Chinese marques claim nearly one in five SA vehicle sales as value retention shapes buyer choices

One of the most notable structural shifts in the South African automotive market is the continued rise of Chinese automotive brands – this according to TransUnion’s First Quarter (Q1) 2026 Mobility... 

Cape Town CBD sees 41% property development boom

Property investment in the Cape Town central business district (CBD) surged by 41% during 2025/26 compared with the previous year. The State of Cape Town Central City Report 2025, published this... 

GridCars rolls out R40m upgrade to its national charging network

Electric vehicle (EV) charging network operator GridCars is rolling out a R40-million programme to upgrade its national charging network. CEO Winstone Jordaan says the project will modernise... 

Repairability SA’s next automotive affordability challenge; EVs more expensive to insure

As South Africans keep their cars for longer and new technologies become increasingly common, the affordability of vehicle ownership is being shaped by more than the purchase price, says the South... 

Volvo electric trucks surpass 250 000 km operations mark in SA

The fleet of Volvo Trucks battery electric vehicles in commercial operation in South Africa has now travelled more than 250 000 km. The kilometres accumulated so far have been achieved using... 

New-vehicle market set to breach 600 000 units this year as June sales jump 15.3%

South Africa’s new-vehicle market recorded the strongest June since 2007, keeping the industry on track to surpass the 600 000-level mark this year, says the National Automobile Dealer Association... 

Chery assumes control of former Nissan plant

China’s Chery Group has officially taken ownership of the former Nissan assembly plant in Rosslyn, Tshwane. The car maker consists of the Jetour, Lepas, Chery, Jaecoo, iCaur and Lepas brands. 

Western Cape municipalities increasingly outshining other provinces – MFS Index

Independent governance ratings agency Ratings Afrika’s newest yearly Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI) confirms the severe financial distress facing the majority of South Africa’s... 

Chery’s entry-level EV to make its local debut in September

Chery South Africa (SA) says it will introduce the fully electric Chery Q at the beginning of September, with pricing starting at R350 000. “The Q has been developed to make electric driving a... 

Cape Town unpacks three-year, R6bn budget for electricity infrastructure  

Cape Town’s Energy Directorate says it will spend R6-billion on electricity infrastructure over the next three years. The goal, it says, is to secure the city’s energy needs, and to make... 

Phillips questions need for middlemen, slams practice of overcharging Transnet

Transnet group CEO Michelle Phillips says the State-owned rail, ports and pipeline logistics group is putting measures in place to ensure that it no longer over-pays for goods and services.... 

NAACAM-ILO study calls for action to secure jobs as auto sector moves to EVs

A worst-case scenario could see South Africa’s shift to new-energy vehicles (NEVs) place an estimated 8 200 direct jobs at risk up to 2035, indicates a new research study by the National... 

V&A Waterfront marks start of superyacht marina’s pontoon production

The V&A Waterfront and Damen Shipyards Cape Town have marked the official start of pontoon production for the Quay 7 Superyacht Marina, with a keel-laying ceremony at Damen Shipyards’ factory in... 

Cargo and fuel projects feature strongly in R20bn ORTIA investment plan

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has put in place a roughly R20-billion project pipeline for the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), running up to the end of 2031. ACSA spokesperson Ofentse... 

National Treasury withholds July funds from 69 municipalities ‘to instil fiscal discipline’

The National Treasury is temporarily withholding the July equitable share transfers to 70 municipalities across all nine provinces in an effort to “instil fiscal discipline and ensure that public... 

Cargo and fuel projects feature strongly in R20bn ORTIA investment plan

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has put in place a roughly R20-billion project pipeline for the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), running up to the end of 2031. ACSA spokesperson Ofentse... 

Chery SA to kick off assembly with Tiggo 4 Cross, bakkie assembly under investigation

Chery South Africa (SA) has confirmed that the Tiggo 4 range will be the first model produced at its newly acquired Rosslyn manufacturing plant, with local production scheduled to begin in the... 

Electric, hybrid vehicles increasingly price competitive – Lightstone

Price competitiveness and a growing variety of models have helped fuel new-energy vehicle (NEV) sales in the local market, says research house Lightstone in its newest newsletter. NEVs refer to... 

Sixteen months on, food rescue startup Refreshi reaches 200 000-meal milestone

Since its launch in March last year, the Refreshi app has seen South Africans rescue 200 000 meals from local landfills. In doing so, consumers have also saved R12.5-million on their grocery bills.... 

Sanral CEO steps down

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has confirmed that its CEO, Reginald Demana, has resigned with effect August 31. Demana will move to a new, not yet known, position in the... 

