Volvo wins Truck of the Year

The Volvo FH Electric Truck - introduced locally in June - has become the first electric example to win the International Truck of the Year Competition.

Volvo’s heavy electric truck, the Volvo FH Electric, has been selected as International Truck of the Year 2024. In explaining their decision, the jury praised the electric truck’s performance, seamless acceleration, quietness and vibration-free behavior.

“With the introduction of the FH Electric, Volvo Trucks has delivered a state-of-the-art battery electric vehicle range, suitable for a wide array of transport operations. It's proof that the energy transition is gaining strength even in today's challenging business environment,” says Gianenrico Griffini, Chairman, International Truck of the Year.

Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks, commented: “I am so very proud of this recognition that our Volvo FH Electric has won this highly respected award. For the first time in history the transport industry has chosen an electric vehicle as Truck of the Year. The Volvo FH Electric represents a new era in trucking and winning this award clearly shows that the shift to zero emission transport is happening here and now,” commented Roger Alm.

“I sincerely want to thank everyone who has contributed to this success. It’s based on great teamwork with passion and dedication among our fantastic colleagues within the Volvo Group, and close cooperation with our valued customers, partners and suppliers.”

This is the fourth time that Volvo’s iconic FH model has been named Truck of the Year. The Volvo FH is one of the industry's most successful models ever with nearly 1,4-million trucks sold worldwide.

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Eicher launches bus option

Eicher Trucks and Buses is people-moving into the South African market with the Eicher Skyline Pro 3009 bus, marketed and distributed via 27 operations in South Africa and neighbouring countries by VECV South Africa, a joint venture between Eicher and Volvo.

Anirvan Banerjee, Vice President and head of Africa International Business and VECV South Africa, says, “We are pleased to introduce the Eicher Skyline Pro bus series in South Africa. In line with our brand promise of ‘Partnering Prosperity’, this 36-seater bus delivers excellent performance with best-in-class fuel efficiency, superior uptime and new generation features such as Volvo Group’s EMS, larger clutch diameter and features for the safety and comfort of passengers. 

“Over the last five years, we have focused on providing a responsive service network of 27 touchpoints, parts availability with a warehouse in Kempton Park and well-trained and professional dealership service support teams.  This new addition to the bus series augments our range of Eicher trucks in South Africa with 8 to 10-ton payload capacity. 

This Pro league of trucks and buses has been engineered for South Africa, leveraging Volvo Group technology and processes coupled with Eicher superior performance and uptime support delivering enhanced profitability for our customers.”

The SABS compliant Euro 3 emission standards bus has wide comfortable and cushioned HHR seats with a longer wheelbase for more leg room, a spacious gangway, a tubular hat rack for smaller luggage, front waveller suspension and rear parabolic spring suspension. 

The vehicle has a robust DOMEX chassis along with safety features such as an anti-lock braking system, emergency exits, fire extinguishers, a 3-point ELR seat belt for the driver and a 2-point lap seat belt for passengers. 

Currently VECV South Africa offers the Eicher Pro6000 series and Eicher Pro 2000 series of trucks- ranging from 8-ton to 25-ton GVM and including Eicher Pro 2080, Pro6016, Pro6016T, Pro6018TT tractor and Pro6025T tipper.

https://bit.ly/47ADiEO

Coertse grabs Dullstroom honours

Weather, infringements and off-road excursions meant plenty of surprises in the two final rallies of the South African National series – two day, two rallies and changes in the lead right up to the finish but it was a huge event for the Mazda 2 pairing of Chris Coertse and Greg Godrich who emerged overall winners on both days.

Friday:

What should have been a straight fight in the dust on the fast special stages around the trout-rich town of Dullstroom in Mpumalanga, turned into a fight for surival for many of crews contesting the final two rounds of the 2023 South African National Rally Championship.

Clear skies and bright sunshine greeted competitors at the start of the TRACN4 Rally and all eyes were on the expected tussle between the NRC 1 Rally Technic Mazda 2 of Chris Coertse and Greg Godrich and the NRC 2 Just Tools Volkswagen Golf crewed by Benjamin Habig and Barry White – this fight for second overall in the series with the actual champion having been crowned at the previous event.

“It would be nice to claim that second place, but our goal the whole season has been to win the class,” said White.

It all went wrong for them shortly after the start of first special stage when the Polo lost drive and could not be recovered until all the cars had passed, forcing their retirement for the day and leaving the way open for the Maza duo to forge ahead.

