Colin-on-Cars - N is for new

‘N’ stands for ‘new’ and JAC Motors has expanded the N-Series of trucks in South Africa with the addition of the N140 9-tonne powered by a Cummins 4,5-litre engine.

"A trademark of the N-Series is its excellent fuel efficiency across the range. The new N140 continues in that tradition," says Karl-Heinz Göbel, Chief Executive Officer of JAC Motors South Africa. "Add to that its low cost of ownership, robust chassis design and durable drivetrain, and you have a truck suitable for various modern-day transport applications."

The N140's Euro 3, Cummins 4,5-litre ISB four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine produces 154 kW at 2 300 r/min and 740 Nm of peak torque between 1 200 r/min and 1 800 r/min. 

This powerplant features advanced fuel injection technology that delivers more power using less fuel, resulting in lower operating costs. Durability is also essential, and this engine includes wear-resistant components such as a cast-iron cylinder block and forged steel crankshaft, making it ideal for long-lasting use, minimising downtime and maintenance costs. 

Emissions

Compliant with Euro 3 regulations, the turbo-diesel engine reduces harmful emissions, providing a greener option for operators looking to minimise their environmental impact while maintaining a high level of performance.

The N140 is paired with a synchromesh six-speed manual transmission and a hydraulic-assisted clutch. The drivetrain setup allows for low engine RPMs at cruising speeds, reducing fuel consumption.

"Cummins and JAC Motors have a 25-year successful relationship. In 2018, the two companies formed a joint venture, resulting in a number of our trucks being fitted with high-quality, clean and fuel-efficient engines with world-class technological and powertrain capabilities," says Göbel.

The N140 has a heavy-duty ladder-frame chassis stamping and welding treatment process and sits on a front and rear semi-elliptical multi-leaf spring suspension providing better stability and less chassis roll in all load states and on any road surface.

The N140 supports a wheelbase of 5 300 mm and offers a payload of 9 000 kg. Its dimensions are 8 890 mm (L) x 2 348 mm (W) x 2 475 mm (H), making it suitable for various body applications.

The N140 features a Dual-circuit Air Brake system, including an Air Dryer, an anti-lock braking System and a Load Sensing Proportioning Valve (LSPV) for increased stopping power and driver control to prevent wheel lock-up under emergency braking conditions.

"The N140 offers the built-in flexibility of a chassis-cab design that allows for specific configurations based on unique transportation needs. With its powerful and fuel-efficient engine and robust suspension, it is suitable for various transport applications," says Göbel.

The ergonomically designed cab has wider door apertures, footsteps and safety climbing handles that allow for easy entry and exit, which is less tiring for the driver and passengers. 

The reinforced cab floor increases driver protection, while the double rear-view exterior mirrors improve visibility. LED Daytime Running Lights, height adjustable headlights, a reverse warning buzzer, a seatbelt warning alarm and a tilt-and-telescoping multi-function steering wheel with radio and cruise control settings are all standard as are an air-conditioner, power windows, a 12V Accessory Power Outlet, and a radio with an MP3 player and Bluetooth, including a USB. 

"The N-Series appeals to a broad customer base across various industries. In our experience, customers want affordable, safe and dependable trucks to run and maintain. Trucks also need to offer comfortable and well-equipped cabins, must be economical and easy to operate," adds Göbel.

The N140 9-tonne is available in chassis cab configuration. It offers the company's two-year/unlimited km manufacturer's warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance for peace of mind ownership. JAC Motors supports an extensive dealer network across Southern Africa and offers specialised service support and consistent parts supply to ensure minimum downtime.

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Colin-on-Cars - Reducing workplace vehicle crashes

With some 40% of workplace deaths the result of vehicle crashes, companies need to put in place a culture of road safety for at word drivers.

South Africa crash statistics are way higher than international levels and this serves to highlight the importance of actively trying to reduce the number of crashes that occur amongst fleets.

The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, adds: “Not only does it show how important it is to take measures to reduce workplace crashes but also shows the importance of giving an honourable nod to companies committed to road safety and that take active steps to reduce the occurrence of this within their companies.

Recognise

“It is for this reason MasterDrive presents its inaugural Fleet Safety Awards, which will recognise and honour companies and individuals that make this commitment to road safety. Through the awards we hope to pay homage to companies that take the issue of road safety as seriously as we do by making it a part of their company ethos, starting at the top of the organisation and trickling its way throughout to every member that gets behind the wheel.”

More information on MasterDrive’s Fleet Safety Awards will be released soon. Nominations for companies deserving of this honour are already open. Should you know of a company that you believe is paragon of road safety with the corporate world, please email  info@masterdrive.co.za to obtain more information about what is required to qualify and how to make your nomination.

Experience

The event will feature international speakers who will share their experience in the road safety arena along with a number of other speakers. The winner will be selected by an independent panel of judges based on specific criteria. The event will also be MasterDrive’s first hybrid event enabling a selected number of people to join in person.

Internationally, road safety policies within companies are given the utmost priority.

