a new report from global professional services firm Turner... 

SA’s fully electric fleet to reach 22 500 cars by 2030 – report

The projected passenger electric vehicle (EV) fleet in South Africa by the beginning of 2030 will be 25 456 vehicles, representing only 0.3% of the expected passenger vehicle population in the... 

Toyota Gazoo Racing and SVR unveil new motorsport engineering, manufacturing hub

Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA), together with SVR, have unveiled their new motorsport operations base – the Toyota Gazoo Racing Motorsport Hub, located in Kyalami, Gauteng. Construction... 

New V&A Waterfront development will require 3.2 ha land reclamation

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) firm Infinity Environmental has released a pre-application draft scoping report on the proposed R20-billion expansion project at the V&A Waterfront in Cape... 

Cape Town approves release of more land for mixed-use, social housing developments

The Cape Town council has voted in favour of the final release of a 3 300 m2 city land parcel for the construction of a mixed-use development, including social housing. The parcel is made up of two... 

Cape Town, Western Cape second 48 people to assist Border Management Authority at airport

The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government will second 48 assistant port control officers to boost the Border Management Authority’s (BMA’s) capacity at the Cape Town International... 

Tata Motors unveils the four new models that will spearhead its re-entry into SA

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) has unveiled the four new models that will spearhead its re-entry into the South African market through distributor Motus. They are the Harrier, Curvv, Punch,... 

Western Cape government plans to build two new hospitals, redevelop one

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) plans to complete three hospital projects by 2033. The Klipfontein and Belhar regional hospitals are both planned as new facilities that... 

New-vehicle sales notch up best month since October 2019, exports down 1.9%

July delivered the best monthly new-vehicle sales tally since October 2019, says naamsa | The Automotive Business Council. Last month’s new-vehicle sales, at 51 383 units, were up 15.6% compared... 

Feasibility study recommends PPP model for Cape Town’s Faure water scheme

The completed feasibility study on the implementation model for Cape Town’s Faure New Water Scheme (FNWS) has recommended that the project be rolled out as a public-private partnership (PPP). The... 

Mercedes-Benz appoints new CEO of South African operations

Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) CEO and MBSA Manufacturing executive director Andreas Brand has resigned. He will take on a new role as Mercedes-Benz production network completely knocked down... 

R2bn-plus inner-city development for the City of Cape Town

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers have unveiled the Founders Garden inner-city, mixed-use, affordable housing development in the Cape Town... 

DHL, Unilever and Volvo in pilot study to test superlink electric truck

DHL Supply Chain has launched an electric vehicle (EV) pilot project in collaboration with Unilever and Volvo Trucks South Africa. The initiative involves deploying a fully electric Volvo FMX 6 x 4... 

Tata returns to South Africa as part of Motus group

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV), a subsidiary of Tata Motors, is returning to South Africa after its 2019 exit, and is doing so in partnership with JSE-listed automotive group Motus as its... 

Made in Cape Town. Tackling rough terrain around the world. Meet South Industries

What do you do when you grow tired of the corporate grind? For mechanical engineer Stephan Bekker the answer was to start his own bike-rim manufacturing company after spending several years... 

Lightstone expects 7.7% bump in new-vehicle sales; says 89% of buyers opting for 6-years-plus financing

Research house Lightstone says it anticipates a new vehicle sales market for 2025 of around 555 500 units – up 7.7% on last year – of which 524 000 units will be passenger and light commercial... 

Cape Town’s Water Directorate adds 176 trucks to its fleet

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate spent R155.5-million on acquiring 176 new and upgraded trucks during the 2024/2025 financial year. The directorate says the fleet... 

New V&A Waterfront development will require 3.2 ha land reclamation

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) firm Infinity Environmental has released a pre-application draft scoping report on the proposed R20-billion expansion project at the V&A Waterfront in Cape... 

Subaru Southern Africa appoints new MD

Toshimitsu Tanaka has been appointed as the new MD of Subaru Southern Africa, effective August 1. Tanaka succeeds Andrew Marshall, who retired after five years of leadership. 

SA women (slowly) catching up to men in vehicle ownership – Lightstone

Research group Lightstone says women in South Africa are catching up to men in financed car purchases, while they already lead in homeownership – shifts which reflect their growing socio-economic... 

African auto industry body appoints component-focused project manager

The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) has appointed Cabral Ngubane as its new project manager focused on expanding the manufacturing of components for original-equipment... 

Hisense SA grows its TV, fridge output, seeks more local suppliers

Hisense South Africa (SA) deputy GM Luna Nortje says there is potential at the television (TV) and refrigerator assembler to increase the local sourcing of electronic components, compressors,... 

Electric motorbike sales growing rapidly, total market could reach 12-year high

Based on national traffic information system data, the first electric motorbikes – 22 in total – were registered and sold in South Africa in 2014, says Association of Motorcycle Industry... 

Motor-body-repair sector training reform has value, but cut the red tape – Sambra, RMI

The South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (Sambra), in partnership with the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), is intensifying its efforts to address the critical shortage of... 

Hydrogen light-vehicle development on hold – AFS

AutoForecast Solutions (AFS) describes the development of hydrogen light-vehicles as “on hold” in its newest AFS Monthly report. Over the last quarter century, hydrogen, especially through fuel...