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.
Chinese automotive giant, Chery, is engaged in talks with multiple car manufacturers in South Africa about sharing production facilities to build its vehicles locally, the company's regional chief has revealed to Reuters.
Motor industry leaders are anticipating a sharp fall in American electric vehicle sales after the elimination of a vital R135 000 tax incentive for purchasers.
BNA Motors in Cape Town is celebrating its tenth birthday this year with five separate dealerships in Goodwood and Parow and some major expansion plans for the near future.
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A light on my car’s dashboard came on, and instead of fixing the problem, I waited for the bulb to burn out. Crisis solved.
Jarod Kintz
The Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, Leapmotor, has entered South Africa and its vehicles will soon be available at selected Stellantis dealerships across the country.
Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) hosted the Naamsa New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Road Trip 2025 at its flagship, self-funded, off-grid, solar-powered ultra-fast EV-charging station.
German luxury carmaker, Porsche AG, has significantly scaled back its electric vehicle strategy following a sharp downturn in demand, mounting pressures in China, and punitive US trade tariffs, forcing both the company and parent Volkswagen to substantially lower their profit expectations for 2025.