“Unfortunately, in South Africa there are only a limited number of companies, often with international presence, that give the issue of road safety as much priority. Conversely, there are a large number of companies that do not grasp the importance of doing everything possible to prevent road accidents. As a society we need to change this perception and the belief that the stats we see are as a result of the actions of other drivers and not our ourselves.

Attention

“MasterDrive believes that by lauding the companies that give road safety the attention it needs, it will encourage others to follow their example. We spend much time raising awareness of road safety and common issues that affect this. It is now time to show appreciation for the organisations that take these issues seriously. Your efforts do not go unnoticed by MasterDrive!,” says Herbert.

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Colin-on-Cars - Isuzu tops fleet awards

Isuzu Motors South Africa has swept the boards at the annual Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA) Manufacturer of the Year 2021 (MOTY) Awards by winning just about everything.

It emerged as the overall winner in both the Rental and Leasing categories for the the second consecutive year and scooped the Value Award for the manufacturer scoring best in the financial section of the Leasing category survey.

“Isuzu is proud of its performance for the 2020/2021 period despite the challenges presented by the pandemic,” says Craig Uren, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Isuzu Motors South Africa. “This is a direct result of our ability to be agile. Our organisation has worked closely with stakeholders and adapted the way we do business to ensure excellence through the turbulent times our industries have faced.

“We are honoured to accept these awards, and truly appreciate the recognition of Isuzu’s efforts to provide support to our rental and leasing partners. We have had to rethink and reshape how we do business, taking into consideration our goals and understanding our customers’ needs while we adapt to the new normal.”

SAVRALA noted Isuzu’s continued and consistent delivery of good service, which was boosted by the company’s level one B-BBEE score, the best achieved to date by any participating manufacturer.

Isuzu Motors South Africa has been successful in retaining all staff during the pandemic. Through adjusted shifts, four-day work weeks and salary freeze for management, the organisation did not suffer a single job loss.

Isuzu recently announced it had maintained an automotive industry-leading level one in its Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment audit for a second consecutive year.

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 New intake of women in truck driver training programme

The move to infuse more women into the transport industry continues with a further 30 female candidates joining the Volvo Trucks South Africa Iron Women commercial vehicle driver training programme. 

Iron Women is aimed at enhancing the capacity of professional drivers and to ultimately enable them to contribute to their future employers’ fleet safety, profitability, and efficiency.  This qualification, which is approved by the Transport Education Training Authority, is based on both theoretical and practical modules. 

To date, 40 women have graduated from the programme. 

Marcus Hörberg, vice president of Volvo Group Southern Africa, in his introductory message said the successes of the previous Iron Women instalments have inspired the company to continue the programme, and in the process create real change in society. 

“Over the past couple of years, the successful Iron Women candidates have proven their worth and are employed by some of the leading transport and logistics companies in South Africa,” says Hörberg. “We wish our new candidates every success and know they will go on to make a lasting and positive impact on our industry.” 

Prof H Mkhize, deputy minister of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, said in her relayed message that according to Statistics South Africa, economic data indicates the transport, storage, and communication sector contributes 9,3% to South Africa's GDP. 

“Whilst transport alone contributes about 6,5% to employment creation in South Africa, women are severely underrepresented in this industry. It is therefore important that we support the establishment of initiatives that will help increase the pool of skilled women drivers in the country,” says Prof Mkhize. 

Volvo Trucks’ Iron Women programme will also form part of the Women Inspiring Women to Lead in Transport initiative (WIWLT), that will see 120 female professionals, 300 entrepreneurs and 495 truck drivers being trained and mentored over a three-year period. 

The initiative led by the Commercial Transport Academy (CTA) is supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

“The reality is that greater participation of women within the sector is important for diversification, yet the last recorded data from StatsSA suggests that women only make up around 17.5% of the working population,” says Nicci Scott, CTA’s Founder. “This reinforces that the sector remains a non-traditional environment for women.” 

“Our programme provides an opportunity for greater community upliftment, as we know that when women are developed, empowered, and have access to equal employment opportunities, it increases diversity and equal payment opportunities,” she concluded.

 Little big loads

Following on the uptake for the Hyundai Grand i10 Cargo, the company has now homologated a version for the Atos. 

“We have identified the need for a small cargo transporter, particularly for delivery of smaller parcels and goods in a vehicle that keeps it secure in a robust cargo hold. The initial conversion of the Grand i10 into the Cargo derivative, with the secure hold area in place of the two rear seats, proved to be a winner,” says Stanley Anderson, sales and operations director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa. 

“We homologated the Grand i10 Cargo as a light commercial vehicle, which created another benefit for businesses, because they can claim back VAT on their purchase. Following the success of the Grand i10, we also homologated the slightly smaller Atos 1.1 Cargo as the youngest entry to our light commercial vehicle range.”

At a time when the economy is shaky to say the least and fuel prices are skyrocketing, the availability of smaller, fuel efficient transporters will be good news for embattled fleet managers. 

The converted Grand i10 and Atos Cargo hatchback models offer a secure, robust compartment of up to 1,2 cubic metres in the Grand i10, hooks to hold a cargo net down and a strong wire mesh cargo barrier between the cargo area and the two front seats. The rear side windows are also securely covered with the strong wire mesh on the inside. 

