Business Fleet Africa December 2022.pdf

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PROVIDER TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR* africa AWARDS
December 2022 WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
Isuzu launches
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Ford Ranger arrives
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BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA | December 2022
2 WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
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Business Fleet Africa
EDITION 20 December 2022
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Fleet favourite Suzuki
S-Presso updated.
Table of Contents
3 Editorial
Business
4 There is light at the end of the tunnel
8 How to prevent quiet quitting
TransportandFreightIndex
6
The South African logistics sector buckled
in October
News
10 International News
12 Industry News
18 On the local front
Intheheadlights:HCVFleetVehicles
20 Fuso eCAnter demonstrates versatility
24 Isuzu launches truck rental programme
25 First DAF CF Military Trucks delivered
26
Pressure on transport industry to shift
to electric
FleetOwnerSuccessStory
27 Glow-in-the-dark deliveries
Specialreport
30 Why the chips remain down
SupplyChainandLogistics
28
Efficient delivery vital for e-commerce
success
32 Making logistics 4.0 a reality
33 Thriving in the automotive industry
FleetManagement
34
Liquid engineering that keeps your
fleet moving
36 Bespoke solutions for every industry
Intheheadlights:LCVFleetVehicles
38 Ford Ranger goes on sale
40 Suzuki updates S-Presso
42 New Renault Trafic is ready to work
44
Toyota SA acquires fleet of armoured
Hilux bakkies
IndustrySales
45
Commercial vehicle sales boom
during November
46 Buyers Guide
PARTNER WITH THE LEADING FLEET MANAGEMENT CARD
PROVIDER TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR* africa AWARDS
December 2022 WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
Isuzu launches
Ford ranger arrIves
In tIme For chrIstmas
Fleet FavourIte
suzukI s-presso updated
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17

3
December2022 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
Editor
Reuben van Niekerk
reubenvn@vodamail.co.za
082 837 8801
Editor-at-large
Suzanne Walker
suzanne.walker3@gmail.com
083 3789 664
Contributors
Roger Houghton
houghtonr@mwebbiz.co.za
082 371 9097
Publisher
Jacques Wilken
jwilken@mweb.co.za
083 299 7312
Road Impression Editor
Charl Wilken
cwwilken@mweb.co.za
083 297 1837
Advertising and Marketing
Charlene Kruger
charlene@businessfleetafrica.co.za
076 807 4613
© 1997 WCM Media CC
Disclaimer
While all reasonable precautions
have been taken to ensure the
accuracy of information supplied,
neither the editor, the proprietors,
nor the publishers can accept
responsibility for any inaccuracies,
damages, or injury which may arise
there from.
Goodbye 2022
The South African economy has been dealt one blow after the
other in 2022, most recently the Transnet strike saw our major
ports shut down for 12 days. According to Business Unity South Africa, the cumulative
impact has resulted in logistics costs of R7 billion, as goods worth R65.3 billion stood idle.
The knock on effect is far reaching and will be felt for many years to come.
Fortunately for the automotive industry there seems to be some improvements on
the horizon. With fuel prices and interests rate continuing to rise consumers are more
cash strapped than ever. However, it does seem like supply in terms of new cars and
the chip shortage will return to normal levels during 2023. This will hopefully result in
the normalisation of pre-owned vehicle prices and parts and provide some relief for
consumers and the industry as a whole.
With the three-year anniversary of COVID-19 fast approaching, I believe that the
worst is behind us and that we will move closer to the normal we once knew next year.
Drive safely
South African roads are an extremely dangerous place, especially during the festive
season. Regular motorists as well as commercial vehicle operators need to do ebvery-
thing they can to try and mitigate this carnage.
Don’t drink and drive
Many South Africans like to unwind over the festive season by indulging in alcoholic
beverages and this is a big contributor to fatalities on our roads. While it is not just
motorists who are to blame, many drunk pedestrians also contribute to this statistic.
The bottom line is that drinking and driving do not mix, if you are planning on drinking
rather sleep over, elect a designated driver or use public transport.
Avoid overloading
Overloading is another big contributing factor to the festive season death toll.
Overloading, especially of trailers can lead to axle or tyre failure with catastrophic effects
for the tow vehicle and other road users. Avoid the temptation to overload vehicles or
trailers, it could save your life. The maximum weight allowed will be indicated on the
trailers manufacturing plate affixed to the chassis or in your vehicles owners’ manual.
Take your time
Many South Africans will drive thousands of kilometres to their holiday destination
and try to do it in one go. Fatigue has been proven to be one of the biggest contrib-
utors to driver related accidents. The rule of thumb remains, stop every two hours,
stretch your legs and have something cold to drink or a coffee.
Avoid peak times
The more cars on the road, the bigger the chances of being involved in an accident and
the longer your journey will take. If at all possible try and avoid peak days and times.
These include the 16th and 24th of December as well as the 2nd
of January and the
weekend before schools resume.
Ensure that your car is roadworthy
It is essential to ensure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before hitting the
long road, this will ensure that you reach your destination without any hiccups and will
also prevent any unroadworthy components from causing an accident. Ask your local
dealership or workshop to check safety critical components like tyres, brakes, shocks,
windscreens and lights and rectify any issues before you hit the road.
Reuben van Niekerk
Editor
Editorial
EDITORIAL

BUSINESS
The global and South African economy
has been subjected to enormous pres-
sure in the wake of COVID-19 and the
slow recovery to what is now known as
a new normal. As we look back on these
three years, for the first time it seems
that there is light at the end of the
tunnel and that 2023 will truly see the
global supply chain and its associated
industries return to normal.
Economists believe that despite
the fact that the South African GDP

continues to take strain, the economy
will begin to improve thanks to a variety
of factors including improvements in the

supply of automotive components and
new models. It has also been predicted
that global supply chain systems will sort
themselves out and that shipping costs
will reduce to a more affordable level.
Economic improvement will be
welcome across the board and in the
automotive industry it is expected to
result in improved vehicle affordability.
Proof thereof is that the latest new
vehicle sales reveal that there has been
a substantial increase in activity com-
pared to 2021 and of course 2020 and
it is expected that this momentum will
continue as long as supply can keep up.
Year to date in November passenger
vehicle sales were up 19,6%, light
commercials up 0,9%, medium trucks
and buses 8,8% and heavy trucks and
buses 10.8%. Overall, out of the total re-
ported industry sales of 49 413 vehicles
81,0% represented dealer sales, 14,7%
represented sales to the vehicle rental
industry, 2,3% sales to government and
2,0% to industry corporate fleets.
The new vehicle market has con-
tinued to outperform expectations
and with only one month to go in the
year it was running 13,6% ahead of the
There is light
at the end of the tunnel
Year to date in November
passenger vehicle sales
were up 19,6%, light
commercials up 0,9%,
medium trucks and
buses 8,8% and heavy
trucks and buses 10.8%.
Overall, out of the total
reported industry sales
of 49 413 vehicles 81,0%
represented dealer sales,
14,7% represented sales
to the vehicle rental
industry, 2,3% sales to
government and 2,0% to
industry corporate fleets.

