Automotive Business Review

Nov 03, 2026 Buzz

WhatsApp-based loyalty programme rewards mechanics for choosing Engen Xtreme lubricants

Engen is excited to launch the Engen Xtreme Rewards programme, a convenient WhatsApp based loyalty programme created to give back to the mechanics who keep South Africa moving. Members earn points on qualifying lubricants purchases and redeem them…

Nov 03, 2026 Motorsport

Van Wyk, Swartz Take Brutal Dullstroom

Swazi Cowboy wins as Mpumalanga attrition bites The Swazi Cowboy, Jono van Wyk and Nico Swartz brought the curtain down on a cracking Dunlop-shod 2026 South African National Rally Championship with a commanding victory on the season-ending TRAC N4…

Nov 03, 2026 Buzz

Call For Protected Mobility Corridors as Taxi Wars Trap Commuters Ahead of Election Day

The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) has called on law enforcement and transport authorities to deploy protected transit corridors across the country. This as escalating taxi violence threatens economic activity and voter participation…

Nov 03, 2026 Buzz

Team Tork Craft Champions Galore

Five National Cross Country titles for Team Tork Craft Harrisdale brought a brilliant end to Team Tork Craft’s National season in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday. Not only did its riders star in the final round South African Cross Country Championship…

Nov 03, 2026 Mobility

The Road to Safer Mobility Starts on The Factory Floor

A vehicle can have the most sophisticated braking and stability systems, but no system can bypass one engineering reality: every braking and steering force passes through the tyres. That is why I believe what happens on our production line matters…

Nov 03, 2026 Motorsport

Rotax Crowns 2026 Northern Regions Champions

Visser, Stander, du Plessis bros, du Toit, Harris & Malabie take titles Rotax Max karting’s 2026 Northern Regions championship wrapped up with a four-heat, double-points thriller at Benoni’s Formula K Raceway on Saturday, crowning seven regional…

Nov 03, 2026 Buzz

Building a safety-first culture in commuter transport

Keeping commuters safe requires more than responsible driving. It takes consistent training, strong operational standards and a commitmentto putting passenger safety first. These are the principles that underpin the commuter transport industry and…

Nov 03, 2026 Buzz

The fuel, freight and funding gap: November is a tough month for logistics businesses

As fuel costs and festive-season delivery demands place pressure on transport operators, Lula's Garth Rossiter explains why logistics SMEs face their greatest cash flow challenges during their busiest trading period. November is the most demanding…

Nov 02, 2026 Buzz

Automechanika Johannesburg 2026 connects the aftermarket through business, expertise and innovation

Automechanika Johannesburg 2026 concluded at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand after three days of business matchmaking, technical exchange and industry dialogue. Organised by Messe Frankfurt South Africa from 27 to 29 October, the 11th edition…

Nov 02, 2026 Buzz

Hyundai is Driving Hope for Helderberg Hospice Patients

For Patients facing Life-Threatening Illnesses, Reliable Transport is making a Difference For Helderberg Hospice patients, access to medical care involves more than clinical services from caregivers. Reliable transport can be essential to reaching…

Nov 02, 2026 Buzz

Crossovers and SUVs Continue to Gain Ground

Women buyers are choosing Crossover/SUV bodyshapes in ever greater numbers, as are their male counterparts. Lightstone’s analysis, using data sourced through its Signio system since the start of 2021, shows that this trend is particularly evident in…

Nov 02, 2026 Mobility

Ford Provides Mobility Support to Eyewitness News for Expanded National Newsgathering

Four locally built Ford Ranger XLT 2.0 double cabs, comprising two 4x4 and two 4x2 models, to support Eyewitness News’ (EWN) coverage, beginning with the 2026 Local Government Elections, then joining EWN’s news fleet. The vehicles will provide…

Nov 02, 2026 Motorsport

SA Rally-Raid Competitors to Conquer Challenging Final Route to Earn Prestigious National Titles

