This Week In The News
NEWS IN SHORT
- Hertz Global Holdings plans to sell a third of its US electric vehicle fleet and reinvest in gas-powered cars due to weak demand and high repair costs for its battery-powered options.
- Suzuki continues to have a strong presence in South Africa, having sold a whopping total of 49,438 new cars in 2023, equating to a market share of just under 10%.
- South Korea unveiled plans by leading firms such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to spend more than US$470-billion (R8.8-trillion) — more than South Africa’s gross domestic product — establishing the world’s largest chip-making cluster, joining a global race to safeguard domestic supply.
- Hyundai Motor Company has been recognized yet again for its innovative design competitiveness by winning six top honours at the 2023 Good Design Awards in America, including four in the Transportation category and two in the Interactive Media category.
- Toyota has well over 100 different cars to choose from in South Africa going into 2024.
- The 3 best-selling hatchbacks in South Africa from 2023
1. VW Polo Vivo
2. Suzuki Swift
3. Toyota Starlet - Most popular optional extra for the Land Rover Defender in South Africa is the Comfort and Convenience Pack. For the not-outrageous sum of R10,200, the Comfort and Convenience Pack adds premium cabin lighting with 10 configurable settings to suit mood and driving conditions, a front centre-console refrigerator to keep drinks chilled, a wireless smartphone charger, and lidded twin front cupholders. Between November 2022 and September 2023, a staggering 89% of domestic Defender customers opted to pay for this add-on.
Rand manipulation case was ‘political huff and puff’ – professor
This is feedback from Professor at Wits’ School of Governance, Alex van den Heever, who told the SABC that there are major concerns surrounding the Competition Commission’s failure to meet the evidentiary threshold set by the Competition Appeals Court (CAC).
The CAC handed down a judgement on Monday, 8 January, dismissing the Competition Commission’s eight-year case against three big South African banks and most of the foreign banks implicated in the probe.
New Ford Territory – South African
Ford has officially announced the South African specifications for the new Territory, which is scheduled to arrive in the second quarter of 2024 at an indicative starting price of R610,000.
The Territory is the brand’s returning midsize SUV and is intended to be a “volume seller” that bridges the gap between the Puma crossover and the seven-seater Everest, according to the company.
Upon its arrival in local showrooms, the Territory will be sold in three specifications – Ambiente, Trend, and Titanium.
All three versions will share the same 1.8-litre, four-cylinder, EcoBoost petrol engine which provides up to 138kW and 318Nm, and comes standard with an Auto Start-Stop function.
More information on the new Ford Territory such as its finalizing price point for each specification will be announced closer to its launch date in the second quarter of 2024.
DID YOU KNOW.
- Electric vehicles, or EVs, are known for losing efficiency in cold weather, an issue that Consumer Reports investigated last year due to concerns about significant variations in how different electric cars held up in cold weather.
- Prior to the invention of the steering wheel, drivers used a lever to steer the car. Steering wheels were invented back in 1896.
- 95% Of Americans drive an automatic vehicle
- 31 Oct 2023 — Half of drivers (51%) said they sometimes check their cars over before setting out but an alarming 30% said they never do.
- Volkswagen owns twelve well-known car brands from 7 European countries. Including Volkswagen passenger cars they own - Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Volkswagen commercial vehicles - Scania and MAN.
- Current world record for the fastest convertible: The Hennessey Venom GT achieved a top speed of 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h). Fuel consumption’s average estimated at: 24.7 l/100km