However, the big mover of the morning was the Salom Toyota Auris of Theuns Joubert and Schalk van Heerden who stormed through the opening stage to win by 10 seconds from Coertse/Godrich with newly-crowned SA Champions JJ Potgieter and Tommy du Toit in the NTT Toyota Delmas Hyundai R4 visibly taking things easier than their normal all-out charge.

Potgieter/Du Toit

“I was taking it easier,” said Potgieter, “but we were also battling with a misfire that kept us off the pace.”

Stage 2 was a blinder for Mandla Mdakane and Kes Naidoo in their Toyota Gazoo Racing Starlet and they howled through taking 10 seconds from Joubert/Van Heerden and 14 seconds from the Mazda – just reward, perhaps for a troubled season that saw the Starlet retire from several events.

However, the pair made an error during the clock-in procedure at the start of the stage and were then penalised by four minutes, dropping them to the back of the field and this was compounded at the end of the day when and engine problem meant they could not get the car back to the parc ferme.

By the end of Stage 3 Joubert and Van Heerden had extended their lead to 17 seconds over the Mazda with Potgieter/Du Toit now slotted into third place ahead of Gerald Klopper and Etienne Lourens (GK Racing Toyota Auris) fourth overall and the leading NRC 2 contender ahead of Gustav Potgieter/Armand du Toit (Atlas Oil Ford Fiesta R2).

Stage 4 saw much o the same but with Mdakane trying to eat up as much of his deficit as possible and racking up third quickest time  over the 12, 6 kilometres of Safcol Highway 2 – this pulling them up to seventh overall.

Then, the weather intervened and a sudden, short rain and lightning storm descended with the cars in Stage 5 where everything changed as the gravel road turned into an ice-rink, setting off a chain of events started by Gerald Klopper who lost a wheel and veered off into a tree, leaving the car in a vulnerable position.

With Lourens waving oncoming competitors to slow down, Gustav Potgieter stopped on the stage (after having been stuck in the mud for more than minute earlier) without realising George Smallberger/Shaun Visser (Shield Q20 Volkswagen Polo) had closed right up.

“I saw him stopped on the stage and tried to go around but with the mud and the slide we ended up beached on the edge of the road and lost plenty of time trying to get free.” Said Smallberger.

Joubert/Van Heerden

But, it was up front where the real drama happened as Theuns Joubert suffered a front left tyre puncture and with 10 kilometres of stage left, decided to continue. The delaminating tyre then dmaged the front end of the car but they made it to the flying finish, losing 58 seconds in the process.

This giffted Coertse a 35 second lead overall, cemented by the fact the Clerk-of-the-Course then cancelled the final stage of the day for safety reasons.

So, Coertse/Godrich took top step of the podium from Joubert/Van Heerden and Potgieter/Du Toit with Mdakane/Naidoo fourth on the road but excluded because of the engine issue on the way to the overnight parc ferme.

Thus, Gustav Potgieter finish fourth ahead of Lynton Swatton and Tommy Coetzee (RBS Plumbing Toyota RunX).

Saturday:

Overnight the weather cleared and Saturday dawned bright and clear with Joubert/Van Heerden following the TRAC N$ catchline for the event of ‘going all out’ and they opened proceedings – much of which involved the previous day’s stages in reverse – with an eight second advantage over Potgieter/Du Toit and taking 29 seconds from Coertse/Godrich.

Back in the running, Habig and White ran a conservative fifth quickest on the stage a second behind Gustav Potgieter and five ahead of the Johan Strauss/Elzaan van der Schyff Agri Online Subaru WRX that was forced to withdraw before the start of the Friday even with engine problems.

“It is still not properly sorted,” said Strauss “and there is a throttle problem. If I drive slowly there is some response but if I try to go quickly it does not respond.”

With the Hyundai now cleared of its misfire, JJ Potgieter decided it was time to get moving and raced through the second stage two seconds to the good over Joubert with Coertse maintaining an edge over Habig who headed the NRC 2 class.

The AR Panelbeaters Ford Escort Cosworth of Anton Raaths and Marie Ducasse had a good run to notch up fifth place on the road.