corresponding period of last year. The
knock on effect of a normalisation in
supply of new vehicles is that the pre-
owned vehicle pricing is also expected to
return to normal. This could negatively
affect dealers as well as motorists who
bought pre-owned vehicles at inflated
prices when the time comes to sell.
“The positive growth in new vehicle
sales is surprising but only time will tell
if it is sustainable. The interest rate is
putting cash strapped consumers under
increased pressure as monthly debt re-
payments eat into what little disposable
income they may have,” says Derick de
Vries, Executive Head of Standard Bank
Fleet Management.
Just last week, the South African
Reserve bank raised the interest rate
for the seventh consecutive time since
November 2021 and the third con-
secutive time by 75 basis points, to its
highest level since 2016. GDP growth in
South Africa continues to be adjusted
downwards and is now expected to be at
1,1% in 2023.
Fleet managers need to continually
evaluate all aspects of their business to
ensure that they have the right solution
for their needs in the current environ-
ment. This can only be done with a well
thought out fleet management system
and the right financing programs in place.
“Being able to survive in such
turbulent times requires partners that
are flexible and that allow business to
adapt quickly to changing needs and
requirements. Standard Bank offer a
variety of vehicle and asset financing
solutions that give our customers this
flexibility and allow them to rapidly make
the changes in their business that are
needed in order to remain competitive
in the current economy,” adds de Vries.
These solutions include financing op-
tions such as instalment sales, a finance
lease, operating rental, sale and lease-
back, discounting arrangements or an
interim agreement. This variety ensures
that Standard Bank are able to keep their
customers on the road amidst changing
usage and financial requirements.
“Many businesses and individuals have
carried COVID fatigue into 2022 and after
a good break it will be great to truly start
the new year afresh. A fresh start will
allow everyone to tackle 2023 with gusto,
despite the challenges with which it may
present itself,” concludes de Vries. BFA
‘The positive growth
in new vehicle sales
is surprising but
only time will tell
if it is sustainable.
The interest rate
is putting cash
strapped consumers
under increased
pressure as monthly
debt repayments
eat into what little
disposable income
they may have.’
5

TRANSPORT AND FREIGHT INDEX
The South African logistics sector de-
clined abruptly during October, as Trans
net workers embarked on prolonged
strike action to demand higher wage
increases. With all the commercial ports
affected, extensive economic damage
was caused to a variety of the segments
measured by the Ctrack Transport and
Freight Index, including Road Freight
and Storage Handling, both of which
declined notably in October. On the
contrary, Air Freight seems to have
been a beneficiary of the negative
performance of Sea Freight and others.
The overall Ctrack Transport and Freight
Index declined by 1.8% compared to
the previous month, a decline similar to
what was experienced amidst the July
2021 looting episode.
It is clear that the logistics sector has
been experiencing increased volatility
following the COVID-19 pandemic two
years ago, with multiple challenges to
overcome. Apart from the major events,
including looting, flooding and strike
action, regular load shedding, rising
interest rates, increased costs of tyres
and spare parts, general delays at ports,
frequent sabotage and unrest, as well
as railway woes have all contributed neg-
atively to the industry and the economy
at large. On an annual basis, the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index has still
grown by 10.0% but moderated from
September’s 12.7% and August’s 13.7%.
“It is unfortunate that the South
African logistics sector simply can not
catch a break with one disruption after
the other affecting its growth. This also
means that it is very difficult to paint a
clear picture of the performance poten-
tial of the industry, which makes it very
difficult for operators to forecast and
plan accurately,” says Hein Jordt, Chief
Executive Officer of Ctrack Africa.
According to Business Unity South
Africa (BUSA), the 12-day Transnet strike’s
cumulative impact has resulted in logistics
costs totalling R7 billion, as goods worth
R65.3 billion stood idle, with a significant
portion of the losses likely never to be
fully recovered. As operations have
gradually returned to some semblance
of normality towards the end-October,
BUSA noted that the industry is only set
to recover fully by early in 2023, barring
any further disasters. Considering the
damage to the logistics industry and to
the economy at large against the esti-
mated cost of the agreed wage increase
of R1.5 billion, such an event needs to be
avoided at all costs in future.
Despite the difficult month, three
of the six components of the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index increased
on an annual basis during October
(see Graph 2). The Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index is calculated on a
three-month moving average basis
which saw the detrimental impact of
the Transnet strike somewhat absorbed.
However, the negative impact on the
Sea Freight, Road Freight and Storage
Handling segments between September
and October cannot be ignored.
A closer look at some of the seg-
ments measured by the Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index reveals the real effects
of the Transnet strike, which lasted
almost half the duration of October.
Sea Freight increased by 0.3% in
October compared to a year ago but
declined by 5.4% on a monthly basis, re-
flecting the negative impact of the strike
on ports’ activities. Overall, container
handling in the country declined signifi-
cantly by 58.7% in October compared
The South African logistics sector
buckled in October amid Transnet strike
Ctrack Transport and Freight Index
Percentage change on monthly basis
Jul-18
Jul-19
Jul-20
Jul-21
Jul-2
Jan-18
Jan-19
Jan-20
Jan-21
Jan-22
Oct-18
Oct-19
Oct-20
Oct-21
Oct-2
Apr-18
Apr-19
Apr-20
Apr-21
Apr-22
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
-2%
-4%
-6%
-8%
-10%
Ctrack economists.co.za
%
Recovery Post Lockdown
KZN Looting
Covid 19 Hard-Lockdown
KZN Floods
Transnet Strike
Graph 1: Ctrack Transport and Freight Index % change on a monthly basis
ctrack
and
economists.co.za
Graph 2
Ctrack Transport and Freight Index components (% change on a year ago)
Ctrack

economists.co.za
Road freight
Air frieght
Sea
Storage
Rail
Pipeline –7.7
–7.2
–2.1
0.3
12.4
20.3
25
–10 –5 0 10 20 %
5 15