The Northam Zondereinde Bushveld 400, the fifth and final round of a compact SA Rally-Raid Championship season. The final will present competitors with a challenging routeon 13 and 14 November in the Thabazimbi area in Limpopo Province, but they…

Nov 02, 2026 Motorsport

SA's Finest Ready For Max 'Olympics of Karting'

Team South Africa set for Rotax Grand Finals Southern Africa’s finest karters have set up camp in the Algarve as they enter final preparations for karting’s ultimate annual showdown at the 2026 Rotax Max Challenge ‘Olympics of Karting’ Grand Finals.…

Nov 02, 2026 Motoring

McLaren announces new series supercar coming in 2027: McL 820

McLaren announces McL 820, the next McLaren series supercar, coming in 2027. To mark the announcement, McLaren unveiled a kiwi bird statue in central London, wrapped in camouflage bearing the new name. First used by Bruce McLaren, the kiwi…

Nov 02, 2026 Buzz

What South Africa’s best small businesses can teach new founders this Entrepreneurship Month

The 2026 News24 x Lula SME Award winners show what it takes to start, survive and scale. Their stories hold five practical lessons for anyone starting a business this Entrepreneurship Month. South Africa’s best small businesses of 2026 were revealed…

Oct 30, 2026 Buzz

Ford South Africa and dealer partners bring Global Caring Month to life through 29 community projects

Ford South Africa’s 2026 Global Caring Month programme included 29 projects across Silverton, Struandale and the dealer network, with more than 8,000 volunteer hours contributed collectively. Projects addressed locally identified needs, including…

Oct 30, 2026 Buzz

Opinion piece: Keeping the lights on requires rethinking South Africa’s street lighting infrastructure

By Thabo Metsing, General Manager at Genlux Lighting a division of ACTOM South Africa’s deteriorating public street lighting network is once again under scrutiny, amid concerns that widespread and prolonged failures could have far-reaching…

Oct 30, 2026 Motoring

Fat Fender Garage To Unveil Four Custom Trucks At 2026 Sema Show Led By The World Premiere Of The 1956 F100 Gt/fx

Four bespoke Fat Fender Garage builds make their SEMA 2026 debut, led by the flagship 800-horsepower GT/FX the culmination of more than 15,000 hours of work. Fat Fender Garage will showcase four custom vehicles at the 2026 SEMA Show, held Nov. 3–6…

Oct 30, 2026 Buzz

Ev Charging Emerges As Strategic Pillar For Power-system Modernization, Says Globaldata

As electric vehicles (EV) drive up electricity demand, charging habits are becoming central to power grid planning. When left unmanaged, home charging tends to bundle together, dangerously intensifying evening peak hours. Meanwhile, commercial…

Oct 30, 2026 Buzz

She chose safety every day and became a Hollard Highway Hero because of it

Grace Zunguza | ZiSisters Trading Grace Zunguza’s workday starts long before passengers’ step onto the bus. Before the enginestarts and before the first route begins, there’s a routine she never skips vehicle inspections, route planning and mentally…

Oct 30, 2026 Motoring

Helderburg Opens Commissions for Re-Engineered Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda

The luxury engineering house behind more than 300 custom Land Rover Defenders applies its performance engineering and bespoke craftsmanship to the classic 1968–1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL. Thirty years ago, on one of their first dates, Paul Potratz…

Oct 29, 2026 Motoring

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Redefines Value With The All-new Punch

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd (TMPVL), one of India’s largest automotive manufacturers, in partnership with Motus Holdings, today announced the launch of the All-New Tata Punch in South Africa. Having pioneered the subcompact SUV category in…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

Municipal Engineering Institute’s New President Brings Three Decades Of Engineering Experience And Focus On Strengthening Local Government

Experienced water infrastructure specialist Vuyani Ernest Gxagxama has been inaugurated as the new president of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA) at the organisation’s 2026 annual conference currently taking place in…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