The rally then looked as if it was settling into a pattern with Joubert/Van Heerden taking the top honours on Stage 3 followed by Potgieter/Du Toit with Coertse and Habig in close attendance – Potgieter then upped the pace to take Stage 4 to set up the scene for the final stages by reducing Joubert’s lead to just 0,1 seconds after the former lost time in the stage due to a faulty oil temperature sensor caused the engine to go into limp mode.

Coertse was just 1min07 sec off the lead at this point.

Mdakane/Naidoo

However, this time it was not the weather to influence things – Car 0, which has the task of going through the stage ahead of the field to check the marshals are in place, arrowing is correct and no spectators are in dangerous places, had a mechanical issue. This is then followed by Car 00 half an hour before the first competitor enters the stage.

Stage 5, which was also being run as Stage 6, had to be cancelled to allow Car 00 to do the work of both lead vehicles.

This stage, a repeat of Stge 2 from Friday, featured a downhill run to a shallow water splash with a disconcerting bump on the exit and Habig – not having done the stage the previous day – came flying in, uymped, got hugely sideways, corrected and went up on two wheels.

He landed back on the road but minus a wheel and carried on to finish the stage. However, he transgressed regulations by driving on a public road on three wheels then replacing the wheel in the control area of Stage 6, resulting in his exclusion.

Stage 6, Lakenvlei, worked for Coertse who took 1,8 seconds off Joubert with Potgieter third quickest through the 27,4 kilometre section just ahead of Habig who would have been third overall at that point had it not been for the exclusion he was yet to hear about.

Habig/White

The final stage of the event and the season, Legends, saw Coertse again take the stage win, this time taking 11, 9 seconds off Joubert to end up as overall winner for the day and second overall in the National standings behind Gustav Potgieter who ended on the third step of the podium for the day and first car in the NRC 2 category.

JJ Potgieter finished fourth overall, ahead of Magriet Potgieter and Rikus Fourie (Ford Fiesta R2) and Bruce Swatton/Adrian du Plessis (RBS Plumbing Toyota Auris S2000).

https://bit.ly/3sFTXIf

Suzuki's 5-door Jimny on the road

First shown as a teaser at The Festival of Motoring, the five-door Suzuki Jimny is now a reality and in dealerships around the country in GL and GLX specification with the option of a five-speed manual transmission orfour-speed auto – all with the same K15B 1,5-litre petrol engine up front.

"This is the first time in the 50-year history of the Suzuki Jimny we offer a five-door model. We did this to meet the unprecedented demand for this hardy off-roader from customers who, owing to family size or overlanding requirements, asked for a larger Jimny model," says Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki Auto South Africa.

"From the outset, the brief to engineers was they had to keep the Jimny DNA intact. That included the short overhangs, ladder-frame chassis with solid axles and the ability to go anywhere and everywhere."

So, the engineers stretched the wheelbase of the three-door Jimny to 2 590 mm, allowing space for rear passenger doors and more room, but not so much as to compromise its off-road capabilities.

The overall length, measured from bumper to bumper, has increased by 340 mm to 3 820 mm, width is 1 645 mm and height 1 720 mm. Ground clearance remains 210 mm, while the approach, breakover and departure angles are 36 degrees, 24 degrees and 47 degrees respectively.

The ‘fiver’ gets the same upright grille, round headlamps, square edges and the fitment of the spare wheel to the side hinging rear door.

All five-door models also have 195/80 on/off road tyres on 15-inch alloy wheels. The spare wheel is also fitted with an alloy wheel.

Suzuki has transferred the design of the dashboard, seats and controls directly into the five-door model, and all South African versions have a 50:50 split rear bench, an additional power socket in the luggage compartment and a multi-functional steering wheel that is height adjustable.

The GLX specification adds leather cladding to the steering wheel and complements the Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio controls with additional buttons for cruise control.

The GLX also gets a bigger infotainment screen (from 7-inch on the GL to 9-inch on the GLX). All versions have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in full colour and will show images from the reverse camera on the infotainment screen.

Power windows are standard on all passenger doors and the GLX models have automatic climate control as opposed to the GL's standard air-conditioning system.

For travellers, the two rear seats can fold individually or together, increasing the rear loading space from 211 litres to 332 litres. The cabin has 1 113 litres of space in total.

Anf, for the truly adventurous, all five-door models also have a design feature that allows the front seats to fold completely flat and integrate with the rear seats to offer two lay-flat beds.

