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... 

Tap-and-go payment technology installed at toll gates on N3, N4 highways

FNB and Visa have completed the roll-out of tap-and-go payment technology across select toll gates ahead of the December holidays. Motorists at select toll plazas along the N3, TRAC N4 and... 

Cape Town service level plan is not a devolution agreement, warns PRASA

The recent Service Level Plan (SLP) signed between the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and the City of Cape Town is not a devolution agreement, warns the rail agency. It says the... 

Proposed acquisition by Saudi-Sewela entity should see Barloworld delist

A special purpose consortium – Newco – comprising a Saudi Arabian group and a company linked to current CEO Dominic Sewela, has announced its intent to acquire diversified industrial group... 

Picup to start rolling out electric vehicles in 2025

Picup Technologies will next year start to provide electric mobility solutions to its driver network, all of whom are independent contractors, for deliveries within a five-kilometre radius in... 

Uber launches bakkie courier service in the South African market

Uber has launched a courier bakkie product offering to drivers and users of the Uber app in South Africa. This offering will see the ‘Uber Package’ service being rebranded as ‘Courier’, to align... 

Chery SA records best-ever sales in November

Chery South Africa (Chery SA) has celebrated its best-ever month in the domestic market, with sales for November exceeding the 2 000-unit mark. Last month, 2 006 Chery vehicles were sold in South... 

UK funding released to look at improving rural road construction in SA

The Royal Society, in the UK, has provided funding to support a three-year collaborative roads project between the UK’s University of Nottingham (UoN) and South Africa’s Stellenbosch University... 

Macpherson wants frank debate on the 30% local procurement rule being abused by construction mafia

The country must have a frank discussion about the 30% local procurement rule, which has been abused by the so-called construction mafia, says Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean... 

World’s largest car-carrier calls at Durban and PE ports, vessel super-sizing to continue

The Höegh Aurora, the world’s newly crowned largest car carrier, in November called at both the Durban and Port Elizabeth ports as she makes her way around the world. The Aurora started operations... 

Kariega plant solar array expanded to over 12 000 panels

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) has added a further 3 MW of solar power to its local grid, bringing the total output of renewable energy to 5.9 MW. This is enough energy to power at least 2 000... 

Afrimat Construction Index continues upward trend in third quarter

The Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) continued its upward trend in third quarter of the year. The ACI is a composite index of the level of activity within the building and construction sectors, and... 

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 next 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 the SA EV market

A bi-lateral country project by the Electric Mission in South Africa and the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association has engaged the South African government, including National Treasury and the... 

New-vehicle market on the mend; 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... 

Cape Town to see construction of R900m film set

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... 

Stellantis global group CEO resigns amid financial headwinds

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has resigned with immediate effect. The announcement at the world’s fourth biggest car maker comes amid declining profit and sales in its key North America market. 

Cape Town declares dispute over ‘unconstitutional’ District Development Model regulations

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the city has declared a formal intergovernmental dispute owing to what it calls the “unconstitutional and unlawful” District Development Model regulations,... 

Omoda, Jaecoo to roll out six new models in SA in 2025, EVs included

The Chery Group division comprising the Omoda and Jaecoo marques – Brand O&J – entered the South African market in 2023 with the launch of the Omoda C5. Since then, the Chinese manufacturer's... 

Public Works to blacklist ‘criminal’ contractors as delayed projects soar to R3-billion

Out of the 206 infrastructure projects overseen by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) this financial year, 164 are experiencing delays, says Public Works and Infrastructure... 

Volkswagen rolls out electric tractors in Rwanda

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) has announced the start of operations of a modern farming pilot project in Gashora, Rwanda, that will see the roll-out of specially developed VW-badged electric... 

Africa's first biophilic building slowly starts to take shape in Cape Town

Project developer Lurra Capital says work on The Fynbos biophilic building is advancing steadily. The project basement, which officially broke ground in November last year, is now 38% complete. 

Charge opens it 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... 

Indian-built cars lead under-R300k segment in 2023, and have the best resale value – Lightstone

Vehicles manufactured in India accounted for 70% of the 108 000 light vehicles under R300 000 sold in South Africa in 2023 through the dealer network, says market intelligence group Lightstone. The... 

Tap-and-go payment technology installed at N3, N4 toll gates

FNB and Visa have completed the roll-out of tap-and-go payment technology across select toll gates ahead of the December holidays. Motorists at select toll plazas along the N3, TRAC N4 and...