Renault Group delivers resilient Q3 revenue and confirms its 2026 financial guidance

Mobilize Financial Services (MFS) revenue at €5.2 billion, +11.0% vs 2025 9M, +11.1% at constant exchange rates[1] 2026 Q3 revenue: Group revenue at €11.6 billion, +1.5% vs 2025 Q3, +1.4% at constant exchange rates[1] Auto revenue at €9.8 billion,…

Oct 29, 2026 Motorsport

Dunlop's Cape GTi Challenge Quarter-century

WP GTi Challenge marks 25 years on ‘epic’ Dunlop semis The Cape GTi Challenge is celebrating an extraordinary milestone in South African motorsport this season, marking a quarter-century of racing on Dunlop rubber. First contested as a championship…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

Beyond the arrest, Johannesburg looks at the role of rehabilitation in preventing repeat drunk driving

NICRO’s Shifting Gears Diversion Programme highlights the role of behaviour change in addressing repeat offences, while JMPD figures show the scale and timing of drunk driving in Johannesburg. Addressing drunk driving requires more than arrests and…

Oct 29, 2026 Mobility

Six weeks to festive shutdown - Is your vehicle ready for the holiday road?

With around six weeks to go before many businesses shut down for the festive season and families head off on holiday, now is the time for motorists to get their vehicles road-ready, says the Motor Industry Workshop Association(MIWA), a proud…

Oct 29, 2026 Motorsport

What Do Scheepers And Antonelli Have In Common?

Habot’s Hannes also only needs two points to be champion What do South African Astron Energy Polo Cup runaway leader Hannes Scheepers and Formula 1 sensation Kimi Antonelli have in common? Right now, exactly two points. Following a crushing victory…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

Which Is Better: Petrol Or Battery? That’s The Wrong Question

Why The Best Landscaping Fleets Need Both What if the entire petrol-versus-battery debate in outdoor power equipment is asking the wrong question? Instead of asking which is better, perhaps the smarter question is: which power source is better…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

Botswana Supply Chain Summit 2026

Connecting Possibilities, Driving Transformation Get ready for two days of bold ideas, powerful connections and game-changing opportunities! Join industry leaders, policymakers, procurement professionals, entrepreneurs and innovators at the 3rd…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

inDrive in partnership with Joburg City Parks & Zoo invests R6 million to develop a new community park in Naledi Soweto

inDrive South Africa is partnering with Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) to transform a 2.6-hectare undeveloped site in Naledi, Soweto,into a new community park, creating a recreational space for residents to play, exercise and spend time…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

Nedbank Pitch & Polish semi-finalists put to the test by 10-year-old judges

As the 2026 Nedbank Pitch & Polish competition moves closer to its final stage, four semi-finalists faced an unusual challenge: pitching their businesses to a panel of 10-year-old entrepreneurs from Radley Private School. With a place in the final…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

Opinion Piece: Transparency is becoming the new competitive advantage in workforce logistics

In the past, the logistics of workforce management have tended to happen behind the scenes. Clients saw the end result of staff arriving on site, projects being delivered,and operational requirements being met, but the processes that made it…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

APAC automotive driver monitoring systems market to record 0.5% CAGR over 2026-33, forecasts GlobalData

Driver monitoring systems use in-cabin cameras and sensors to assess driver attention, head movement, and eye position, helping to identify potential drowsiness or distraction. As vehicles incorporate more advanced driver-assistance functions, the…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

Tax Risk Insurance For You

NEASA, in collaboration with Tax Risk Insurance Underwriting Managers, offers taxpayers (businesses and individuals) access to specialist tax services designed to protect you against the significant professional costs associated with SARS tax…

Oct 29, 2026 Motoring

Aston Martin Valhalla Spider: The Ultimate Open-top Supercar

Preserves design purity and outright performance capability of Valhalla Coupe, with 350km/h (217mph) Vmax achievable with or without the roof Revised active aerodynamics and ESP calibrations continue to deliver in excess of 600kg and class-leading…