The 1,5-litre engine delivers 75 kW at 6 000 r/min  and 130 Nm at 4 000 r/min. The power is delivered through a five speed manual transmission (available on the GL and GLX models) or a four-speed automatic transmission (GLX only) to the rear wheels under normal circumstances or all-four wheels when the transfer gearbox is engaged.

The Suzuki Jimny is fitted with a complete off-road system, including a transfer gearbox with 2H, 4H and 4 Low Range modes and has a new version of the AllGrip system, called AllGrip Pro. This system amplifies the capabilities of the four-wheel drive system with electronic assistance, such as selective braking on wheels with no traction that emulates a traditional differential lock. All five-door models further have Hill Descent Control, Hill Assist and Brake Assistance as standard.

All models have Electronic Stability Program (ESP), anti-lock brakes, side-impact beams in all doors and three-point seatbelts for all four seats. Both rear seats are equipped with ISOFIX child-seat anchors.

The Jimny in GL-specification has two crash bags and the GLX-models have six, including front-side bags and curtain bags that run the length of the cabin.

Colin Windell - proudly CHANGECARS

www.changecars.co.za

https://bit.ly/47vzd4R

Suzuki's 5-door Jimny on the road

First shown as a teaser at The Festival of Motoring, the five-door Suzuki Jimny is now a reality and in dealerships around the country in GL and GLX specification with the option of a five-speed manual transmission orfour-speed auto – all with the same K15B 1,5-litre petrol engine up front.

"This is the first time in the 50-year history of the Suzuki Jimny we offer a five-door model. We did this to meet the unprecedented demand for this hardy off-roader from customers who, owing to family size or overlanding requirements, asked for a larger Jimny model," says Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki Auto South Africa.

"From the outset, the brief to engineers was they had to keep the Jimny DNA intact. That included the short overhangs, ladder-frame chassis with solid axles and the ability to go anywhere and everywhere."

So, the engineers stretched the wheelbase of the three-door Jimny to 2 590 mm, allowing space for rear passenger doors and more room, but not so much as to compromise its off-road capabilities.

The overall length, measured from bumper to bumper, has increased by 340 mm to 3 820 mm, width is 1 645 mm and height 1 720 mm. Ground clearance remains 210 mm, while the approach, breakover and departure angles are 36 degrees, 24 degrees and 47 degrees respectively.

The ‘fiver’ gets the same upright grille, round headlamps, square edges and the fitment of the spare wheel to the side hinging rear door.

All five-door models also have 195/80 on/off road tyres on 15-inch alloy wheels. The spare wheel is also fitted with an alloy wheel.

Suzuki has transferred the design of the dashboard, seats and controls directly into the five-door model, and all South African versions have a 50:50 split rear bench, an additional power socket in the luggage compartment and a multi-functional steering wheel that is height adjustable.

The GLX specification adds leather cladding to the steering wheel and complements the Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio controls with additional buttons for cruise control.

The GLX also gets a bigger infotainment screen (from 7-inch on the GL to 9-inch on the GLX). All versions have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in full colour and will show images from the reverse camera on the infotainment screen.

Power windows are standard on all passenger doors and the GLX models have automatic climate control as opposed to the GL's standard air-conditioning system.

For travellers, the two rear seats can fold individually or together, increasing the rear loading space from 211 litres to 332 litres. The cabin has 1 113 litres of space in total.

Anf, for the truly adventurous, all five-door models also have a design feature that allows the front seats to fold completely flat and integrate with the rear seats to offer two lay-flat beds.

The 1,5-litre engine delivers 75 kW at 6 000 r/min  and 130 Nm at 4 000 r/min. The power is delivered through a five speed manual transmission (available on the GL and GLX models) or a four-speed automatic transmission (GLX only) to the rear wheels under normal circumstances or all-four wheels when the transfer gearbox is engaged.

The Suzuki Jimny is fitted with a complete off-road system, including a transfer gearbox with 2H, 4H and 4 Low Range modes and has a new version of the AllGrip system, called AllGrip Pro. This system amplifies the capabilities of the four-wheel drive system with electronic assistance, such as selective braking on wheels with no traction that emulates a traditional differential lock. All five-door models further have Hill Descent Control, Hill Assist and Brake Assistance as standard.

All models have Electronic Stability Program (ESP), anti-lock brakes, side-impact beams in all doors and three-point seatbelts for all four seats. Both rear seats are equipped with ISOFIX child-seat anchors.

