Atlantic Aerodrome Phase 1 set to open in the Swartland in September

The R500-million, first phase of the new purpose-built general aviation and turboprop base, Atlantic Aerodrome, is set to open its doors in the Swartland, in the Western Cape, in September. The... 

Italy’s SDF agricultural machinery group sets up shop in the Western Cape

The Western Cape has secured another international investment, with Italian agricultural machinery manufacturer SDF opening its South African commercial subsidiary in Paarl. The 100-year-old... 

New-vehicle sales continue to soar in May; new energy vehicle sales see big jump

South Africa’s new-vehicle market continued its positive run as sales increased by 12.8% in May compared with the same month last year. The 51 071 new vehicles that found new owners last month... 

Volkswagen Group Africa produces one-millionth Polo at its Kariega plant

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has reached a major milestone with the production of the one-millionth current generation Polo at its Kariega plant, in the Eastern Cape. Lucky number one-million is... 

Volvo Trucks tests hydrogen combustion engine trucks, aims for pre-2030 launch

Volvo has begun on-road testing of heavy trucks powered by hydrogen combustion engines, with commercial launch planned before 2030. The Swedish truck maker believes its hydrogen-powered trucks will... 

Ferrari launches its first ever fully electric car

Italian super-car manufacturer Ferrari has shocked purists and petrolheads by unveiling its first ever battery electric vehicle – the Luce. Pronounced loo-chay, it translates into ‘light’ or... 

The case for EVs strengthening as diesel volatility increases – Everlectric

The economics of diesel vehicles have become increasingly unstable, says Everlectric chief commercial officer Paul Plummer. “For years, the debate around electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa has... 

Khayelitsha Cookies reach UK shelves, skies

Cape Town-based artisanal biscuit producer Khayelitsha Cookies has secured more than R1.4-million in deals from two UKbacked companies. One agreement will see its products served onboard British... 

No sweet spot found yet as govt, auto industry mull shoring up local manufacturing

The South African automotive industry and government have not yet found “that sweet spot” that would shore up the local manufacturing sector as it faces declining local parts content and increasing... 

Toyota, govt hand over locally developed hydrogen refuelling station

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), together with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and Hydrogen South Africa (HySA), have handed over a locally developed mobile hydrogen... 

Kanu opens new R25m manufacturing site to support Isuzu plant

Kanu Commercial Body Construction has opened its new manufacturing facility in the Aloes Industrial Complex in Gqeberha, adjacent to Isuzu Motors South Africa’s (IMSAf’s) Vehicle Conversion and... 

Chinese car industry notches up first Car of the Year win in SA as T2 takes the crown

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has selected the Jetour T2 as the 2026 Car of the Year (COTY). Now in its fortieth year, the event marks the first-ever victory for a Chinese... 

Clean record for Fidelity Services’ new-tech cash-in-transit vehicles

Fidelity Services Group (FSG) says not a single attack has been recorded against any of the group’s new purpose-engineered cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicles since their deployment at the end of 2023.... 

Zeda sees profit dip as rental business weighs on performance

While buoyed by a solid performance in the leasing market, JSE-listed Zeda saw its profit for the six months ended March 31 dip as a lukewarm domestic economy, global headwinds and changing new-car... 

Cape Town’s Metal Theft Unit closes 136 non-compliant scrap traders; recovers 800 kg of stolen metal

In the ten months between July last year and April this year, the City of Cape Town’s (CoCT’s) Metal Theft Unit made 88 arrests and recovered more than a kilometre of stolen cable and more than 800... 

Tata Africa gears up for launch of electric bus, small electric truck, and Xenon bakkie

Tata Africa aims to launch a fully electric commuter bus in South Africa “within the next few months”, says Tata Africa Holdings CEO Jacques Taylor. The vehicle will be assembled locally, and will... 

New-vehicle sales soar as exports fall for third straight month

South Africa’s new-vehicle market delivered its strongest April performance in 13 years, with domestic sales rising 13% year-on-year, to 47 979 units. According to data from naamsa | The Automotive... 

EGA commissions solar panel plant in Paarl

Ener-G-Africa (EGA) has commissioned its Western Cape solar panel manufacturing facility in Paarl. The plant has a nameplate assembly capacity of up to 150 MW a year on a three-shift operation. 

Golden Arrow targets 6m km electric bus run this year, considering wheeling options

Cape Town’s Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) has deployed 120 electric buses since January this year, traveling a combined 115 000 km to 120 000 km a week. “At this rate, we should get close to... 

