China Chat (Video) Episode 2: Should these Chinese cars come to SA?
Rob Yao joins us again for Episode 2 of this series we’ve decided to call “China Chat”. It focuses on everything automotive occurring in China, where Rob has fantastic insights being an interpreter for some Chinese automotive companies. Watch the video!
In this episode, Ciro and Rob discuss how many new models brands like Haval and Chery are making in the next few years as well as which models could be introduced in South Africa. Then, they look at some of the wild and crazy vehicles, particularly in the bakkie segment, that have potential to threaten the likes of the Hilux and Ranger locally.
Let us know what your thoughts are in the comments below and as always, like and subscribe so we can get this content out to as many people as possible.
The BYD bakkie is currently in development and some official spy shots have emerged, giving us a preview of what’s to come.
Electric car giant BYD is working on a double-cab bakkie. The BYD bakkie range will comprise a plug-in hybrid model and then a fully electric derivative. Initial reports suggest a reveal and launch in selected markets will take place in 2024.
The double-cab market has started entering the electric era, with the Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid slated for production in South Africa in 2024, the Toyota Hilux mild hybrid sales have begun and Isuzu has confirmed a fully-electric D-Max.
What you see here is BYD’s colour camouflage, aimed at hiding some of the more intricate design details. There are vertically-aligned LED headlights and a bold grille, while the taillamps look suspiciously like those from the new-generation Volkswagen Amarok. Of course, the initial design has already been previewed via the patent office.
In terms of powertrains, the plug-in hybrid is predicted to have a range of over 1 000 km and a pure electric range of around 100 km. Based on BYD’s engine portfolio, it’s rumoured that a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and two electric motors will be on duty.
BYD Bakkie in South Africa?
While we’re still in the development phase, it’s not unreasonable to assume this vehicle will come to our shores. BYD South Africa does have a small dealership footprint already and is surely aware of our market’s appetite for double-cab bakkies. Currently BYD SA sells the Atto 3 crossover and while there’s been no official confirmation, MyBroadband reports the brand is about to introduce its Dolphin hatchback locally, positioned as SA’s cheapest EV.
Nissan SA has built ‘additional stock’ of axed NP200
Though the NP200 is no more, Nissan SA says sales of the half-tonne bakkie will continue for a few months yet, thanks to the production of “some additional vehicle stock”…
After 16 years, production of the Nissan NP200 officially ended at the Japanese firm’s Rosslyn factory in March 2024. However, the company says it managed to build “some additional vehicle stock” before bringing down the curtain on what was South Africa’s last surviving half-tonne bakkie.
“Nissan SA was able to build up some additional vehicle stock before the end of production, which is sitting with our Nissan dealer network. We foresee a continuation of sales for the next couple of months, until stocks run out,” the firm told Cars.co.za.
Nissan added it would “continue to support” its existing NP200 customers, providing “maintenance, part replacements and other services” going forward, with a further guarantee “that service, warranty and all other related policies will remain in place”.
In addition, Nissan confirmed to Cars.co.za that its “study into an alternative model” for local production is “progressing”, adding that although it is “not able to share details currently, Rosslyn remains in good shape to attract new models”. It then reiterated that “finding a new model [for production] remains a priority for Nissan”.
Back in October 2023, Nissan announced it had officially entered a “formal consultation phase to restructure the business“, thanks largely to the then-looming end of production of the NP200 (local manufacture of the Navara, of course, continues today, with a plan to ramp up production further in the coming months).
The automaker furthermore revealed it had earlier lined up an “immediate replacement model for NP200”, which was planned to be built on a Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance shared platform in Russia. However, that model was “no longer viable” due to significantly reduced volumes brought about by the “geopolitical situation in Russia”.
For the record, the outgoing NP200 range comprises just a pair of derivatives: the NP200 1.6i 8V Base (safety pack) priced at R245 300 and the NP200 1.6i 8V Base (safety pack + air-con) pegged at R266 000. In either case, the naturally aspirated petrol engine offers 64 kW and 128 Nm to the front axle via a 5-speed manual gearbox.
As a reminder, the NP200 arrived on the scene as a replacement for the Nissan 1400 back in 2008, boasting an 800 kg payload. The workhorse had the local half-tonne bakkie segment all to itself since the close of 2017, when General Motors quit Mzansi, thus marking the end of the road for the Chevrolet Utility.
In 2023, the NP200 placed 4th on the list of Mzansi’s best-selling bakkies, with as many as 12 721 units registered (down 1.1%, year on year). A further 2 245 examples were sold in the opening 2 months of 2024.
