Dealer industry news from around Southern Africa
Amid war, fracturing geopolitics and increased global tensions, the new United States ambassador to South Africa fired some verbal missiles in his first public appearance in the country.
Geely Auto has been recognised in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026 (Global), marking a significant milestone for the brand’s global sustainability efforts and the first and only Chinese vehicle manufacturer to make the list.
While the decision to keep the repo rate unchanged offers a degree of short-term stability, if current global events continue for the long term, the prospects for a prolonged high-interest rate environment will place significant pressure on consumer affordability and, in turn, vehicle retail activity.
Slovakia’s emergency fuel restrictions have drawn sharp criticism from the European Commission (EC), which argues that the measures breach single market rules.
The first-ever Easter Jeep Safari will be held from 3 to 6 April 2026 at the Gariep Forever Resort.
The Toyota Easter Festival at Kyalami Park Club runs from 28 March to 6 April 2026 and continues Toyota South Africa Motors’ long-standing involvement in the event.
South Africa’s Eastern Cape automotive hub is entering a precarious period as infrastructure failures, policy drift and external trade shocks converge to undermine confidence across major plants and supply chains.
In a stark reminder of the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home may soon return on a wider scale as governments and organisations look for ways to curb fuel consumption amid a global oil supply shock.
South Africa’s vehicle market has seen a steady influx of emerging brands, alongside continued expansion from established players.
Dealerfloor asked Ricardo Smith, Chief Investment Officer at Absa Investments (pictured), to comment on two international issues and the effects they have on the South African economy in general, and on the local automotive industry in particular.
Many forward-thinking individuals propose that autonomous vehicles will improve road safety as problematic driver behaviour, which contributes to 90% plus crashes, will be eliminated. A recent incident may cause some to doubt this, however.
Motorists travelling over the Easter period can expect heavy traffic across South Africa’s road network, with authorities warning that routes to Limpopo will come under particular pressure as thousands of pilgrims make their way to Moria.
Slovakia has introduced temporary measures designed to prevent diesel shortages, giving service stations new flexibility to limit how much fuel customers can buy and to adjust pump prices for vehicles registered outside the country.
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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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