7
to September. Activities at the port of
Durban, the country’s biggest container
handling facility, dropped by 61.7% in
October, while the smaller ports were
proportionally harder hit, with East
London down by 91.4%, Port Elizabeth
by 75.5% and Cape Town by 66.9%.
The port of Ngqura fared best, with a
decline of 25.8%. Not only container
handling but also general cargo handling
was down by almost 23% compared to
September. On a quarterly basis, Sea
Freight declined by 4.2%.
Less port activity, specifically related
to container handling, resulted in less
activity for the Storage Handling
sub-sector and also less activity for Road
Freight.
Just when it seemed that Storage
Handling had made a turn for the better,
as reflected in two consecutive positive
monthly growth rates during August
and September, as well as a sizeable
9.1% quarter-on-quarter growth for the
third quarter, the Transnet strike hit the
supply chain. The result was that the
Storage Handling segment declined by
1.1% on a monthly basis and by 2.1% on
an annual basis in October.
Road Freight has been resilient, and
its positive performance an ongoing
theme since mid-2020. However, the
strike hit the heavy vehicle segment
particularly hard. The number of heavy
trucks on the N3 declined by 4.0% during
October, while heavy vehicle traffic
on the N4 still showed some growth.
Frequent disruptions at the Durban port
has resulted in more companies con-
sidering the more stable Maputo port
for exports. However, lengthy delays at
border posts also played havoc during
October. Overall, it was a challenging
month for the Road Freight segment, as
also confirmed by a further decline in
the Road Freight payload for the country
as a whole. Though declining by 2.2%
on a monthly basis, Road Freight still
increased by a notable 20.3% on a yearly
basis, as it continued the positive growth
streak that commenced in January 2021.
The Air Freight sector, which showed
recent signs of strain, had a strong
month in October, implying that it might
have been a beneficiary of the logistical
troubles created by the Transnet strike.
The Air Freight component of the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index increased by
3.2% on a monthly basis (following four
consecutive monthly declines) and came
in 12.4% higher in October compared
to a year ago. Total consolidated airport
flight movements increased by 11.8% in
October, unscheduled flights (typically
used for cargo) by 4.9% and loads on
planes by more than 18%. The stellar
performance of Air Freight helped to
soften the impact of the Transnet strike
on the overall performance of the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index.
“Running a transport and logistics
operation in such a volatile environment
can only be done with an accurate fleet
management system in place. Ctrack has
the hardware and software to monitor
everything from trucks to containers
and more. These tools are a require-
ment for success in this environment,”
concluded Jordt.
Ctrack Transport Freight
Index and GDP growth
The September 2022 Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index (120.2) increased
notably compared to the June index
level (115.4), signifying that the trans-
port sector contributed positively to
growth in Q3. While September (and
Q3) has been a particularly challenging
month for the South African economy,
given ongoing harsh load shedding,
high-frequency data from some of
the most energy-intensive sectors like
mining and manufacturing signalled
that the economy as a whole recorded
a marginal positive growth rate during
the third quarter (StatsSA will release
Q3 GDP growth stats on 6 December).
Encouragingly, the transport sector
outperformed the broader economy
during the second quarter (see graph 4),
increasing by 2.4% quarter on quarter
seasonally adjusted vs a 0.7% contrac-
tion in overall real GDP growth, a trend
that is likely to have prevailed during the
third quarter.
The negative impact of the pro-
longed Transnet strike that occurred
in October will still be felt for a couple
of months and could put a damper
on the country’s fourth-quarter GDP
performance. Furthermore, another
75bps hike in interest rates announced
by the South African Reserve Bank last
week, bringing the cumulative hikes
since November 2021 to 350bps, will
also add to the challenging business
environment for the transport industry
and the economy as a whole in Q4 and
into 2023. BFA
Table 1 Change in Ctrack Transport and freight Index in September and August 2022
October 2022 Tables
Percentage change between Rail Road Pipeline Sea Air
Storage and
handling
Ctrack Freight
Transport Index
October 2022 vs October 2021 (y/y) –7.2% 20.3% –7.7% 0.3% 12.4% –2.1% 10.0%
October 2022 vs September 2022 (m/m) 1.4% –2.2% –15.7% –5.4% 3.2% –1.1% –1.8%
Quarter to October 2022 vs. Quarter to July 2022 (q/q) 0.3% 0.7% –27.4% –4.2% –2.5% 7.6% 0.2%
Note: The row highlighted in blue is the main Ctrack Transport and Freight Index values used.
Source: Ctrack and economistscoza, TNPA, StatsSA, SARS, N3 and N4 toll concessions, ACSA, ACOC, IATA.
Just when it seemed that Storage Handling had made a
turn for the better, as reflected in two consecutive positive
monthly growth rates during August and September, as
well as a sizeable 9.1% quarter-on-quarter growth for the
third quarter, the Transnet strike hit the supply chain.

Business Fleet Africa spoke to Brand
Pretorius about how to prevent the post
COVID-19 phenomenon, quiet quitting.
There is no doubt that COVID-19
has changed the world of work forever.
The most visible change is the option,
in many cases, to work from home or,
for that matter, from anywhere. Digital
technology has set us free – we now
work and live digitally. Zoom meetings
have become the new normal.
COVID-19 has also had a significant
psychological impact on people. Being
locked up at home, they had time to
reflect, also on the meaning of life, their
priorities and what they needed to do to
find personal fulfillment.
Many employees feel underappreci-
ated, overwhelmed and out of control.
Some feel that they are forced to work a
lot of unpaid overtime and take on more
responsibilities. As a result many fear
executive burnout.
This is particularly evident among
professionals working in a very hierarchi-
cal organisations where communication is
poor and incentive schemes modest. The
inevitable consequence is that employees
lose their sense of purpose and attach
little value to their contribution. They
then start a passive rebellion based on
the view that their employers take more
from their employees than they give.
This phenomena is called quiet quit-
ting – when employees do exactly what
they are employed to do and nothing
else. They take no initiative and do just
enough to stay out of trouble. As a result
productivity levels plummet and so does
customer satisfaction and profitability.
A disengagement plague sets in,
with disastrous consequences and only
How to prevent quiet quitting –
a post-COVID phenomenon
There is no doubt
that COVID-19 has
changed the world of
work forever. The most
visible change is the
option, in many cases,
to work from home
or, for that matter,
from anywhere. Digital
technology has set us
free – we now work
and live digitally. Zoom
meetings have become
the new normal.
BUSINESS

