Bring forward policy review, drop luxury tax on new-energy vehicles – Toyota CEO

The midterm review on the second iteration of government’s Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP) is scheduled for 2026, but the local automotive industry wants to bring this... 

Auto industry, Transnet to form war room to drive efficiency, improve security

Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council and Transnet have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop and convene a naamsa–Transnet ‘auto war room’. This war room will drive the... 

Cape Town to wrap up desalination plant feasibility study in 2025, first water possible in 2030

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has started the feasibility study on the proposed Paarden Island desalination plant, says CoCT Water and Sanitation MMC Zahid Badroodien. The study is being undertaken... 

Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes untenable, reduction mechanisms being weighed – Ramokgopa

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is confident that government will be able to positively intervene in Eskom’s tariff-hike application for the 2025/26 financial year at the... 

New-vehicle sales down 4.1%, exports plunge by 38.1%

New-vehicle sales in South Africa in September dropped by 4.1%, to 44 081 units, compared with the same month last year. naamsa | The Automotive Business Council reports that the new-passenger-car... 

SAS partners with Fincantieri, Vard Marine to build offshore patrol vessels in South Africa

Sandock Austral Shipyards (SAS) in Durban has signed a technology partnership agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and its Canadian subsidiary Vard Marine to construct the Afrika class... 

Consumers to be subsidised to buy electric vehicles – President Rampahosa

South African consumers should, in the nearer future, receive some form of subsidy to buy electric vehicles (EVs), as has been the case in most major markets in the world. These subsidies are aimed... 

Government must look after current investors and not only seek new ones – Naamsa president

It is important for government to not only pursue new investors, but to also look after current investors already doing business in South Africa, says Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council... 

As key export markets falter, SA Inc must work together to secure maximum production at its auto plants

New-vehicle exports from South Africa were down 9.2% for the first half of the year compared with the same six months last year, says naamsa | The Automotive Business Council president Billy Tom.... 

BMW Group South Africa starts production of the new plug-in X3

BMW Group South Africa’s (BMW SA’s) Rosslyn plant, in Tshwane, has started production of the fourth-generation BMW X3, following a R4.2-billion investment. It is the only facility in the BMW global... 

GAC Motor arrives in SA with two SUVs, EV to follow next year

GAC Motor is one of the newest companies to join the inflow of Chinese brands into the South African new-vehicle market. Engineering News Online spoke to GAC Motor South Africa (GAC SA) CEO Leslie... 

Selling Mutlu, stabilising Hesto key as Metair moves towards new strategy

Selling the troubled Mutlu battery business in Türkiye and continuing stabilisation efforts at Hesto Harnesses are key in returning Metair to solid ground, says CEO Paul O’Flaherty. Announcing the... 

Belgian team claims 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge title

Belgium’s Innoptus team has secured the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge title, with the team breaking the daily distance record twice in a row during the competition. The Innoptus team consists of... 

VWA operating normally amid rumours of plant closures at German parent company

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) says its Kariega assembly plant, in the Eastern Cape, is operating as normal amid possible plant closures and job cuts at its parent company in Germany. In fact, the... 

Grindrod to acquire remaining stake in Matola Terminal

Ports and logistics group Grindrod will acquire the remaining 35% shareholding in Terminal de Carvão da Matola (TCM), at the Maputo port, from Vitol Mauritius for $77-million. The JSE-listed... 

Rail masterplan to be finalised by October next year – DoT chief director

The Department of Transport (DoT) aims to have the interim National Rail Masterplan (NRMP) ready by February next year, says DoT chief director Jan-David de Villiers. This will be followed by an... 

South African fly farmer Maltento expands into the UK, EU

Insect-based animal-feed solutions producer Maltento has grown its production capacity and is now expanding into the EU and UK. The Cape Town-based company already achieved its EU export... 

Zero Carbon Charge, AIDC-EC launch off-grid EV charger programme in the Eastern Cape

Zero Carbon Charge (Charge), in partnership with the Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC-EC), and together with the Eastern Cape provincial government, has broken ground on... 

Construction begins on Cape Town solar PV plant, battery storage tender released

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has started construction on a R200-million, 7 MW solar PV plant, located in Atlantis, with the first electricity to be delivered by the end of next year. The tender for... 