Oct 29, 2026 Mobility

AA Backs Scrapping of Fuel Levies, Wants Basic Fuel Price Formula Reviewed in Public

The Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa has welcomed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s call to phase out fuel levies. It has also asked government to go further and publicly review the formula that sets the basic fuel price. In a recent…

Oct 29, 2026 Buzz

OMODA & JAECOO extends Q3 growth streak as South African sales pass 30,000

Q3 2026 sales reached 4,310 units, up 24.4% year-on-year and more than triple Q3 2024 volumes. OMODA & JAECOO has now surpassed 30,000 cumulative South African sales, with 31,990 units sold by the end of September 2026. September was the group’s…

Oct 28, 2026 Mobility

Why Volvo keeps pushing beyond the safety test

Euro NCAP changed the way it tests cars this year. The 2026 protocols, the biggest revision in three years, restructure the assessment around four stages: safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection and post-crash care. Frontal impact testing…

Oct 28, 2026 Buzz

Building the skills South Africa’s Motor Body Repair industry needs

Skills shortages are not unique to South Africa. From the United Kingdom to Germany, the automotive repair industry faces a common challenge: attracting new talent, retaining skilled technicians and ensuring that existing workers can keeppace with…

Oct 28, 2026 Motoring

Good Things Guy partners with Ford to launch the “Good Things Ranger”

A South African built Ford Ranger Double Cab XLT 4x4 manufactured at Silverton Assembly Plant will be branded to translate the awareness created on Good Things Guy platforms into South Africans “Doing Good Things” “The Good Things Ranger” will…

Oct 28, 2026 Motoring

Mazda confirms plug-in hybrid for South Africa in 2027

Mazda Southern Africa has announced that it will launch its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in South Africa in 2027. This move signals Mazda’s entry into one of the local market's fastest-growing segments. Bonite van der Merwe, Managing…

Oct 28, 2026 Motorsport

Team Tork Craft's Flat Out Fortnight

A dust storm double-header from Legends to Bloem While motocross has no breathing space, Team Tork Craft yet again proved it thrives under pressure across a bar-bashing fortnight of action. Starting with the final round of the Northern Regions…

Oct 28, 2026 Motoring

World Car Awards To Announce Top Three In The World At London International Motor Show

The World Car Awards will announce its 2027 Top Three in the World finalists at the London International Motor Show on Friday, 26 February 2027, bringing a key point in the world’s number one automotive awards programme to the UK capital. The…

Oct 28, 2026 Buzz

Deputy Minister highlights automotive aftermarket’s role in South Africa’s economic growth

The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) has welcomed the recognition of South Africa’s automotive aftermarket as a significant contributor to the economy, following the opening address by Deputy Minister of Trade Industry and Competition, John…

Oct 28, 2026 Buzz

Bobby Ramagwede, CEO of the AA, Keynote Address: Speaking Truth to Power

Breaking the silence Every year I come to Automechanika, and every year I feel less like a CEO and more like a pastor. Not a priest. A pastor. The kind who comes down off the stage and walks the aisle. I could stand here and tell you what you…

Oct 28, 2026 Buzz

Collaborative roundtable explores opportunities to strengthen automotive aftermarket

The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) has reaffirmed the importance of ongoing collaboration between government and the automotive aftermarket in supporting business sustainability, consumerprotection, skills development and economic growth.…

Oct 28, 2026 Motorsport

Geared For The Dirt: Tork Craft Race Kit

Roost-proof optics & race-winning dirtbike grip Motocross and dirt riding demand absolute vision and razor-sharp feel. Whether roosting out of a sandy berm, picking lines through rocky single-track, or flat out on an enduro loop, your sightlines and…