9
effective, inspirational leadership can
prevent the disastrous consequences of
quiet quitting.
Sins to be avoided
Autocratic, egotistical leaders who rule
by fear and do not care about their
people as well as leaders who use power
and authority to intimidate and threaten
or who think they can demand respect,
not earn it, who refuse to empower but
who manipulate and focus on their own
selfish agendas. Leaders who know it all
and hardly ever listen. Leaders who steal
the credit and do not reward fairly, lead-
ers who hardly ever show appreciation
or empathy. Leaders who hide behind
closed doors and are inaccessible and
invisible and who only make promises
but hardly ever deliver.
What leaders need to do
to avoid quiet quitting
Put on the horizon an inspirational
vision which will unify and inspire. Paint
a picture of the future you want to
create. It must be vivid and compelling.
Communicate, communicate, communi-
cate with passion.
Develop a common purpose which
will focus attention and determine
priorities. Purpose provides meaning.
Inculcate shared values which will
act as the glue which will keep people
together and which will create a sense of
belonging.
Create a culture that has roots and
wings. It should be anchored in timeless
principles like integrity, justice, fairness
and consistency. Yet it should encourage
initiative, innovation and creativity.
Integrate strategy and personal
accountability. An employee’s commit-
ment to strategy and conviction that
their personal contribution will make a
significant difference, will turbocharge
their performance.
Transform the world of work. Make
it a place where people feel respected,
trusted and empowered. Make it a place
where their God-given potential is being
realised, where their personal objectives
align with corporate objectives. Make it
a place where humanity flourishes and
where productivity, performance and
results follow.
The aforementioned strategy will
strengthen the relationship between
yourself and your employees and you
will increase your team members’
psychological investment into your
organisation so that they will be
motivated to produce extra-ordinary
results.
Preventing quiet quitting
Global research in the wake of COVID-19
clearly indicated that the three most
powerful things leaders can do to count-
er quiet quitting are the following;
Never underestimate the power of
your personal example. Are you authen-
tic? Do you have a sense of purpose?
Do you have hope for the future? Do
you radiate energy and optimism? Are
you displaying confidence, courage and
perseverance? Are your plans working?
Do you care about your people? Are you
prepared to serve them?
Do you have empathy for your
people? Are you sensitive to their needs?
Do you listen with attention? Do you
convert empathy into action? Are your
policies and processes strict, rigid and
pedantic or does the policy environment
cater for an approach underpinned by
empathy caring and understanding?
Do you appreciate what your team
members are doing for the organisation?
How often do you acknowledge special
effort, sacrifice and extra-ordinary com-
mitment? A simple thank you can turn
exhaustion into energy. Celebrate often.
Give recognition. Always remember the
disproportionate impact of small things.
Lead from the heart, it is the fountain of
leadership. BFA

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
D2H Advanced Technologies is working as part of a consortium
of leading British engineering and industry bodies to develop a
zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-powered version of the iconic
Toyota Hilux.
The project, led by Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK)
Ltd (TMUK) and funded by the UK Government through the
Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), will investigate and develop
the necessary technologies to integrate the second-generation
fuel cell components as used in the latest Toyota Mirai within
an electrically-propelled Hilux.
D2H will use their expertise in simulation, aerodynamics
and thermodynamics – honed over many years at the pinnacle
of competitive motorsport – to address the many challenges
involved in developing cooling systems and airflow strategies
that deliver maximum efficiency. Crucial to the project is the
need to maintain performance and reliability, factors that are
critical in commercial vehicles, while also ensuring any solution
can be produced cost-effectively.
Scheduled to run for two years, the project will see pro-
totype vehicles built at TMUK’s Burnaston site in 2023 with
small series production a consideration. As such, the project
represents an exciting opportunity to support the decarboni-
sation of the transport sector in what is traditionally a hard-to-
electrify segment. BFA
Volta Trucks, the leading and disruptive full-electric commercial
vehicle manufacturer and services provider, has announced
the first implementation of its new full-electric Volta Zero with
Truck as a Service charging infrastructure to Heppner.
The pre-order with deposit from Heppner will see 16 full-elec-
tric Volta Zeros operate from the company’s depots in Rungis and
La Courneuve in Paris, and Lyon. Importantly, the agreement also
covers the implementation of the electric charging infrastructure
to run the vehicles, with a range of 22kW slow and 150kW fast
chargers to be installed by Volta Trucks’ recently announced
charging infrastructure partner, Siemens.
The agreement with Heppner recognises that the successful
implementation of an electric commercial vehicle fleet doesn’t
solely rely on a world-class, innovative truck, but all the support
services that surround the vehicle.
Truck as a Service is designed to de-risk and accelerate the
migration to electric commercial vehicles for fleet managers.
Through its Truck as a Service offer, Heppner will have access to
the maintenance, servicing, insurance and training services of
its vehicles, and will rely on Volta Trucks for the development
and successful implementation of all aspects of the migration
to electrification.
The Heppner Group is developing its urban distribution
offering by introducing both the full-electric Volta Zero trucks
into its fleet of vehicles. This agreement will enable Heppner to
offer its drivers both 16 tonne and 18 tonne full-electric trucks
suitable for last-mile delivery.
The Volta Zero is the first purpose-built full-electric medium
duty commercial vehicle designed specifically for urban
logistics. With 150-225 kWh of battery power, located between
the chassis rails as the safest possible location, the Volta Zero
will deliver a range of 150-200 km, which is more than sufficient
for distribution in city centres.
As a vehicle that’s specifically designed for urban use,
safety is also very important. The driver of a Volta Zero sits
in a lowered central seating position, with 220 degrees of
direct vision of other vulnerable road users. The driver is
also supported by 360-degrees of birds-eye camera visibility.
From the central seat, the driver can also enter and exit onto
the pavement from either side of the vehicle through sliding
doors, making it safer for the operator and passing cyclists
and pedestrians. BFA
Hydrogen fuel cell-powered Toyota Hilux in development
First Volta Trucks implemented by Heppner
Hydrogen Toyota Hilux
prototype announcement