Images and details of the facelifted Renault Captur have just been released. Here’s your first look.
The facelifted Renault Captur has just been revealed and the good news is that it’s confirmed for South Africa.
What’s changed?
The facelift, or as Renault calls it ‘mid-lifecycle update’ sees the Captur get a new look at the front. The design language is fresh and was first seen on the facelifted Clio, which is also earmarked for South Africa. Penned by designer Gilles Vidal, the facelifted Renault Captur gains a premium look.
There are new LED headlights, new-look daytime running lights and a bold new grille. The rear is mostly unchanged, other than LED taillights. If you look closely, the new Renault logo makes its debut. Renault Europe says there are now 14 colour combinations and new wheel designs, with the largest sitting at 19-inches.
Also offered is the new sporty-looking Esprit Alpine trim level which replaces the older RenaultSport (RS) Line. It gets its own visual kit, model-specific 19-inch wheels as well as a sportier cabin.
Climb inside and the facelifted Renault Captur now features a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a bigger central infotainment screen. The big change is the infotainment system is powered by Google, with Android Automotive 12 software. Other noteworthy features include USB-C charge ports, wireless charging as well as a Harmon Kardon audio system.
Mechanically, the facelifted Captur has received tweaks to the suspension, shocks and steering setup for additional comfort. It appears the engine lineup is unchanged and while the SA market gets a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol 4-cylinder engine, the Euro market also has a 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder which makes 66 kW and paired to a manual gearbox. Again, the E-Tech hybrid engine will be offered, but its local availability in South Africa is still in doubt due to an unfavourable Rand/Euro exchange rate.
Facelifted Renault Captur arrival in South Africa?
Good news, as Renault South Africa has confirmed that the Captur facelift will be coming to our market. It is expected to arrive in the first half of 2025.
Suzuki XL6 Video Review: New Suzuki 6-Seater SUV Better than Ertiga?
Does the new Suzuki XL6 offer a stronger buying proposition than the Suzuki Ertiga? Jacob Moshokoa explores the case for XL6 in our latest video review. Watch the video!
The 2023 Suzuki XL6 is a newcomer to the South African car market. The 6-seater SUV or people carrier (MPV) is similar to the Ertiga in many ways but features a Captain’s seating layout in the rear. This gives a bit more of a luxurious feel to the cabin and leans it more towards the family car buyer as opposed to the e-hailing fleet buyer.
Equipped with the same running gear as many other Suzuki models such as the Ertiga and Grand Vitara, how does the XL6 distinguish itself from other Suzukis? Jacob Moshokoa reviews the new model digging into details such as the price, the interior, which model to choose as well as whether he prefers the automatic or manual XL6.
Kia explains why Tasman bakkie won’t launch with V6
A Kia executive has explained why the upcoming Tasman bakkie – which is under consideration for SA – likely won’t be offered with a V6 engine at launch…
Kia is set to reveal its new Tasman ladder-frame bakkie towards the end of 2024. And it seems recent rumours that a V6 engine won’t be offered from launch hold plenty of water. In fact, an executive from the Korean firm’s Australian division has explained why the Tasman will likely hit the market exclusively in 4-cylinder form.
Roland Rivero, Kia Australia’s general manager of product planning, hinted to Drive that customers won’t have the option of 6-cylinder power at launch, saying the “bulk” of buyers in the 1-tonne bakkie segment opt for 4-cylinder diesels and pointing out the company planned to “strategically target the big volume”.
“We’ve dissected that category in that segment accordingly, so the big volume areas are targeted,” Rivero explained. “And if it means that initially there’s no V6 diesel or V6 petrol in the mix, then that’s what we have to do,” he said.
The Tasman is listed as “coming soon” on Kia Australia’s website.
“The majority of the products out there in the marketplace, bar say a [Ford Ranger] Raptor and a V6 [Volkswagen] Amarok, fundamentally are doing it with a 4-cylinder turbo, with 3.5-tonne towing, over-a-tonne payload and meeting most of the needs of farming, agriculture, building, construction – you name it.”
That said, could a 6-cylinder motor join the Tasman range (if that’s indeed what it ends up being called) at some point further down the line? Well, Rivero certainly left the door open, though confirmed the aging 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel unit offered in the Mohave in South Korea was “not being looked at”.
“There’s a 10-year life – it’s got an extended model life, an LCV [light commercial vehicle] – and the extended model life gives us the ability to look at any low-hanging fruit that we may have missed along the way,” he told Drive.
Kia’s familiar 2.2 CRDi engine (seen here in the Carnival) seems the most likely bet.