Oct 28, 2026 Motoring

Ringbrothers Set for Cutting-Edge Debut at 2026 SEMA Show

Ringbrothers will unveil its all-new 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible, “BILLIE”, at the 2026 SEMA Show, alongside the return of its celebrated 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle, “RECOIL”, twelve years after its debut at SEMA 2014. The world-renowned custom car…

Oct 28, 2026 Motoring

120 Years Of The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost - An Enduring Symbol Of Excellence

“The Silver Ghost occupies a special place in Rolls-Royce history. Its engineering achievements established a reputation for refinement, reliability and excellence that was extraordinary even by today’s standards. Equally remarkable was the response…

Oct 28, 2026 Buzz

Automechanika CEO Breakfast sets agenda for aftermarket growth

Industry leaders, government representatives and development partners called for coordinated action on localisation, skills, investment and African trade at Automechanika Johannesburg’s CEO Breakfast, held on the international trade fair’s opening…

Oct 28, 2026 Motorsport

Audi Revolut F1 Team charges through the midfield with strong, consistent pace at US GP

Nico Hülkenberg powers to P11 after battling at the sharp end of a dense midfield battle Gabriel Bortoleto executes a blistering comeback drive to gain eight positions Fresh aerodynamic upgrades unlock crucial pace across both Audi C46 entry…

Oct 28, 2026 Buzz

The Global Automotive Brand South Africans Are Just Beginning To Discover

Big on opportunity. Smart on affordability. Backed by global experience and local support. Behind every successful business is a vehicle that keeps it moving. And for South African entrepreneurs and fleet owners, every rand saved can create another…

Oct 27, 2026 Buzz

Incentives a strategic lever as SA’s auto sector transforms rapidly

As competition intensifies and customer expectations evolve, incentive programmes are a critical tool across the automotive value chain An influx of new international brands, evolving consumer expectations and mounting operational pressures are…

Oct 27, 2026 Buzz

The Phoenix: South Africa – A Failed State And Gangster Paradise, All Rolled Up In One

In the past week, I have received two interesting communications. One an email from the AA, and one from a WhatsApp group. Too long to give our readers chapter and verse, so I have had to shorten them, which is a pity. But I am sure you will get the…

Oct 27, 2026 Mobility

Hybrid-battery warranties are expiring: repair, replace or sell?

As more South Africans turn to hybrids to manage rising fuel costs, a new question is emerging for early buyers: what happens when the factory battery warranty expires? Hybrid electric vehicles are quickly gaining ground in South Africa. According…

Oct 27, 2026 Buzz

Cars.co.za recognised for its role in shaping South Africa’s automotive industry

Cars.co.za has been named Automotive Media House of the Year at the 2026 naamsa Accelerator Awards, powered by WesBank. Ryan Bubear also received the Automotive Journalist of the Year award. SA Auto Week 2026 in Durban unveiled this double honour,…

Oct 27, 2026 Buzz

Why Time Is the Most Overlooked Driver of Workplace Productivity

For decades, the daily commute has been treated as a fixed part of working life. It was seen as the necessary trade-off for access to talent, opportunity and centralised offices. A cost absorbed into the structure of how work gets done. That…

Oct 27, 2026 Buzz

Borrowing More, Growing Less: South Africa’s Economic Failure

South Africa’s tax burden is reportedly at a record 26.8% of GDP, while government debt is projected to reach R6.9 trillion by 2028/29. Yet economic growth remains weak, and taxpayers continue to shoulder the cost. The Finance Minister claims South…

Oct 27, 2026 Motorsport

Aliyyah Koloc saves her best for last: Fifth overall at Yecheng Rally closes Buggyra ZM Racing three-event China campaign

Straight after China, Aliyyah and co-driver Marcin Pasek head to the Qatar International Baja, where Buggyra CEO Martin Koloc returns to race. Aliyyah Koloc and her co-driver Marcin Pasek finished fifth overall at the Yecheng Rally, the last of…

Collective Bargaining: Theory vs. The Hard Reality

Oct 27, 2026 Buzz

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