INDUSTRY NEWS
Toyota Mobility Parts, wholesaler of automobile-related parts
and accessories has implemented the Zetes Chronos proof
of delivery solution to increase the efficiency of their work
environment by unifying the different systems and labels from
the different providers. The solution will also overcome driver
shortages and favour environmental conservation.
Currently, the logistics’ world is facing issues such as
driver shortages and environmental protection measures.
In order to overcome these challenges, several logistics
companies decided to collaborate to optimise the loading and
transportation of their products. However, a major challenge
to overcome was that the systems labels and on-site opera-
tions used by each company differed, impeding reliable visual
inspection and guaranteed delivery accuracy. This necessitated
the unification of the various delivery management systems.
Zetes Chronos is an electronic proof of delivery software,
which helps control and improve collection, delivery, and relat-
ed management processes. The solution combined with rugged
handheld Panasonic Toughbook FZ-N1 enables Toyota Mobility
Parts (TMP) to link the operation manager’s computer and the
driver’s terminal through a cloud server. This enables real-time
monitoring of delivery status and delivery operations to
improve operational efficiency. BFA
As the world’s first truck manufacturer to do so, Volvo has
begun using fossil-free steel in its trucks. The first electric
trucks with fossil-free steel are now being delivered to
customers.
In September this year, Volvo Trucks started series pro-
duction of heavy-duty electric, 44 tonne trucks. Some of the
electric trucks will also be the first trucks in the world that are
built with fossil-free steel.
The fossil-free steel is produced by the Swedish steel
manufacturer SSAB and is made by using a completely new
technology with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. The result
is a significantly lower climate impact and an important step
towards a net-zero emissions value chain. Among the custom-
ers that will have fossil-free steel in some of their electric trucks
are Amazon and DFDS and, through the transport company
Simon Loos, Unilever.
“At Amazon, we are on the way to make all of our operations
net-zero carbon by 2040. We need partners like Volvo to make
this transition happen,” says Andreas Marschner, Vice President
Transportation Services Europe at Amazon.
The first steel produced with hydrogen is being used in the
electric truck’s frame rails, the backbone of the truck upon
which all other main components are mounted. As the avail-
ability of fossil-free steel increases, it will also be introduced in
other parts of the truck.
Today, around 30% of the materials in a new Volvo truck
come from recycled materials. Also, up to 90% of the truck
can be recycled at the end of its life. Fossil-free steel will be an
important complement to the traditional and recycled steel
used in Volvo’s trucks.
Volvo Trucks is committed to the Paris agreement on climate
change and to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in
the entire value-chain by 2040, at the latest. BFA
Toyota Mobility Parts chooses Zetes Chronos
Volvo delivers electric trucks with fossil-free
steel to customers

13
Isuzu Motors South Africa announced its new expanded board
of directors, effective from 01 December 2022. This happens at
the back of just four years of a journey of end-to-end business
transformation to drive growth and expansion for the local OEM.
Isuzu’s new incoming board members are Penelope
Mkhwanazi, Senior Vice President Revenue Generation Rest
of Africa and International Markets; Komane Pitso, Senior Vice
President Commercial Operations; Dominic Rimmer, Senior
Vice President Technical Operations; Craig Uren, Senior Vice
President Revenue Generation for Southern African Customs
Union.
This brings the current board of Isuzu to eight board mem-
bers. The new members join the Chairman of the board, Naohiro
Yamaguchi (Senior Executive Officer: LCV Business, based in
Japan); Billy E. Tom (President of Isuzu Motors South Africa);
Mongezi Hermans (Senior Vice President Human Capital and
Corporate Affairs) and Michiyuki Miura (Chief Financial Officer).
The incoming directors will all continue to serve in their
current roles as Senior Vice Presidents of Isuzu Motors
South Africa. BFA
A next-generation Ranger Raptor, race-
prepped but remaining stock and street
legal, finished the SCORE-International
Baja 1000, one of the world’s toughest
and most prestigious off-road races, in
first place amongst the stock classes,
then drove back to base in Riverside,
California.
“This is the Baja 1000, one of the
toughest off-road races in the world,”
said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director,
Ford Performance Motorsports. “It’s a
key proving ground for Ford Performance
for our vehicles to earn the badge of
Raptor. This effort has been a global
collaboration for Ford Performance from
the beginning, with Ford Australia having
done the design and initial development
signoff, then shipping it to the States and
working with all of our partners to pool all
available resources for this common goal.
It takes a great bakkie and it takes great
people. We’ve proved that we have both
of those on a global level.”
The nearly flawless run at the
gruelling desert test was powered by
a low-carbon biofuel from Shell, which
was fed seamlessly into the next-gen
Ranger Raptor’s stock powertrain as it
traversed hundreds of miles of desert
terrain with only basic maintenance
and system checks alongside the
refuel stops.
The Ranger Raptor race bakkie
finished the race without any major inci-
dents or repairs and took the chequered
flag in such good condition that the Ford
Performance team decided to drive the
vehicle back to its base following the
event, paying tribute to the 2017 Baja
1000 effort with a stock F-150 Raptor,
which similarly drove home following the
legendary off-road racing test. BFA
Isuzu announces expanded board of directors
Next-generation Ranger Raptor conquers Baja 1000

ROAD SIGNS
INDUSTRY NEWS
Thule, the Swedish manufacturer of
vehicle accessories, offers a range of
rooftop cargo carriers that are a great
way of expanding the load carrying
capacity of any vehicle, with solutions
ranging from 300 to 610 litres.
The use of a rooftop cargo carrier
offers a number of advantages over
conventional load carrying systems such
as trailers due to the fact that they can
be utilised on a wider variety of vehicles
and there is no licensing requirements.
A rooftop cargo carrier is also much
easier to store when not in use through-
out the year and when you reach your
holiday destination, where parking can
often be limited.
Rooftop cargo carriers are also a
much safer option both in terms of over-
all driving as well as the way in which
your belongings are secured, all while
having a minimal effect on your vehicles
fuel consumption. In addition if you are
the kind of motorist who changes cars
often, Thule have affordable mounting
options that will allow you to easily
utilise your existing rooftop cargo carrier
on subsequent vehicles.
Rooftop cargo carriers are ideal
for larger, bulkier items such as golf
clubs, strollers and beach equipment,
the volume of which can quickly fill a
normal cars boot and leave no space for
anything else. Packing items into softer
luggage such as duffle bags is also a
great way of utilising every available litre
that these rooftop cargo carriers offer.
Thule offer a wide variety of rooftop
cargo carriers catering for those
that need a little bit of extra space or
for those that like to pack everything
and the kitchen sink when going on
holiday.
Thule’s wide range of rooftop cargo
carriers, bicycle racks, accessories
and luggage are available from Thule
Concept stores located throughout
South Africa. BFA
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has
announced that it now has three catego-
ries in the Toyota Agri/SA Young Farmer
and Harvest of the Year Competition.
The new addition, Communal Farming
Association of the Year, forms part of the
successful Young Farmer of the Year and
New Harvest of the Year competitions –
which have become permanent features
on the local agricultural calendar. TSAM
has been sponsoring the Young Farmer
since 2004, New Harvest since 2008 and
Conservation South Africa (CSA) since
2017.
This year’s Young Farmer of the Year,
Wolvaardt, grows peppers, tomatoes,
and citrus in the La Cotte region of
Limpopo, while New Harvest winner,
Mzinzi, farms with yellow maize, sugar
beans, potatoes and turf in the Ugie
region of the Eastern Cape. Each of the
two winners drove away in a brand-new
Hilux 2.4GD-6 Single Cab.
The winner of the inaugural
Communal Farming Association of the
Year was Vooruitkyk Cooperative. The
group consists of 28 members who
farm with sheep and goats near Klein
Nourivier in the Northern Cape. TSAM
hopes that by promoting communal
farming, they will be playing a role in
alleviating poverty while encouraging
sustainable farming practices in the
country. The group wins assistance
valued at R150 000 to improve their
farming operations.
The money can be used towards the
association’s development, including the
improvement of water infrastructure,
agricultural inputs, livestock breeding,
agricultural equipment, purchase of
mobile kraals as well as the acquisition of
dipping materials. BFA
Expand your luggage capacity with Thule’s range of rooftop
cargo carriers
Record number of winners at 2022 Toyota Young
Farmer/New Harvest of the Year