Two derivatives are available in the shape of the smaller hatchback: the Atos 1.1 Motion Cargo (manual) and Atos 1.1 Fluid Cargo (manual). The Grand i10 1.0 Motion Cargo (manual) completes the range.

The popularity of these light commercial vehicles is evident from the 350 sales of the first Grand i10 Cargo model, supplemented by 50 new Grand i10 Cargo sales and 13 of the new Atos Cargo. Furthermore, the Fidelity Services Group has acquired 131 Grand i10 Cargo vehicles, making this well-known provider of security services one of the biggest buyers of the hatchback cargo-carrier. 

The Hyundai Cargo models are a good substitute for the half-ton bakkies and offer a competitive cost of ownership. 

A 998 cc normally aspirated petrol engine is used to propel the Grand i10 1.0 Motion Cargo with its power going to the front wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox. The 3-cylinder engine delivers peak power of 49 kW at 5 500 r/min., and maximum torque of 94 Nm is reached at 3 500 r/min. 

In the Atos Cargo derivatives, a 1 086 cc 4-cylinder normally aspirated petrol engine – also linked to a 5-speed manual gearbox – drives the hatchback through the front wheels. It delivers 50 kW at its maximum power output, which is reached at 5 500 r/min., while the torque peak of 99 Nm comes at 2 800 r/min. 

Both models boast low fuel consumption which helps a business to keep running costs low. In the case of the Atos Cargo a best consumption figure of 5,7 litres per 100 km was measured in a combined test cycle, while the Grand i10 Cargo recorded 5,4 litres per 100 km.

The Grand i10, which was launched in South Africa at the end of 2020, as well as the Atos, feature body-coloured bumpers and door handles that adds to the attractive design lines of the two hatchbacks. 

The Grand i10 1.0 Motion Cargo and the Atos 1.1 Fluid Cargo run on 14-inch steel wheels with an attractive styled cover, while the Atos 1.1 Motion Cargo uses 13-inch steel wheels, also with styled covers. 

A spacious cabin with conveniences such as an infotainment centre with a 7-inch screen, air-conditioner, electrically operated windows, central locking, and audio and Bluetooth controls on the steering wheel are on the list of comprehensive luxury features in the Atos Cargo. The infotainment centre is compatible with a smartphone with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. 

The cloth-covered seats of the Atos Cargo will make the long time spent on the road in a commercial vehicle easier. In the Grand i10 Cargo, the driver can adjust the seat height, and central locking, remote keyless entry, a manual air conditioner, an infotainment centre with a 6,2-inch touch-screen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, electrical adjustment for the side mirrors and opening of the side windows all form part of its convenience features. 

Cras bags for both driver and passenger take care of passive safety in the Grand i10 Cargo and in the Atos Fluid Cargo derivative. The Atos Motion Cargo comes with a crash bag for the driver. 

Both Cargo models have 3-point seatbelts with pre-tensioners for driver and passenger. An anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), and crumple zones and side impact protection beams completes the safety package. 

Pricing 

Atos 1.1 Motion Cargo (manual)	R179 900
Atos 1.1 Fluid Cargo (manual)	R189 900
Grand i10 1.0 Motion Cargo (manual)	R211 900

Roadside assistance for 7 years or 150 000 km and a 1-year/15 000 km service plan form part of the package. The service interval for both models is 15 000 km.

 Small fleets can now connect

Small business owners with fleets of up to 50 vehicles will now be able to access My Toyota Fleet Lite, a web-based platform that is part of the Toyota Connect connectivity hub. 

When Toyota Connect was launched in 2019, in collaboration with partners Altron and Vodacom Business, TSAM was the only manufacturer in South Africa to offer a mobile App that is fully integrated with manufacturer and dealer systems and was also the first organisation in the world to offer the convergence of Wi-Fi and connectivity features in one package across a 100% of Toyota and Lexus model ranges. 

This allows users to book a service, book a test drive, get roadside assistance, get in-car Wi-Fi, access to logbook, monitor driver behavior and live location, as well as managing alerts at no additional cost. 

MyToyota Fleet Lite is now available to SMEs as a web-based platform for those running Toyota and Lexus fleets free of charge. This will enable fleet managers whose vehicles are already Toyota Connect equipped to access a myriad of convenience, connectivity, and safety benefits.

 

From the comfort of their offices, fleet managers are now able to activate Wi-Fi and top up in-car data as well as monitor driver behaviour among other things. On all new vehicles, Toyota offers a complimentary 15gb of in car Wi-Fi data, valid for 12 months. 

For example, alerts could be set for speeding, harsh braking, and cornering – enabling the fleet manager to be a proactive should there be any change in driver behaviour. In addition, the ability to monitor one’s fleet has become a necessity as it allows the administrator the ability to ascertain if a vehicle is stationary or moving, check the battery health and whether it’s in a high-risk zone or not, and therefore helping to mitigate possible risks to both the fleet and vehicle occupants. 

To sign up for this feature, fleet owners or their proxy are to visit their nearest Toyota dealership and will be added as ‘MyToyota Administrator’ for the companies they represent upon providing required documented proof that they are an official representative of the company and have authorisation to manage the fleet.