While Kia has yet to confirm which 4-cylinder turbodiesel it plans to offer in the new Tasman, reports suggest the brand’s familiar 2.2-litre CRDi engine employed by the likes of the Sorento and Carnival (where it generates peak outputs of 148 kW and 440 Nm) is the most likely.
In March 2024, Kia’s local distributor confirmed to Cars.co.za that it was “conducting all the feasibility studies to see whether or not [the new bakkie] will be a viable product for the South African market”.
Though the Kia South Africa told us “no timing of possible introduction is available as yet”, it’s worth noting the new 1-tonne bakkie – which is expected to be offered in both single- and double-cab body styles (the latter catering to the all-important leisure market) – is slated to launch in fellow right-hand-drive market Australia only at some point in 2025.
The Suzuki Vitara facelift has just hit the European market. Here’s a quick look at what’s changed.
The Suzuki Vitara is one of the Japanese brand’s iconic models and despite its age, the 4th-generation Vitara has been given a mild facelift to keep it relevant. As a reminder, it was first revealed globally back in 2014 and locally, the range was bolstered by the addition of a turbocharged petrol engine in 2019.
The Suzuki Vitara facelift for Europe gets a new-look front end as well as an upgraded infotainment system. Suzuki also says it has enhanced the safety offering. It appears the engine and transmission have been carried over. The brand also introduced some new-look wheels as well as two additional colours, one of which you can see here.
Inside, the cabin gets the new 9-inch infotainment system with a touchscreen display, USB, Bluetooth, Wifi connectivity, as well as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The Suzuki Vitara facelift for the European market gets adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane-keeping assist as well as driver monitoring system.
As a reminder, the European engine lineup comprises mild-hybrid petrol and full-hybrid powertrains. The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine is paired to a 48V hybrid system for a combined 105 kW, with customers being able to choose either front-wheel drive or AllGrip Select 4 wheel drive.
There’s also a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine paired to a bigger 140Volt lithium-ion battery. There’s 74 kW from the engine and 24.6 kW from the electric motor going to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Will the Suzuki Vitara Facelift come to South Africa?
Interestingly, at the time of writing, the Hungarian-built Suzuki Vitara had been removed from the local OEM’s website. Granted, sales of this model had been in significantly lower numbers in comparison to its siblings like the Grand Vitara, Baleno and 5-door Jimny.
At this stage, we suspect its the end of the road for the legendary Vitara in South Africa, but if we hear from Suzuki SA, we’ll update this article.
Meet the freshly revealed Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor, a coupé-style crossover based on the Suzuki Fronx and already confirmed for launch in South Africa (though it will wear a different name here)…
Say hello to the new Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor. Revealed in India, this new coupé-style crossover is the latest product of the Japanese giant’s wide-reaching alliance with Suzuki. And, yes, it’s based on the Suzuki Fronx.
UPDATE: Toyota South Africa Motors has announced that the new Urban Cruiser Taisor will be introduced in the local market “under a model name yet to be announced”, saying “further details about the SA version of Urban Cruiser Taisor will be made closer to launch timing”.
Toyota SA Motors earlier confirmed to Cars.co.za that the new Urban Cruiser Taisor is indeed coming to local roads, though the company would not yet be drawn on launch timing. Since orders have seemingly already opened in India, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the newcomer in Mzansi before the end of 2024.
Expect both mono- and 2-tone paint options to be available locally.
So, what sets the Urban Cruiser Taisor apart from the Fronx? Well, though all body panels are seemingly carried over, the Toyota-badged version unveiled in India features a revised grille finish, restyled bumpers (fore and aft), fresh alloy-wheel designs and a model-specific front lighting signatures (front and back). At first glance, very little has changed in the cabin at all.
Like the Fronx, the newcomer measures 3 995 mm from nose to tail, with a wheelbase of 2 520 mm and a height of 1 550 mm. Though local pricing has yet to be released, we expect the Urban Cruiser Taisor to slot in at the foot of Toyota SA Motors’ crossover line-up, below the likewise Indian-made Urban Cruiser and the locally built Corolla Cross. That will, of course, make it Toyota’s most affordable crossover.
The Indian-spec Taisor features the same touchscreen system as the Fronx.
This model may well turn out to be another significant volume driver for Toyota SA Motors, particularly since it looks set to be positioned to pick up where the old Urban Cruiser left off. As a reminder, the new Urban Cruiser – which wears the Hyryder suffix in India and launched locally in April 2023 – is larger and more expensive than the original, and thus hasn’t enjoyed quite the same sales success.
