Author:focus-on-transport

Confidence inspired!

Through its substantial investments in production facilities for its Ranger bakkie in South Africa, Ford has underlined its level of confidence in the future of the country’s automotive industry Growth in South Africa’s automotive sector is on an upward trajectory, driven by the country’s vehicle export business, according to an assessment by the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA). During a tour of the company’s recently upgraded assembly plant at Silverton, Pretoria, spokesmen for the manufacturer indicated that exports […]

Read more

Atlantis Foundries wins prestigious award

Accolade indicates the company’s commitment to quality, consistency and sustainability Cape-based Atlantis Foundries recently won the prestigious Best Brownfield / Expansion Project Award at the 2019 Investment Conference in Sandton. The award was presented by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Atlantis Foundries employs about 800 people and specialises in the manufacture of engine blocks for trucks. All of the products are exported. “Our quality outperforms that of international competitors and we proudly cast the words Made in South Africa on each item […]

Read more

Isuzu ups South African investment

The Japanese manufacturer confirms implementation of its next generation bakkie programme Isuzu Motors of Japan has confirmed that it will be investing R1,2 billion in its next-generation bakkie programme in South Africa, estimating that an additional total local content value of R2,8 billion will be generated through the lifecycle of the project. The development follows the company’s takeover last year of General Motors’ light commercial vehicle operations in Port Elizabeth, as well as the balance of shareholding in its trucks […]

Read more

The year ahead: Serco’s view

South Africa’s disappointing economic growth will remain a challenge in 2020 One of South Africa’s leading truck and trailer building companies, Serco, aims to achieve moderate growth in 2020 after increasing its market share during the past year. CEO Clinton Holcroft says the company, which began 2019 with a strong order book, saw business confidence wane until the latter part of the year, when festive season demand resulted in retailers needing more vehicles to handle growing volumes. “The positive start […]

Read more

AA calls for speed in implementing new traffic law enforcement processes

Association says recommendations by the Traffic Law Enforcement Review Committee must be applied without delay The Automobile Association (AA) has lent its support to recommendations made by the Traffic Law Enforcement Review Committee (TLERC) – and it warns that government’s failure to implement the measures as quickly as possible will amount to a serious dereliction of duty. Established in 2016, the TLERC was tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of traffic law enforcement in South Africa. The findings were released […]

Read more

Double deckers make a comeback

MAN introduces its stylish Lion’s City bus Some designs make a comeback for the sake of nostalgia – think music on vinyl – while others return to offer a better product. Although the size of modern smartphones resembles the bulky block-like, hand-held phones from the 1970s, they are perceived as better products with increased screen area and improved technologies. Similarly, MAN Automotive South Africa is introducing a more stylish, optimised version of another design from the 1970s: double-decker buses. Widely […]

Read more

HCV Underwriting Managers teams up with Infiniti Insurance

New partnership aims to minimise cost for small truck fleets while comprehensively protecting the asset base While many economic indicators in South Africa are down, increase in demand for transport and logistics services is growing, says Sharon Paterson, CEO of short-term insurance company, Infiniti. She attributes the increase in sales to a growth in local hub deliveries caused by an upswing in popularity of online shopping. However, she says the transport sector is facing escalating costs – a barrier to […]

Read more

New CEO at the helm at Fiat Chrysler SA

Long-term strategy planned to benefit the company’s brands locally Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced the appointment of Pierre Martin Bos as CEO for South Africa. Outgoing head, Graham Eagle, will leave his position on November 15, his assignment having always been considered short term. During the past 16 months, Eagle has solidified FCA’s activity in South Africa, focusing on improved customer service and streamlining business efficiencies. In a farewell message, the FCA board thanked Eagle for his services and […]

Read more

Fleets buy down as economy struggles

Despite gains in the market in some commercial vehicle segments, tough trading months are set to persist, says Gert Swanepoel, managing director of UD Trucks Southern Africa Even though South Africa’s struggling economy is continuing to have an impact on the local commercial vehicle industry, the sector showed year-on-year growth of 3,1 percent in new unit sales at the end of October. According to latest results released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), Associated Motor […]

Read more

Toyota: the people’s champion

South Africa’s light commercial vehicle sector is a significant contributor to the country’s economy, not only in terms of the number of minibuses and bakkies produced locally, but also in terms of the volumes of vehicles and parts exported to destinations in Africa and other areas of the world. It’s fitting, therefore, that Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has decided to bolster facilities at its Durban plant to accommodate increased production of its Hiace Ses’fikile minibus taxi, as well as […]

Read more