Dakar - South African crews dig deep as second week begins
The 2026 Dakar Rally roared back into action on Monday with Stage 8, a gruelling 481km loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir.
- Industry News
- 12 January 2026
Continuing to grow within Ford South Africa’s dealer network, Ford Approved is now represented by more than 90 dealerships nationwide, with more than 2 500 pre-owned vehicles currently listed on the website.
The overall user experience has been refreshed with a distinctive look and feel, reflecting its premium value and product offering.
One of the key benefits of Ford Approved is its enhanced online functionality, made possible by the upgraded website, www.fordapproved.co.za. The site is faster and features new user-friendly options, even allowing users to filter cars by colour.
This streamlined approach saves customers time and enables a seamless, digital process. Test drives can be arranged at a convenient time, while extended service plans are available for any vehicle listed. Trade-ins, too, are welcome, with Ford South Africa’s dealerships offering free evaluations. Sellers can begin the trade-in process online, with the final vehicle inspection taking place at their selected Ford Approved dealer.
“A combination of reduced interest rates and outstanding value, low-mileage used vehicles available with the latest safety and technology being offered are reasons for optimism in the pre-owned vehicle segment,” says Eben Swart, Ford Approved Manager.
“Our teams are highly trained and have the best resources available to assist the buyer. We strive to give customers the same experience and professional service that they would receive when buying a new vehicle from Ford. We make sure that all Ford Approved vehicles pass through our stringent quality checks to give our customers peace of mind when purchasing a pre-owned Ford,” he says.
For added peace of mind, all pre-owned vehicles listed by Ford Approved include the following quality checks:
The 160-point check helps differentiate Ford Approved. These checks, carried out by trained Ford technicians, are done on all pre-owned Ford vehicles before being listed on the Ford Approved website. Included in the comprehensive checklist, which is carried out at no cost to the customer, is an inspection of all body panels, brakes, suspension, steering, transmission operation, lights and safety systems like airbags and seatbelts. Depending on the vehicle’s factory specification, systems like active safety systems, reverse cameras and Ford SYNC are also checked.
The 2026 Dakar Rally roared back into action on Monday with Stage 8, a gruelling 481km loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir.
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