The Jimny in GL-specification has two crash bags and the GLX-models have six, including front-side bags and curtain bags that run the length of the cabin.

Colin Windell - proudly CHANGECARS

https://bit.ly/47vzd4R

Suzuki's 5-door Jimny on the road

First shown as a teaser at The Festival of Motoring, the five-door Suzuki Jimny is now a reality and in dealerships around the country in GL and GLX specification with the option of a five-speed manual transmission orfour-speed auto – all with the same K15B 1,5-litre petrol engine up front.

"This is the first time in the 50-year history of the Suzuki Jimny we offer a five-door model. We did this to meet the unprecedented demand for this hardy off-roader from customers who, owing to family size or overlanding requirements, asked for a larger Jimny model," says Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki Auto South Africa.

"From the outset, the brief to engineers was they had to keep the Jimny DNA intact. That included the short overhangs, ladder-frame chassis with solid axles and the ability to go anywhere and everywhere."

So, the engineers stretched the wheelbase of the three-door Jimny to 2 590 mm, allowing space for rear passenger doors and more room, but not so much as to compromise its off-road capabilities.

The overall length, measured from bumper to bumper, has increased by 340 mm to 3 820 mm, width is 1 645 mm and height 1 720 mm. Ground clearance remains 210 mm, while the approach, breakover and departure angles are 36 degrees, 24 degrees and 47 degrees respectively.

The ‘fiver’ gets the same upright grille, round headlamps, square edges and the fitment of the spare wheel to the side hinging rear door.

All five-door models also have 195/80 on/off road tyres on 15-inch alloy wheels. The spare wheel is also fitted with an alloy wheel.

Suzuki has transferred the design of the dashboard, seats and controls directly into the five-door model, and all South African versions have a 50:50 split rear bench, an additional power socket in the luggage compartment and a multi-functional steering wheel that is height adjustable.

The GLX specification adds leather cladding to the steering wheel and complements the Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio controls with additional buttons for cruise control.

The GLX also gets a bigger infotainment screen (from 7-inch on the GL to 9-inch on the GLX). All versions have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in full colour and will show images from the reverse camera on the infotainment screen.

Power windows are standard on all passenger doors and the GLX models have automatic climate control as opposed to the GL's standard air-conditioning system.

For travellers, the two rear seats can fold individually or together, increasing the rear loading space from 211 litres to 332 litres. The cabin has 1 113 litres of space in total.

Anf, for the truly adventurous, all five-door models also have a design feature that allows the front seats to fold completely flat and integrate with the rear seats to offer two lay-flat beds.

The 1,5-litre engine delivers 75 kW at 6 000 r/min  and 130 Nm at 4 000 r/min. The power is delivered through a five speed manual transmission (available on the GL and GLX models) or a four-speed automatic transmission (GLX only) to the rear wheels under normal circumstances or all-four wheels when the transfer gearbox is engaged.

The Suzuki Jimny is fitted with a complete off-road system, including a transfer gearbox with 2H, 4H and 4 Low Range modes and has a new version of the AllGrip system, called AllGrip Pro. This system amplifies the capabilities of the four-wheel drive system with electronic assistance, such as selective braking on wheels with no traction that emulates a traditional differential lock. All five-door models further have Hill Descent Control, Hill Assist and Brake Assistance as standard.

All models have Electronic Stability Program (ESP), anti-lock brakes, side-impact beams in all doors and three-point seatbelts for all four seats. Both rear seats are equipped with ISOFIX child-seat anchors.

The Jimny in GL-specification has two crash bags and the GLX-models have six, including front-side bags and curtain bags that run the length of the cabin.

Colin Windell - proudly CHANGECARS

https://bit.ly/47vzd4R

Africa Automotive: Volkswagen signs paintshop deal in Egypt

Keeping the shiny side up is a way of telling someone to drive safely but that shiny side is the result of technical and precisely calibrated set of steps as any vehicle makes it way through the manufacturer’s paint shop – and it has to last the lifetime of that vehicle.

As a step to upscaling the auto industry, Volkswagen has signed an agreement with the Government of Egypt to work together to develop a feasibility study on a shared automotive painting facility within the East Port Said Industrial Zone in the East Port Said Automotive Zone northeast of Cairo.