‘Significant operational improvements’ recorded at Cape Town port – TNPA

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) says it has recorded “significant operational improvements” at the Port of Cape Town, with progress in terminal performance, reduced ship turnaround time... 

Western Cape municipalities increasingly outshining other provinces – MFS Index

Independent governance ratings agency Ratings Afrika’s newest yearly Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI) confirms the severe financial distress facing the majority of South Africa’s... 

Afrimat Construction Index records marginal growth in Q1

The latest Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) shows a marginal year-on-year increase of 0.3%. The first-quarter index was boosted by year-on-year increases of more than 5% in the value of both... 

150 000th truck assembled at Daimler Truck’s KuGompo City plant

Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) has celebrated the handover of the 150 000th truck assembled at its KuGompo City plant, in the Eastern Cape. The MercedesBenz Actros 2645LS/33 workhorse was... 

Japan’s Marubeni acquires TiAuto

Japan-based trading and investment company Marubeni Corporation has acquired South African automotive retail and services group TiAuto Investments. Founded in 1967, TiAuto is an automotive... 

R650m GrandWest Mall development breaks ground in Cape Town

Flanagan & Gerard Property Group and GrandWest, a subsidiary of Sun International, have marked the official start of construction on the R650-million GrandWest Mall development within the GrandWest... 

Collision repair sector must keep pace as cars become more advanced – Sambra

The growing presence of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in less expensive vehicles is reshaping South Africa’s collision repair industry, warns the South African Motor Body Repairers'... 

naamsa extols auto support programme’s benefits as it hits back at APDP critics

naamsa | The Automotive Business Council has hit back at critics describing the Automotive Production and Development Plan (APDP) as a honeypot, while also questioning the argument in favour of... 

Wind sector can up its employment by up to 400% – Vestas CEO

The broader South African wind energy sector will need to up its employment by between 300% and 400% by 2042 if it is to keep pace with the proposed expansion of wind energy in the country, says... 

MyCiTi’s first electric bus arrives in Cape Town; 37 more to follow

MyCiTi’s first electric bus (e-bus) has arrived in Cape Town, where it will now be put to the test on the city’s most demanding public transport routes. The vehicle is a 12-m Volvo BZRLE... 

National Treasury withholds July funds to 69 municipalities ‘to instil fiscal discipline’

National Treasury is temporarily withholding the July equitable share transfers to 70 municipalities across all nine provinces in an effort to “instil fiscal discipline and ensure that public money... 

Chery takes ownership of the former Nissan plant; eyes 100 000-unit sales a year

China’s Chery group has officially taken ownership of the former Nissan assembly plant in Rosslyn, Tshwane. The car maker consists of the Jetour, Lepas, Chery, Jaecoo, iCaur and Lepas brands. 

Jaecoo J5 added to the production list at Chery’s new Pretoria plant

Omoda & Jaecoo has confirmed that the Jaecoo J5 sports-utility vehicle (SUV) will be added to the assembly list at the Chery Group’s new South African plant in Pretoria. The Chery Group acquired... 

Nearly one in five vehicles sold Chinese; brands that retain value gaining an edge – TransUnion

One of the most notable structural shifts in the South African automotive market is the continued rise of Chinese automotive brands – this according to TransUnion’s First Quarter (Q1) 2026 Mobility... 

Fiat’s electric three-wheeler to hit SA market at the end of the year

Fiat South Africa (SA) says its first micromobility vehicle, the Tris, is scheduled to land in South Africa and selected sub-Saharan African markets at the end of the year. Fiat is a Stellantis... 

South African govt, industry and academia unite behind fluorochemicals programme

Flourochemicals South Africa (FSA), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and Nelson Mandela University (NMU) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to advance the Fluorochemicals Strategic... 

GridCars to deploy truck-charging infrastructure at three highway sites

Electric vehicle (EV) charging group GridCars says it will deploy charging infrastructure for large trucks at three sites along major South African highways in the next 12 months. The grid-tied... 

Grid Access Unit must move out of Eskom sooner rather than later – Sola Group CEO

Eskom’s Grid Access Unit (GAU) must be moved to the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) as soon as possible, says Sola Group CEO Dom Wills. Speaking at a Webber Wentzel Power... 

New-vehicle market set to breach 600 000 units this year as June sales jump by 15.3%

South Africa’s new-vehicle market recorded the strongest June since 2007, keeping the industry on track to surpass the 600 000-level mark this year, says the National Automobile Dealer Association... 

Nissan SA appoints new MD

Juan Wheeler has been appointed the new MD at Nissan South Africa (SA), a role which he will fulfil alongside his current position as Nissan Africa CFO. Nissan Africa president Jordi Vila describes...