As such, we see the Urban Cruiser Taisor slotting in below the Urban Cruiser, which now kicks off at R342 500. For more potential pricing context, we could look to the 4-strong Fronx line-up, which currently has bookends of R288 900 and R344 900.
Note the Taisor-specific grille finish.
Like the SA-spec Fronx (which made landfall back in August 2023), we suspect the new Taisor will be offered locally with Suzuki’s ubiquitous K15B naturally aspirated 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, sending 77 kW and 138 Nm to the front axle via either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic transmission. That’s despite the fact the Indian-spec model will be available with an atmospheric 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol motor or a turbocharged 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder engine.
Despite reported supply constraints, the Fronx has already proved successful for Suzuki Auto SA, with 2 048 units registered in Mzansi over the final 5 months of 2023 during which it was on sale. A further 738 units have been sold in the opening 2 months of 2024. This bodes well for the new Taisor considering Toyota-badged products of the alliance have made a habit of outselling their Suzuki donors.
We’ll update this story with more SA-specific information once it becomes available…
South Africa’s new-vehicle market suffered its 8th straight month of year-on-year decline in March 2024. Here’s your overview, including Mzansi’s most popular brands…
Yes, the weak performance continues. March 2024 was the South African new-vehicle industry’s 8th consecutive month of year-on-year decline, with total market sales falling 11.7% to 44 235 units. That figure furthermore represented a 1.1% drop compared with February 2024’s effort.
The bad news even extended to the export market, which suffered a 27.1% year-on-year decline to 24 161 units in March 2024. According to Naamsa, the market’s overall performance was impacted by a “constrained business environment amplified by weak consumer demand” as well as the recent Easter holidays (the latter resulting in fewer trading days).
Unfortunately, the picture isn’t much rosier year to date. For the first quarter of 2024, for instance, South Africa’s aggregate new-vehicle sales stood at 131 201 units, some 5.3% below the corresponding 3-month period in 2023.
But back to March 2024. Out of the total reported industry sales last month, Naamsa estimated that 39 016 units (or 88.2%) represented registrations via the dealer channel, while 6.0% were sales to the vehicle-rental industry, 3.5% to government and 2.3% to industry corporate fleets.
The March 2024 new passenger-vehicle market registered a 15.1% year-on-year drop to 26 819 units, with rental sales accounting for 7.8% of that total. Even the country’s typically robust light-commercial vehicle segment wasn’t spared, with sales in this space declining 5.9% year on year to 14 626 units.
Meanwhile, Brandon Cohen, Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), commended the country’s dealers for their sales performances amidst what he described as “exceptionally challenging market conditions” in March.
“March presented additional challenges with 3 public holidays disrupting operations for both dealers and manufacturers. This period coincided with school holidays, further impacting consumer behaviour. Additionally, as March marked the fiscal year-end for many companies, purchasing decisions were influenced by budgetary considerations, resulting in varied trading patterns,” Cohen pointed out.
Lebo Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank, said all was not lost for March sales. He explained that the “particularly early” calendar impact of the Easter public holidays meant March 2024 was a much shorter selling month than March last year (20 selling days versus 22 last year).
“One can hope that April will bounce back and provide some level of correction against last year’s sales,” Gaoaketse said.
New-vehicle sales summary for March 2024
Aggregate new-vehicle sales of 44 235 units decreased by 11.7% (5 879 units) compared to March 2023.
New passenger-vehicle sales of 26 819 units decreased by 15.1% (4 782 units) compared to March 2023.
New light-commercial vehicle sales of 14 626 units decreased by 5.9% (916 units) compared to March 2023.
Export sales of 24 161 units decreased by 27.1% (8 975 units) compared to March 2023.
10 best-selling automakers in South Africa in March 2024
Nissan enjoyed its best sales month in recent memory.
Despite the overall negative sentiment, it was another bumper month for Toyota (including the Lexus and Hino marques), which was once again South Africa’s best-selling automaker in March 2024. Last month, Toyota SA Motors registered as many as 11 109 units (4 352 of which came in the light-commercial vehicle segment) around Mzansi, just 3.6% down on its February 2024 showing.
The Volkswagen Group (including the Audi marque) likewise held steady in 2nd position, with 5 219 units sold. After breaching the 5 000-unit mark for 2 months on the trot, Suzuki Auto SA fell back to a still-solid 4 335 sales in March 2024, opening up some space between it and the VW Group but still retaining 3rd.
Intriguingly, Nissan found itself just 340 sales off the pace in 4th position. The Japanese firm’s local division ended March 2024 on a surprisingly heady 3 993 units (up a whopping 45%, month on month, with much of that growth thanks to the departing NP200), easily its best effort in recent memory. Isuzu (2 587 units), meanwhile, climbed 2 rankings to 5th place, with Hyundai (2 436 units) holding steady in 6th.