The agreement was signed by the Chairman of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone, Waleid Gamal Eldien, Chief Executive Officer of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, Ayman Soliman, Managing Director of the East Port-Said Development Company, Dr. Ahmed Fikry and Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA), Martina Biene in the presence of the Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr Mostafa Madbouly at the headquarters of Council of Ministers in the New Administrative Capital.

Standing: Dr Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt and Dr Hala Al-Saeed, Minister of Planning and Economic Development
Signing (left to right): Martina Biene, Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA); Waleid Gamal Eldien, Chairman of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone; Ayman Soliman, Chief Executive Officer of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt and Dr Ahmed Fikry, Managing Director of the East Port-Said Development Company

In June 2022 Egypt announced the Automotive Industry Development Programme (AIDP) that, like its counterpart in South Africa did, aims to foster the local value addition, increase vehicle production volume, boost and attract investment and improve emission standards in the automotive sector.

Biene commented: “Volkswagen is excited about the prospects of establishing its presence in the Egyptian market as part of its long term growth plans on the continent, especially in North Africa. The AIDP is one of the most progressive automotive programmes on the continent which Volkswagen intends to be part of. The signing of the  strategic co-operation agreement with the Government of Egypt is the continuation of Volkswagen’s strategy to play a pioneering and leading role in the development of the automotive industry in Africa. ”

Volkswagen has been manufacturing vehicles in South Africa for over 72 years. It has three other vehicle assembly facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The facilities are in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana. In addition, Volkswagen has a presence in 17 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where it sells passenger and commercial vehicles through licensed importers.

Colin Windell - proudly CHANGECARS

https://bit.ly/46ao4FC

Most improved award for Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors South Africa has been recognised as the ‘most improved’ at the recent Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA) Manufacturer of the Year Awards (MOTY).

Even though the majority of new vehicle sales are recorded as Dealer Sales, the vast majority of the money comes from corporate purchasing either directly as fleet pool vehicles or as company cars and car allowances – making fleet business a high riority for all manufacturers and importer.

Mitsubishi has expanded its fleet focused product offering with the launch of the Diamond fleet club, which offers members enhanced aftersales support and service.

Performance based

The SAVRALA MOTY awards are purely performance based and are determined through two surveys conducted by Lightstone with 37 car rental and leasing companies in South Africa, covering rental and leasing performance. These surveys gauge fleet customers interactions with the manufacturers they frequently deal with and whose vehicles are part of their fleets.

Most importantly, participating rental and leasing companies are required to involve all the relevant people in their operations who are knowledgeable about each of the criterion to complete the various sections of the surveys, resulting in a very accurate set of results.

“In more recent years Mitsubishi Motors SA set a number of goals with the aim of taking the brand to new heights. These goals included a clear strategy on becoming the mobility partner of choice to businesses of all sizes. This saw us refine our commercial vehicle offering and the aftersales value proposition for fleet clients.

“To be rewarded by SAVRALA as the most improved manufacturer shows that Mitsubishi Motors SA are making great strides in these areas,” says Nic Campbell, General Manager: Sales at Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA). 

In the rental category of the competition, manufacturers are judged on criteria including communication, support, maintenance, value, theft prevention and B-BBEE and Mitsubishi improved considerably in all these categories resulting in an overall improvement, across all categories of 12,0%.

Some of Mitsubishi’s biggest improvements recorded were in categories such as the availability of parts and the waiting time for a service.

In the leasing category Mitsubishi improved in many of the sub sectors of the scoring criteria which include communication, technical support, financial categories, dealer performance and B-BBEE.

Judging criteria

“SAVRALA shares detailed results of the annual survey with participating manufacturers and these scores across the variety of judging criteria have been a great tool in assisting Mitsubishi to improve our operations related to the rental and leasing customer journey,” says Campbell.

“Mitsubishi are always innovating with the goal of giving all our customers, whether they are walking into a dealership and new to the brand or have a long-standing relationship with us, as many of our fleet and leasing customers do, the best possible experience when interacting with our brand throughout the ownership journey,” adds Campbell.

Colin Windell - proudly CHANGECARS

https://bit.ly/49w6A9v

Africa Automotive: Doing it for ourselves

CAIRO: The African automotive sector is surging ahead with new projects and new plans for both assembly and the manufacture of parts to feed what is hoped will become a voracious beast – provided even more cooperation and support can be gained from governments across the continent.

Steady progress towards realising an African Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is being made with countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco and Egypt fully committed to making it work while, simultaneously, energising their own auto programmes.