#MoveSmart
R174 900
incl.
VAT
FROM
Discover more at SuzukiAuto.co.za
A Smart Move for your Fleet
NEW-GEN
Electronic
Stability Program
ESP
AMT
Fuel Efficient
4.2ℓ/100km
AMT ONLY
Hill Hold
Control GL ONLY
Touchscreen
Infotainment System
Auto Stop Start
Technology
OFF
A
New-gen
Dualjet Engine

INDUSTRY NEWS
Hino South Africa has maintained its top position of the com-
bined rankings in the DataTrack comparative truck study (third
quarter of 2022), faring best in the sales and technical service
categories, scoring 99.67% and 100%, respectively. Considering
that the company is still recovering from a devastating flood at
the manufacturing plant in Durban in April, this is a fantastic feat.
Catching up, yet customers remain number one
The plant reopened for production after 40 days, and since
then, the Hino team and its dealers have been playing catch-up
in fulfilling orders but have excelled in looking after its custom-
ers and other stakeholders.
Huge achievement
The fact that Hino could retain its position in the combined
score from the three categories: sales, technical service, and
parts supply, was a major achievement. This performance
speaks volumes for the ongoing benefits that flow from Hino’s
international Total Support strategy, which involves interaction
by the whole value chain, ultimately striving to make the
customer experience great.
Outperforming in the face of adversity
“This performance by the whole Hino team, especially our deal-
ers who are in the front line when ensuring customers are well
cared for, makes us immensely proud. They continue to perform
at the highest level even under trying circumstances as they have
had to do in the past three years, with COVID-19, social unrest
and the floods having had a severe impact on our business,” said
Pieter Klerck, General Manager of Hino South Africa. BFA
Hino does it again with incredible results
Barloworld shares climbed sharply in November after it
released its annual results for the year ended 30 September
and announced separately that it plans to unbundle its car
hire and leasing business. This will be listed under Zeda, its
wholly owned subsidiary, on the main board of the JSE on 13
December.
Zeda trades under the Avis and Budget car brands in South
Africa and 10 other sub-Saharan African countries. Subject to
JSE approval, the unbundling will entail listing 100% of Zeda’s
ordinary shares on the main board. CEO Dominic Sewela said
in a statement that the unbundling was a bittersweet moment
for Barloworld.
“While we conclude our restructuring and portfolio
shift to defensive, relatively asset-light and cash-generative
industrial sectors, based on a business-to-business operating
model, we are also letting go of an incredibly strong business,”
added Sewela.
More focused and efficient
“This decision was taken in the interest of maintaining value
for our shareholders. As two separate companies, each
business will be able to operate in a more focused and efficient
manner — actively pursuing our growth ambitions in different
sectors and verticals,” he added. Both Barloworld and Zeda will
remain South African-domiciled companies, with their primary
listings on the JSE. BFA
Barloworld to unbundle car and hire leasing business

Volkswagen has just applied for the
registration of a patent for a new
hydrogen fuel cell that, in addition to
being cheaper than current technology,
will be able to give cars a range of up
to 2 000km without refuelling. The
patent application was lodged jointly by
VW and German company Kraftwerk
Group in July 2021 but only made
public in November this year. The patent
application for this new fuel cell, carried
out with the German company Kraftwerk
Tubes, shows that Volkswagen does not
want to miss the hydrogen train and
is working outside of the public eye in
developing this technology.
Volkswagen and Kraftwerk’s fuel cell
puts a spin on traditional materials used.
The big advantage of this solution
is that it can be produced at a cost
effective rate compared to polymer
fuel cells and it does not require any
type of platinum, a precious metal that
makes the final cost of the product more
expensive.
This technology, Kühn says, resem-
bles solid-state batteries. According to
the executive, both have almost the
same electrolytes and a similar material
structure. The difference is that, while
solid-state batteries use a compact
material to store energy, in fuel cells that
role is assumed by hydrogen in gas form.
Lower energy cost, more autonomy
In addition, the new ceramic membrane,
says Kühn, does not need to be moist-
ened, so it does not freeze in winter, dry
out in summer, or attract mould. He also
points to another advantage that will
save costs in the manufacture of vehi-
cles: the fuel cell generates heat that can
be used both to replace the car’s heating
and air conditioning, which would also
mean greater energy savings.
Although this patent has been
requested together with Volkswagen,
Kraftwerk assures that it does not work
exclusively for a brand: “Regardless of
the manufacturer, our goal is for our
technology to be launched in a series
vehicle by 2026. We are talking about
series of about 10 000 vehicles, spread
over several car manufacturers,” says
the CEO of Kraftwerk.
”Lithium is not a way forward.
The solid-state battery would be an
option, but it’s not there yet,” explains
Kühn, who sees his technology as an
alternative for drivers who don’t have a
suitable charging option on the go or do
not want to waste their time at charging
stations. BFA
INDUSTRY NEWS
Volkswagen teases
2 000km hydrogen range
Volkswagen is developing cost effective fuel cell technology that promises a range of 2 000km
on a single tank.
17