That saw Ford (2 409 units) slip 2 spots to 7th, with GWM SA – recently renamed from Haval Motors SA – again taking 8th, this time on 1 564 units. Chery (1 531 units) was once more right on its fellow Chinese group’s tail in 9th, while Renault (1 301 units) again closed out the table in 10th.
Outside of the top 10, Naamsa’s figures furthermore suggested Mahindra finished in 11th on 1 163 units, putting the Indian automaker ahead of the BMW Group (1 068 units), Kia (1 007 units) and Mercedes-Benz (with a Naamsa-estimated 567 units).
1. Toyota – 11 109 units
2. Volkswagen Group – 5 219 units
3. Suzuki – 4 335 units
4. Nissan – 3 993 units
5. Isuzu – 2 587 units
6. Hyundai – 2 436 units
7. Ford – 2 409 units
8. GWM – 1 564 units
9. Chery – 1 531 units
10. Renault – 1 301 units
New vehicle-sales outlook in SA for remainder of 2024
Naamsa says SA buyers continue to turn to “more budget-friendly vehicles“.
So, where to from here for South Africa’s new-vehicle market? Well, Naamsa suggests the market looks set to continue on this “downward slope”, though believes “better economic prospects are expected for the new-vehicle market” once the anticipated interest-rate cutting cycle commences – likely only during the 2nd half of the year.
“Due to ongoing cost pressures, including escalating fuel costs, along with interest rates, affordability remains a decisive factor in purchasing decisions as consumers increasingly turn to more budget-friendly vehicles,” says Naamsa, adding that SA’s economic growth outlook for 2024 remains muted (though hopefully still stronger than in 2023).
What about the export market? Well, the industry representative body says “prospects for the balance of the year remain upbeat on the back of new-model introductions by major exporters, while the global economic cycle is expected to bottom out in the first half of 2024”.
“Lower inflation, central bank easing and modest global economic growth are therefore expected to support the South African automotive industry’s export performance,” Naamsa concludes.
NADA’s Cohen says the “consistent resilience and adaptability demonstrated by South Africa’s franchised motor dealers are indicative of their enduring strength in navigating dynamic market conditions”.
“While the month marked a continuation of declining retail vehicle sales, insights suggest promising fiscal performances for several industry stakeholders. As we move forward, our focus remains on building momentum and driving growth within the retail automotive sector,” says Cohen.
Meanwhile, WesBank’s Gaoaketse believes the market will “inevitably also be cautious” with pending elections in May, potentially further dampening year’s opening half performance.
“The broader economy remains a challenge for South African motorists. With interest rates unchanged once again, they remain high amidst generally high inflation. Fuel prices will increase again this week, continuing to place pressure on household budgets and their ability to service debt,” cautions Gaoaketse.
The facelift Mercedes-Benz G-Class has just been revealed and will be arriving in SA by the end of 2024.
The facelift Mercedes-Benz G-Class has received the smallest of changes and it will take a keen eye to spot the differences. There are new paint options, new wheel designs and a new-look front bumper.
The good news is that the 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged petrol engine has been retained, but gains an integrated starter generator hybrid system and outputs of 430 kW and 850 Nm are on offer. It’s still going to be ballistic quick, with a 0-100 kph claimed time of 4.2 seconds.
While all eyes will be on the mighty AMG-fetted G-Class, the diesel-powered G gets an update too. Badged as the G450d (G400d was the outgoing badge), the 3.0-litre turbocharged 6-cylinder diesel now makes 270 kW and 950 Nm, which is quite the increase in comparison to the predecessor’s 243 kW and 700 Nm.
A mild-hybrid system has been introduced to reduce emissions and to provide a temporary power boost. With such increases, performance has increased too and the facelift Mercedes-Benz G-Class is said to sprint to 100 kph in 5.8 seconds, which is six tenths quicker.
All facelift Mercedes-Benz G-Class variants will feature an updated 9-speed automatic transmission. Later this year, we’ll see the reveal of the all-electric EQG.
It will still be a supremely capable offroader, with three diff locks, low-range transfer case, 30 and 31 degree approach/departure angles and 270 mm of ground clearance. For 2024, Mercedes-Benz has added some offroad-specific graphics to the car’s MBUX infotainment system.
Facelift Mercedes-Benz G-Class arrival in South Africa?
Mercedes-Benz SA has confirmed the G-Class arrival for our market, with an expected showroom debut planned for December 2024/January 2025. The electric EQG has also been confirmed.
