It has been reported that the Scandinavian commercial vehicle manufacturer, Volvo Trucks, will significantly scale up local production capabilities with the launch of Euro 6 truck manufacturing in early 2026. The expansion represents a major investment in the company's Durban assembly operations.
The move capitalises on growing demand for cleaner commercial vehicles as South African businesses face increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprints. Euro 6 technology cuts harmful emissions through innovative AdBlue chemical treatment systems and advanced exhaust filtering.
Industry analysts view the production increase as strategically important given South Africa's heavy reliance on road freight, which accounts for over 80% of cargo transported nationally. The enhanced local manufacturing capacity positions the company to serve both domestic and regional African markets more effectively.
The upgraded facility features new automated lifting equipment designed to improve production efficiency and worker safety. Manufacturing will span multiple emission standard variants alongside the company's growing electric vehicle portfolio.
A significant development includes plans to introduce an extended-range of electric truck models capable of 600-kilometre operation, addressing previous limitations of electric commercial vehicles in long-haul applications.
The company has implemented advanced fleet monitoring technology that tracks vehicle performance metrics to prevent mechanical failures. This predictive maintenance approach reportedly avoided over 400 potential breakdowns in the first seven months of this year, demonstrating significant cost savings for fleet operators.
The expansion reflects broader automotive industry trends toward local production and sustainable transport solutions across emerging markets.
Audi South Africa has introduced the new Q5 range, comprising the third-generation Q5 SUV, second-generation Q5 Sportback, and the performance-focused SQ5 SUV and SQ5 Sportback. The range is built on Audi's Premium Platform Combustion and brings a new generation of petrol and diesel engines to the nameplate.
Geely Auto South Africa (GASA) has introduced Riddara, Geely Auto Group's new energy bakkie brand, to the South African market.
Ford’s next big electric vehicle push is less about a dramatic new badge and more about what happens behind factory doors.
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The Toyota Starlet has improved from zero to a four-star rating for adult occupant protection in Global NCAP's latest #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test results. This follows a safety upgrade to make six airbags a standard fit.
South Africa's new vehicle market sustained strong momentum in August 2026, with aggregate sales increasing by 11,4% year-on-year to 57 898 units, says the Automotive Business Councill | naamsa.
South Africa’s new-vehicle market maintained its momentum in August, with aggregate sales of 57 898 units representing an increase of 11.4% compared with the same month last year.