BMW Group South Africa starts production of the new plug-in X3

BMW Group South Africa’s (BMW SA’s) Rosslyn plant, in Tshwane, has started production of the fourth-generation BMW X3, following a R4.2-billion investment. It is the only facility in the BMW global... 

SA to host third round of World Rally-Raid Championship

South Africa has been selected to host the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). The South African Safari Rally will take place from May 18 to 24 next year. 

R12m bill to replace 6 590 stolen and vandalised sewer drain covers

Vandalism and theft have forced the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate to spend more than R12-million to replace and repair 6 590 stolen and vandalised sewer drain manhole covers... 

Metair to acquire troubled AutoZone chain

Metair is set to acquire the entire issued share capital of AutoZone Holdings. The JSE-listed Metair is a manufacturer, distributor and retailer of automotive components and energy storage solutions. 

Afrimat Construction Index bounces back in second quarter

The Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has managed to bounce back in the second quarter of this year. The ACI is a composite index of the level of activity within the building and construction... 

Cape Town proposes new CBD spatial plan, expects up to 50 000 new inner-city residents by 2040

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has invited the public to comment on its 2040 local spatial development framework (LSDF) for the central business district (CBD). The LSDF will guide decisions about... 

Multiple projects planned in Sanral’s Western Region

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has a number of multibillion-rand projects in the pipeline in its Western Region, which includes the Western and Northern Cape provinces. On... 

Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes untenable; reduction mechanisms being weighed – Ramokgopa

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is confident that government will be able to positively intervene on Eskom’s tariff-hike application for the 2025/26 financial year at the... 

Chinese vehicle sales accelerating rapidly in South Africa – Lightstone Auto

If you think you are seeing more Chinese vehicles on the road, you are correct. Chinese vehicle brands accounted for 9% of all passenger and light commercial vehicles (light vehicles) sold in South... 

Cape Town airport records 20 months of growth at international terminal

The international terminal at Cape Town International Airport has recorded its twentieth month of continuous growth. August saw a 7% year-on-year increase in traffic, with more than 213 000 two-way... 

New-vehicle sales down 4.1%, exports plummet by 38.1%

New-vehicle sales in South Africa in September dropped by 4.1%, to 44 081 units, compared with the same month last year. naamsa | The Automotive Business Council reports that the new-passenger-car... 

Business as usual at VWA amid rumours of German plant closures

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) says its Kariega assembly plant, in the Eastern Cape, is operating as normal amid possible plant closures and job cuts at its parent company in Germany. In fact, the... 

Numerous N4 upgrade projects underway, more to follow – TRAC

Maputo Corridor road concessionaire Trans African Concessions (TRAC) says there are numerous construction and rehabilitation projects underway on the N4 highway between Gauteng and Maputo, with... 

SAS partners with Fincantieri, Vard Marine to build offshore patrol vessels in SA

Sandock Austral Shipyards (SAS) in Durban has signed a technology partnership agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and its Canadian subsidiary Vard Marine to construct the Afrika class... 

Sanral awards R1.4bn Eastern Cape contracts, R3.8bn pending

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has awarded 12 road infrastructure contracts to the value of R1.4-billion in the Eastern Cape since the start of the 2024/25 financial year,... 

East London port welcomes two new tugs as TNPA completes fleet renewal

The Port of East London has taken ownership of two new tugboats, marking the end of Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA’s) R1-billion marine fleet renewal programme, aimed at boosting tugboat... 

We all feel a lot better about South Africa, says construction group WBHO boss

Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) is currently in “a good space”, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “We all feel a whole lot better about South Africa.” 

Demand for used cars streaks ahead, Asian newcomers big new-car winners

The prolonged economic downturn experienced across multiple sectors in South Africa has resulted in markedly depressed sales in the new-car segment over the past 12 months, says finance group... 

Selling Mutlu, stabilising Hesto key as Metair moves towards new strategy

Selling the troubled Mutlu battery business in Türkiye and continuing the stabilisation efforts at Hesto Harnesses are key in returning Metair to solid ground, says CEO Paul O’Flaherty. Announcing... 

Cape Town to wrap up desalination plant feasibility study in 2025, first water possible in 2030

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has started the feasibility study on the proposed Paarden Island desalination plant, says CoCT Water and Sanitation MMC Zahid Badroodien. The study is being undertaken... 

Belgian team clinches 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge title

Belgium’s Innoptus team has secured the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge title, with the team breaking the daily distance record twice in a row during the competition. The Innoptus team consists of...