Boost local auto industry’s competitiveness instead of shielding it from rivals – WesBank

The growing presence of Chinese competition in the South African auto industry is not a concern, as competition in itself is not a problem, says WesBank senior economist Thanda Sithole. “Increased... 

Nearly 30% of all new cars sold this year to be electric – IEA

The latest edition of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) Global Electric Vehicle (EV) Outlook 2026, expects that nearly 30% of all new cars sold globally this year will be electric. Electric... 

Toyota launches its first fully electric vehicle in SA

South Africa’s long-running market leader has finally launched its first fully electric vehicle in the domestic market – the Toyota bZ4X. Priced rather steeply at R1.18-million, this battery... 

Dept of Energy targets affordability, load-reduction as loadshedding moves to the rearview mirror

As South Africa this month celebrates 365 days without loadshedding, the Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) is turning its attention to the challenges of load-reduction, supply security and... 

Record vehicle exports in 2025, but component exports continue to decline as EV sales grow

Despite multiple global and local headwinds, new-vehicle exports from South Africa reached a new record last year. Component exports, however, yet again failed to show growth in 2025. Speaking at... 

No sweet spot found yet as govt, auto industry mull shoring up local manufacturing

The South African automotive industry and government have not yet found “that sweet spot” that would shore up the local manufacturing sector as it faces declining local parts content and increasing... 

Metso opens Cape Town hub to support ports business in SA, rest of Africa

Metso has expanded its global bulk-materials handling network with the opening of a new regional hub in Cape Town. The Finnish group supplies technologies, solutions and services to the aggregates,... 

R20bn in airport projects poised to take off in Cape Town

The airspace over Cape Town is set to become much busier in the next two to seven years, with two mega-projects ramping up to allow for increased air traffic to and from the Western Cape capital.... 

R20bn in airport projects poised to take off in Cape Town

The airspace over Cape Town is set to become much busier in the next two to seven years, with two mega-projects ramping up to allow for increased air traffic to and from the Western Cape capital.... 

R1.7bn allocated to MyCiTi service in Cape Town’s draft budget; R1.9bn for road maintenance

The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate’s proposed operational budget for the financial year, starting July 1, is more than R4.7-billion, which includes R1.7-billion for operating the... 

Grindrod secures rail access agreement, eyes 2027 start

Logistics group Grindrod has confirmed that it has signed a rail access agreement (RAA) with the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM), formally enabling its participation in South Africa’s... 

Honeywell process technology selected for Saldanha Bay aviation fuel facility

Phelan Green, through its clean fuels subsidiary Phelan eFuels, has selected Honeywell’s renewable fuel process technology for its proposed electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) facility in... 

Lesco doubles capacity as it rolls out semi-robotic production lines at its Joburg plant

Local manufacturer of electrical and consumer products Lesco has unveiled its new semi-robotic production lines at its Johannesburg plant. The third-generation South African manufacturer says the... 

Toyota, government hand over locally developed hydrogen refuelling station

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), together with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and Hydrogen South Africa (HySA), have handed over a locally developed mobile hydrogen... 

Heavy-hitters sign agreement to develop hydrogen supply chain from Japan to Europe

Daimler Truck, MB Energy and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) to establish a liquefied hydrogen supply chain to Europe via the Port of Hamburg. Under this... 

Raubex ups its profit by 11.6% as Bauba Resources regains its mojo

Construction group Raubex has shown healthy gains in its order book and operating profit for the financial year ended February 28, despite a setback at its Australian business. The JSE-listed... 

Record output for Isuzu’s SA unit

Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) achieved a record vehicle production tally for the 2026 financial year, which ended on March 31. During the 12-month period, the vehicle assembler saw a 21%... 

Cape Town continues roll-out of lockable glass-fibre manhole covers to curb vandalism

The City of Cape Town’s (CoCT’s) Water and Sanitation Directorate has, to date, installed more than 500 lockable manhole covers across sewer and reticulation infrastructure in the metro. The... 

Toyota aims to join Daimler Truck, Volvo Group as equal shareholder in fuel-cell JV

Toyota Motor Corporation has signed a non-binding agreement with Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group to participate in their fuel-cell system joint venture (JV), cellcentric. The three companies... 

South Africa’s post-collision repair capacity under structural pressure – SAMBRA

South Africa’s post-collision repair sector is entering a period of structural strain that could have far-reaching implications for insurers, manufacturers and consumers alike, warns the South... 

Improve the local auto industry’s ability to compete, rather than insulating it from competition – WesBank

The growing arrival of Chinese competition in the South African auto industry is not a concern, as competition in itself is not a problem, says WesBank senior economist Thanda Sithole. “Increased...