Rumours abound about Merc’s East London plant
More and more rumours are surfacing about the possible sale, or part sale, of Mercedes-Benz’s East London manufacturing plant.
- Industry News
- 11 March 2026
At Halfway Toyota in Howick, workshop foreman Devesh Saamcharan stole a march on his Japanese colleagues in the Toyota Motor Corporation when he assembled a few foot-operated, hand-sanitiser dispensers back in May 2020.
The dispenser proved to be a novelty in May, before it became commonplace in dealers across South Africa.
Toyota announced recently that its Kamigo Parts Centre in Japan will be making up to 2 500 sanitiser stands a month, which are to be sold or leased to dealers in Japan from December onwards.
Saamcharan told Dealerfloor he built his stands as strong but as cheaply as possible, using wood and old clutch housings that he salvaged at the dealership. To this he added only a few new bolts, making it a very cost-effective solution for the dealership.
The sturdy stands are in daily use at the busy Halfway dealership, but despite being stepped on many times a day, are still cleaning hands as fast as the bottles can squirt.
More and more rumours are surfacing about the possible sale, or part sale, of Mercedes-Benz’s East London manufacturing plant.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday (10 March) they would not let any oil and other related products out of the Middle East until United States (US) and Israeli attacks cease, prompting US President Donald Trump to threaten to hit Iran "twenty times harder" if it blocked exports.
With tensions and conflict in the Middle East raising concerns about global energy supplies, attention has again focused on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important oil shipping routes in the world.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
Among 14 Lexus Dealerships, Halfway Lexus Pretoria, emerged as the standout performer, claiming the title of 2025 Lexus Dealer of the Year Award.
Hyundai Automotive South Africa has bolstered its national apprenticeship programme to 338 active apprentices, with 80 women now representing nearly 24%.
Cape Town residents have embraced the Hyundai brand for its innovation, reliability as well as value-for-money and that enthusiasm has not gone unnoticed, says the Korean manufacturer with the opening of a new dealership in the Mother City.