Triton brings the challenge to competitors
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
- Product News
- 21 November 2024
The global automotive industry is entering a period of great change.
This is according to John Bozzella, president of the International Organisation of Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), during his address at the Automotive Business Council’s SA Auto Week, which is currently taking place at the Kyalami Racetrack in Gauteng.
Around the world, the move to New Energy Vehicles (NEV) is picking up speed. Bozzella says that there are currently approximately 20 million new energy vehicles on the road, up from the just one million in 2016.
“Although it is an exciting change in personal mobility, this transformation in the automotive industry will impact workers, communities and societies everywhere,” says Bozzella.
One must keep in mind that many factors in this transformation process are beyond the control of vehicle manufacturers. Aspects like the charging infrastructure in a country or the acquisition of raw materials needed for the manufacturing of batteries are often dependent on or controlled by other stakeholders within the supply chain.
The automotive industry is thus in a new 50-year cycle of reinvention.
“For greater sustained progress, electric or hydrogen-fuelled vehicles won’t be the only answer,” says Bozzella. “It will require a tech-neutral approach suited to the geographical and socio-economic landscape of each region or country.”
The shift to NEV manufacturing will not happen overnight and it will be bumpy.
“The current semi-conductor shortage may be indicative of a larger problem within the automotive supply chain,” Bozzella says. “So, this shift to NEV allows for countries to shape more diversified supply chains, as well as new markets and standards.”
He said that a cleaner, safer and more connected future will depend on all stakeholders and that it should lead to more affordable vehicles for all consumers. It should also benefit workers and economies around the world.
“Shaping the policy landscape is critical in the years ahead on a national, regional and global level,” reckons Bozzella. “We are transforming the way the world drives.”
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
JAC Motors added ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) to its X200 2.8L TDI 1.5-tonne single-cab, enhancing safety for both the crew and cargo. This latest upgrade complements the ABS-equipped X200 1.3-tonne double-cab targeted at organisations with labour-intensive crews.
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