ROAD SIGNS
ON THE LOCAL FRONT
Mercedes-Benz Vans has partnered with participating dealers
and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services to create a no-deposit taxi
finance plan, just in time for the festive season and New Year.
The tailored offer will allow entrepreneurs to purchase a
Sprinter Inkanyezi without needing to use their hard-earned
cash to pay the deposit. Over and above this, Mercedes-Benz
Financial Services has set a fixed monthly instalment, to protect
customers against the risk of interest rate hikes. The offer is
completed with an R80 000 discount on the retail price, which
contributes to lower monthly instalments. The result is that
taxi drivers and taxi fleet owners will be able to own a Sprinter
Inkanyezi from R20 999 per month, with no initial lump sum
payment required.
“At Mercedes-Benz Vans, we believe in entrepreneurial ex-
cellence. Therefore, it is our goal to champion our South African
entrepreneurs within the taxi industry through this customised
financing option,” says Marinus Venter, the head of Product and
Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Vans SA
“Access to start-up capital, such as a deposit for a vehicle,
is often one of the greatest hindrances to starting a business.
With this zero-deposit initiative, we hope to encourage new en-
trepreneurs to hit the road whilst helping those already in the
industry to expand and improve their operations and customer
experience,” adds Venter.
With every facelift and new generation, the Sprinter has
further improved its position with regard to active and passive
safety. As a result, the Sprinter Inkanyezi represents decades
of safety innovation and research, ensuring that it is one of the
safest vehicles on the market.
Additionally, the Sprinter Inkanyezi has been specifically
designed for the South African taxi industry. The rear-wheel
drive Inkanyezi delivers on its promise of power and economy,
a combination that can directly impact profitability in the taxi
industry. It is exceptionally durable and dependable whilst
offering absolute comfort and spaciousness for drivers and
passengers alike. On the inside, the Inkanyezi sports a premium
dark interior, convenient grab handles and a driver’s-side
parcel shelf (which is especially handy for longer commutes).
Finally, the iconic Mercedes-Benz grill and star set it apart from
ordinary vehicles on the road. BFA
To find out more, visit https://www.mercedes-benz.co.za/
vans/en/sprinter/inkanyezi/offer.
FAW Trucks, which has been present in South Africa for 28
years, just reached a significant milestone with the 10 00th unit
rolling off its production line in just eight years.
“The last eight years, following the opening of our produc-
tion facility, saw the brand enter a period of rapid growth with-
in the highly competitive commercial vehicle market. All models
are assembled to extremely high standards to withstand the
harsh conditions of the African continent as they continue
to deliver on the promise of a truck built in South Africa for
Africa,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa.
“Whilst we are proud of surpassing the 10 000-production
mark in only eight years, we are only just getting up to speed.
There are plans in place to meet demand, which should see us
surpass the 15 000 mark before the end of 2023,” said Li. BFA
Mercedes-Benz Vans launches
taxi friendly offer
Production milestone for FAW

Sprinter. QualityTyres, Great Value.
Enjoy discounted rates on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter tyres.
Terms and Conditions: Available at participating dealers. The advertised offer is only valid for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Tyres. Advertised offer available on
3 Ton and 5 Ton Sprinter models. Offer subject to tyre availability. Prices of tyres are subject to change without prior notice. All prices do not include rims
and fitment. Mercedes-Benz South Africa reserves the right at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate or suspend the offer at any time without notice.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa further reserves the right at their sole discretion to extend any time, limit or waive or amend any of the Terms and Conditions of
this offer without notice. All images shown are for illustrative purposes only. Actual product may vary. Offer valid until 31 December 2022 (while stocks last).
EOE.
Visit your nearest participating Mercedes-Benz Commercial Dealership
or visit www.mercedes-benz.co.za/vans for more information.
10%
OFF
VanContact 100 8PR
195/70R15C 104/102R
PN: TC15VAN0003
R 1,549.00
Price per tyre (incl. VAT @15%)
VanContact 100 #
195/75R16C 107/105R
PN: TC15VAN0003
R 1,766.00
VanContact 100 8PR
205/75R16C 110/108R TL
PN: TC15VAN0003
R 2,277.00
Sprinter. QualityTyres, Great Value.
Enjoy discounted rates on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter tyres.
Terms and Conditions: Available at participating dealers. The advertised offer is only valid for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Tyres. Advertised offer available on
3 Ton and 5 Ton Sprinter models. Offer subject to tyre availability. Prices of tyres are subject to change without prior notice. All prices do not include rims
and fitment. Mercedes-Benz South Africa reserves the right at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate or suspend the offer at any time without notice.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa further reserves the right at their sole discretion to extend any time, limit or waive or amend any of the Terms and Conditions of
this offer without notice. All images shown are for illustrative purposes only. Actual product may vary. Offer valid until 31 December 2022 (while stocks last).
EOE.
Visit your nearest participating Mercedes-Benz Commercial Dealership
or visit www.mercedes-benz.co.za/vans for more information.
10%
OFF
VanContact 100 8PR
195/70R15C 104/102R
PN: TC15VAN0003
R 1,549.00
VanContact 100 #
195/75R16C 107/105R
PN: TC15VAN0003
R 1,766.00
VanContact 100 8PR
205/75R16C 110/108R TL
PN: TC15VAN0003
R 2,277.00

With the next generation eCanter or the
new Canter, Fuso have demonstrated
that it will continue to offer products for
the construction industry in its portfolio
in both the battery-electric and con-
ventional commercial vehicle segments.
Both vehicles offer intelligent solutions
for a wide range of customer require-
ments in the light truck segment thanks
to their robustness coupled with high
payload, maneuverability and reliability.
Both the Next Generation eCanter
and its conventional brother the Canter
can get to work and transport bulk mate-
rials or machines such as the excavator
needed on the construction site as well
as skips or containers with a wide variety
of bodies.
At this years Bauma, the world’s
leading trade fair for the construction in-
dustry, Fuso showcased a next generation
eCanter in the form of an 8.55-ton truck
equipped for the first time with a roll-off
tipper from UNSINN as well as a me-
chanical power take-off. The model has a
loading capacity of 5 135kg and a payload
of 3 635kg. The vehicle with comfort
single cab (three seats) has a wheelbase
of 3 400 millimeters and is equipped with
the M battery package, which enables a
range of up to 140 kilometers.
Also shown was a Fuso Canter built as
a 7.49-ton truck with a three-way tipper
from Meiller and a crane from Atlas. The
vehicle has a wheelbase of 3 400 milli-
meters, a chassis load bearing capacity
of 4.94 tons, a payload of 2 580kg and
an engine output of 129kW.
To meet customer requirements, Fuso
has made several changes to the Next
Generation eCanter. While the electric
truck was previously only available
as a 7.49-tonner with a wheelbase of
3 400 millimeters, customers now have a
choice of six wheelbases between 2 500
and 4 750 millimeters and a permissible
gross weight of 4.25 to 8.55 tons. The
load capacity of the chassis is above
5 tons. The Next Generation eCanter is
powered by either a 110kW (variants
with a gross weight of 4.25 and 6 tons)
or 129kW (variants with a gross weight
of 7.49 and 8.55 tons) with an electric
motor with an optimised driveline as well
as 430Nm of torque, resulting in a the
maximum speed of 89 km/h.
Depending on the wheelbase, three
different battery packs are available: S,
M and L. The batteries use lithium iron
phosphate (LFP) cell technology. These
are characterised above all by a long
service life and more usable energy.
The battery pack in the S variant has a
INDUSTRY NEWS
Fuso eCanter
demonstrates versatility

