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.
Leapmotor at Stellantis South Africa announced a partnership agreement with boutique car rental company, Drive Electric, to make premium electric mobility more accessible to local driving consumers.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are still expected to dominate the European Union’s (EU) car market from 2035, yet their eventual share could vary considerably depending on the strength of upcoming emissions rules, according to new findings from the transport campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E).
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in the United States (US) has renewed its backing for policies aimed at preventing Chinese vehicle manufacturers from establishing a foothold in the US, despite growing expectations that their entry may be inevitable.
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
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The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in the United States (US) has renewed its backing for policies aimed at preventing Chinese vehicle manufacturers from establishing a foothold in the US, despite growing expectations that their entry may be inevitable.
Japanese carmakers are scaling back operations in Southeast Asia and Africa as competition from rapidly expanding Chinese manufacturers reshapes the global automotive landscape.
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) Minister Parks Tau has welcomed the approval of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Bill by the United States (US) House of Representatives.
