- South African Car of the Year 2023 winners revealed
- What’s happening to petrol prices in South Africa in the next six months
- Price cuts for car registration and ownership fees
- Flying vs Driving from Johannesburg to Durban at R23 per litre
- New Ford Everest models launched in South Africa
- E-tolls still charging South Africans months after being “shut down”
- When Chery’s first hybrids are launching in South Africa
- New Subarus launched in South Africa
These were the biggest stories in South Africa’s automotive scene this week.
South African Car of the Year 2023 winners revealed
The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) announced the winners of the 2023 Car of the Year (COTY) Awards this week.
As many as 55 vehicles made it through to the qualifying rounds, which was then reduced to a pool of 21 finalists.
The final nine winners have now been revealed, spanning everything from family-oriented options to high-performance and luxury models.
What’s happening to petrol prices in South Africa in the next six months
The latest predictions from the petroleum and financial industries suggest that petrol prices are going to get worse in South Africa in the coming months.
While the cost of fuel is expected to see a small decrease in June, experts have warned that the fluctuating rand/US dollar exchange rate will likely have a negative effect on prices after that.
International factors are also anticipated to have an impact on the global oil supply, which could tighten the purse strings on the country’s collective wallet.
Price cuts for car registration and ownership fees
The Department of Transport (DoT) this week corrected the schedule of service fees for online car licence and registration applications through the Natis system.
This resulted in a 38% reduction in the cost of online registration and change of ownership fees.
Another key change is that the DoT corrected the online booking fee for renewal of driver’s licences to accurately reflect its true cost, rather than bundling it with other payments.
Flying vs Driving from Johannesburg to Durban at R23 per litre
The rising cost of fuel and transport has made it harder to determine whether it is actually cheaper to fly or drive to your destination.
Based on May’s petrol price of over R23 per litre, the trip from the country’s commercial hub to the coast will actually be more expensive to drive than to fly – depending on which days you go.
New Ford Everest models launched in South Africa
Ford has launched four new derivatives in the Everest range, bringing the selection up to six different units.
The newcomers include a more affordable XLT spec, the first-ever Everest Wildtrak, and 4×2 specifications for models that were previously only offered in 4×4.
Thanks to the new entries, the Everest now has a starting price of R832,400, lowering the barrier to entry by more than R100,000.
E-tolls still charging South Africans months after being “shut down”
Gauteng’s infamous e-tolls are still billing road users five months after the system was supposed to be shut down.
The debacle surrounding e-tolls is still frustratingly uncertain for paying motorists, as the Department of Transport, Gauteng provincial government, and other relevant parties are still undecided on several matters that are standing in the way of resolving the issue.
One of the more controversial matters concerns whether compliant road users would be refunded, or whether non-compliant citizens would be compelled to pay their outstanding debts.
When Chery’s first hybrids are launching in South Africa
Chery has confirmed that it will be bringing its first new-energy vehicles (NEVs) to South Africa in the first half of 2024.
NEVs include hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric cars.
The company has not yet confirmed which of its NEVs are slated for a local release, but its Tiggo Pro range is among the most likely candidates.
New Subarus launched in South Africa
Subaru launched two different cars this week: the new Crosstrek and a turbocharged version of the Outback.
The Crosstrek is replacing the XV and has a starting price of R579,000, while the turbo Outback begins at R959,000.
Both vehicles are highly capable off-road, and come standard with equipment like climate control, LED headlights, and an 11.8-inch infotainment screen.
Keyword: Important things that happened in South Africa’s car industry this week