In line with its parent company’s recent strategic realignment to new-energy vehicles (NEV), Toyota South Africa recently laid its NRV cards for SA on the table.
Although the company maintains that internal combustion engines (ICE) still have a role to play, it said it will be shifting a large part of its focus to traditional hybrid vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) and other engine conversions over the next few years, as far as the SA market is concerned.
The biggest news is that Toyota will be launching a new, mildly hybrid Hilux and Fortuner in early 2024 consisting of the standard ICE combined with an integrated starter generator and 12V-48V battery.
The company will also be introducing the Toyota Crown to South Africa this year. This crossover Crown variant is powered by a 2.5-litre, parallel-hybrid drivetrain with an output in the neighbourhood of 170kW and a fuel consumption of under 5.0L/100km.
Another NEV addition to the local market from Toyota will be a hybrid version of the new Urban Cruiser.
It is also rumoured that the plug-in hybrid RAV4, Lexus NX and RX are on their way.
Toyota has said that owing to the current scarcity of electricity on the African continent, that BEVs won’t be a practical solution yet for local consumers.
Hyundai Automotive South Africa has announced the appointment of Stanley Anderson, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 1 July 2025.
The annual Simola Hillclimb, which celebrated its 15th running in 2025, has grown into South Africa’s premier motorsport event.
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I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.
Ariel Gore
The latest Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition clearly showed the worldwide shift towards new-energy drivetrains like battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
Mazda has unveiled its EZ-60, an electric crossover SUV, the result of a joint venture between Mazda and Changan Automobile. It is the second electric vehicle (NEV) manufactured by Changan Mazda.
The Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition currently underway in China is pretty much an electric affair with numerous new electric and hybrid vehicles with improved technology on show.