Author:charleen-clarke
A ray of light, a dose of reality July 9, 2025 There’s a heaviness that has hung over my recent columns – a pessimism I’ve struggled to shake – and for good reason: South Africa’s transport sector has felt broken beyond repair. But just when I thought I’d lost the last of my optimism, something shifted. A media release landed in my inbox. It made me think. And, for the first time in a long time, it made me hope. […]
Making miracles on the Han River July 11, 2025 From war-torn poverty to global tech titan, South Korea’s transformation is legendary. Now Kia, once nearly bankrupt, is leading a new revolution – with a van. CHARLEEN CLARKE writes that the PV5 is about to ruffle many a feature in the commercial vehicle (CV) market. In the aftermath of the Korean War, few would have wagered on South Korea’s future. The country was left scorched and destitute. In 1960, its GDP […]
Road to hell June 23, 2025 South Africa’s roads are crumbling. They are dangerous, costly, and neglected. Despite rising fuel levies, motorists and truckers are facing worsening conditions with no relief in sight. There’s no other way to describe my sentiments on this subject: I am properly gatvol. I was utterly terrified: it was 5am on a rainy Johannesburg morning and my car was marooned on the side of the road. I had been heading to the airport and, of […]
ECG Congress highlights turbulent times and technological transitions June 20, 2025 At a time when global trade faces unprecedented geopolitical shocks and the finished vehicle logistics (FVL) sector is navigating declining volumes, the ECG General Assembly & Spring Congress in Cascais struck a sobering, yet forward-looking tone. CHARLEEN CLARKE reports from Portugal. Hosted by the Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG), the event gathered industry leaders, economists, and technologists to unpack the state of play in a sector critical to […]
Customer commitment drives DAF’s market momentum June 17, 2025 The truck market isn’t a bed of roses. But DAF Trucks, under the stewardship of Babcock International Group, has been steadily carving out a prominent place in South Africa’s heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) market. In an exclusive interview with CHARLEEN CLARKE, Mark Gavin, sales director of DAF Trucks at Babcock, shares insights into the brand’s recent performance, sector trends, and what sets DAF apart in an increasingly competitive landscape. The South […]
Iveco bounces back! June 17, 2025 Iveco is preparing to make major strides in South Africa. CHARLEEN CLARKE flew to Madrid, Spain, to visit the company’s truck plant and conduct an exclusive interview with Shahram Falati, business director – Africa & Middle East at Iveco. He reveals that a number of significant developments are on the cards, including the resumption of local completely knocked down (CKD) assembly. Follow the money. That’s what one has to do to measure any company’s […]
The robots are coming. No, wait… they’re already here! May 20, 2025 We’ve all heard the phrase, “The robots are coming”. Short, dramatic, and evocative, it suggests either an invasion or a revolution… or maybe both? You know a phrase has hit a nerve when it shows up in TED Talks, business keynotes, and even on protest signs. “The robots are coming” is one of those loaded lines that people love to fear. It’s catchy, sure, but it also carries […]
Cracks in the tar, rust on the rails: is this our future? April 16, 2025 Ever wondered what the transport infrastructure in South Africa (what’s left of it) will look like in 10 years? I worry that I know the answer… Every time I read one of Nick Porée’s columns, I brace myself. I know I’m about to be punched in the gut by facts that are not just painful – they’re undeniable. It’s not his tone that breaks me. […]
Are electric vans about to become cheaper than diesel? April 9, 2025 Electric vans – once seen as a futuristic luxury – are fast becoming a serious contender in the commercial vehicle space. According to a new report from tech analysts IDTechEx, it may not be long before they’re also the cheaper option. In 2023, about 5% of all global light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales were electric vehicles (EVs). In 2024, fewer than 500,000 electric LCVs (eLCVs) were sold globally. […]
Unpacked: 2024 commercial vehicle market March 13, 2025 The 2024 commercial VEHICLE (CV) market faced a 5.6% decline after strong growth in 2023 but still achieved ITS second-highest sales total since the pandemic. Lightstone unpacks these and other related developments… After growing by 13.1% in 2023, the combined heavy and extra-heavy commercial market struggled somewhat in 2024, contracting by 5.6%. However, it still recorded its second-best annual sales total since the start of the pandemic, with 22,378 units reported to […]
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