The President of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) and Managing Director of Volkswagen South Africa, Martina Biene, said at the opening of the Africa Automotive Show in Cairo: “There are multiple opportunities for everyone in Africa to be a part of the combined value chain.

Martina Biene

“A comprehensive automotive policy creates the framework for trade and will build new car demand but remains dependent on economies of scale and any policy framework must serve to increase that demand.”

Presenting the results of a ‘roadmap’ study done in Egypt on powertrain evolution, Dylan Jessup, Automotive Sector Incentives Manager at EY South Africa, said battery electric vehicles (BEV) was “not the panacea” and that each segment in the possible alternative power source options needed to be evaluated separately and specifically for each country to “determine economic, environmental and social benefits”.

“South Africa’s auto industry is very built on a trade based policy but we need to look at regional integration and establish a healthy supply chain (that could involve beneficiating the raw materials mined in various countries rather than sending them away only to be re-imported).

“Each country needs to look at it strengths and work on those and the actual implementation of the AfCFTA will then make trade easier.”

Of the issues demanding urgent attention is the one on fuel quality with much of Africa still running Euro II specification whereas Europe is moving to Euro VII.

Rynhardt Rall, Regional Product Manager for Nissan pointed out the automaker had two plants in Africa – South Africa and Egypt – saying: “It is very expensive to run internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles on Euro VII fuel but Africa does not need to go head-to-head or play catchup.

“Africa is rich in natural resources so it makes good sense to utilise that,” he says.

Biene concurred and added the low level fuel meant Volkswagen could not introduce some of its latest generation hybrid vehicles that simply could not run on Euro II fuel.

“The South African government has to become more pro-active on this issue.”

The Intra Africa Trade Fair (IATF) is a massive multi-cultural event covering many aspects of trade and industry and, while a large and very significant element, the Auto Show is just a part of an entity where deals worth billions of Dollars are being done by Africans for Africans.

In a keynote speech read on his behalf, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI said: “Africa needs now more than ever bold, innovative initiatives to encourage private entrepreneurship and unleash the full potential of our continent.

“Over the past two decades, Morocco has made infrastructure development a priority in all economic sectors and is pushing toward its goal of deriving more than 52% of its national electricity mix from renewable energy by 2030.”

The King also stressed African countries should enhance “coordination and cooperation mechanisms to drive regional integration”,  citing the Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline Project he says will “enable all countries along the pipeline route to have access to reliable energy supplies and to be more resilient to exogenous energy price shocks”.

There is a slender thread that links all of the different activities and interests at IATF and literary superstar Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Narrative Landscape Press announced the launch of The CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa.

Why does this matter?

“Stories can give us the confidence to own our aspirations,” says the writer. “CANEX is about hope – the hope of many more African stories. We need more African countries. Stories matter. Stories can take away dignity, but they can also restore dignity. Stories shape politics and perceptions.”

And that is the thread – reshaping politics and perception to benefit all Africans – and in his keynote address, Dr Akinwumi A Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, highlighted Africa’s prospects as a prime investment destination.

“The continent is not as risky as perceived, is growing and showing resilience despite global challenges. As investors, put your monies where the future is — the future is Africa.”

Part of the South Africa Pavilion at IATF

The President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, pointed out manufactured African exports account for just 1% of world exports.

“We export them to developed countries and these countries re-export them to us processed and sell them back to us at ten times the price. Despite the obstacles, there are enormous opportunities for the development of value chains in Africa.”

Alec Erwin, former Minister of Trade and Industry now a driving force in the efforts of AAAM remarked the early 90’s in South Africa brought new challenges and the realisation the economy had to grow.

“Simply put, South Africa’s auto industry could not survive the way it was and that led to it changing to a volume production scenario which it managed very successfully. For Africa a similar system is needed that will let us all grow and, while there may be some policy differences, it will all be based on trade – and that is why AfCFTA is so vitally important.”

In a video address Anand Pather, Vice President Customer Services at Toyota South Africa, said: “Africa needs a comprehensive safety policy across the auto industry, something like the South African Bureau of Standards that will oversee all of the parts supply chain to ensure equal and high standards are maintained.”

If some of what AAAM and various African governments are talking about seems a bit ‘pie-in-the-sky’, think on this – the Start/Stop button so common in cars today started life as an Egyptian patent.

Colin Windell – proudly CHANGECARS

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