nominal capacity of 41 kWh and enables
a range of up to 70 kilometers. In the M
variant, the nominal capacity is 83 kWh
and the range is up to 140 kilometers.
The L variant, the most powerful package,
offers a nominal capacity of 124 kWh
and a range of up to 200 kilometers.
Recuperation can further increase the
range, which at the same time minimises
brake wear. By comparison, the eCanter
previously only had a battery option with
a nominal capacity of 81kWh and a range
of up to 100 kilometers.
As far as battery charging is con-
cerned, the Next Generation eCanter
is compatible with all mains voltages in
the major markets. The charging unit
supports charging with both alternating
current (AC) and direct current (DC).
Competent consulting for
tailored e-mobility
Because e-mobility is more than just
a new powertrain, Fuso integrates the
Next Generation eCanter into a holistic
ecosystem that also includes tools and
consulting services for high vehicle utili-
sation and optimisation of the total cost
of ownership. Through a special analysis
approach to total cost of ownership,
Fuso dealers will offer each customer
a completely individual calculation for
operating the eCanter. It is also possible
to use the Daimler Truck Incentive Tool
to get an overview of incentives and
benefits such as specific government
subsidies for vehicles or charging infra-
structure as well as tax reductions or toll
waivers. Thanks to a strategic partner-
ship with Siemens Smart Infrastructure
and ENGIE, customers can also obtain
comprehensive advice on the subject of
DC charging infrastructure and receive
a complete service package - from
charging technology and installation to
coordination with the network operator.
Versatile, comfortable and secure
Available in two cab variants (Standard =
1.7 meters wide and Comfort = 2 meters
wide), the next generation eCanter will
be characterised not only by its overall
ecological and economical concept but
also by its versatility. The electric truck
from Fuso is compatible with many su-
perstructures typical of the construction
sector, such as flatbeds or dump trucks,
making it the ideal companion for a wide
range of applications. What also makes
the eCanter particularly body-friendly
and compatible is the optional equip-
ment with a mechanical power take-off
available ex works to supply hydraulic
power units.
Numerous features and devices
ensure a high level of comfort for the
driver and road safety for all involved.
The standard highlights include the mul-
tifunction steering wheel with buttons
for controlling the fully digital LCD instru-
ment cluster, LED headlights that are 30
percent brighter than halogen models
for greater visibility, the Autolight
function for controlling the headlights
depending on the lighting conditions,
and intelligent Highbeam Assist.
In terms of safety, the batteries are
mounted under the vehicle’s chassis
frame with a highly rigid steel bracket
that also serves as impact protection for
the battery in the event of a frontal or
side crash. In the event of an accident, a
crash sensor automatically deactivates
the high-voltage system. For improved
acoustic perception, for example
by pedestrians or cyclists, the Next
Generation eCanter is equipped with
an external Acoustic Vehicle Alerting
System (AVAS) as standard. For greater
safety when turning right, Active Side
Guard Assist is also fitted as standard.
In addition, the next-generation Active
Brake Assist emergency braking system
with pedestrian detection, which is
also standard, can reduce the risk of a
collision in longitudinal traffic. BFA
21

INDUSTRY NEWS
In a bid to get more small businesses
to become active participants in the
economy, Isuzu Motors South Africa is
making commercial vehicle acquisition
more accessible for entrepreneurs and
small business owners with its Ready To
Work line-up of commercial medium-
and heavyweight trucks.
Ready To Work products include a va-
riety of van bodies under the #TradePack
moniker and drop sides #BackPack label.
Small to medium businesses who
are well established with a proven
track record and pass a revised credit
check process have the option of a
rental agreement off their balance sheet,
which means the rental can be written
off as a monthly expense and not feature
as an asset on their books.
“Isuzu’s Ready To Work portfolio
of commercial vehicles showcases
pre-built trucks, with their applica-
tions, so business owners are able to
generate revenue almost immediately.
Coupled to our unique rental offer, this
represents a game-changing moment
for access into the trucking economy
for small businesses,” says Craig Uren,
Isuzu Senior Vice President SACU
Revenue Generation.
The rental truck programme, formed
in partnership with Isuzu Finance,
provides peace of mind as ownership
rests with the bank and qualifying
small
businesses pay a monthly rental
based on the selected truck, application
and period of the rental. Businesses
can choose between a minimum
of 36 months and a maximum of
60 months.
“Falling outside of the National Credit
Act, this is an option that really has the
customer in mind. Small businesses
seldom have the capital outlay to buy
and own assets like trucks, so this allows
them to focus on their business instead
of worrying about how to purchase a
truck,” says Marcois van Staden, Head:
Isuzu Finance.
Applications to the Isuzu Truck Rental
Programme are subject to qualification.
Applicants remain liable for all legal
and tax requirements. The Isuzu Truck
Rental Programme allows customers to
go through a different credit checking
process that focuses on a business’s
contracts and revenue streams. BFA
For more information,
visit www.Isuzu.co.za
Isuzu launches

25
DAF Trucks recently delivered the first military vehicles out of a
total of 879 trucks to the Belgian Armed Forces. Major General
Thierry Esser and Lieutenant General Frédéric Goetynck re-
ceived the keys from the President of DAF Trucks, Harald Seidel.
The order from the Belgian Armed Forces comprises 636
2-axle trucks with a 4x4 driveline for general transportation
purposes and 243 4-axle trucks with an 8x8 driveline for
specific applications such as tipping, container transport and
tasks where cranes are needed.
Forty percent of the vehicles are fitted with armoured cabs,
which provide a high level of protection for occupants during
military operations.
Preparations for the delivery of the first 150 heavy vehicles
to the Belgian Army (Motorised Brigade and Special Operations
Regiment) and the Medical Component of the Belgian Armed
Forces are well underway.
Unrivalled off-road performance
DAF is working closely with Czech vehicle manufacturer Tatra
Trucks on the CF Military trucks. These trucks have a unique
chassis design with an all-wheel drive driveline and a central,
load-bearing tube with independent wheel suspension. The
independent suspension, the unique Tatra chassis and the
Central Tyre Inflation System ensure unrivalled off-road perfor-
mance and exceptionally comfortable driving, even in the most
challenging terrain.
The trucks are powered by a 10.8-litre Paccar MX-11 (4x4)
or a 12.9-litre Paccar MX-13 (8x8) engine, with an output of
300kW and 340kW respectively. The reduced height is another
major asset of the CF Military truck. The total vehicle height
never exceeds four metres, even when transporting 20-foot
shipping containers.
Cabins made in Belgium
The non-armoured cabins for CF Military trucks are produced
from start to finish at the DAF factory in Westerlo. The interiors
for the state-of-the-art shielded cabins, which are supplied
by Tatra Defence Vehicles, are also produced in Westerlo. The
controls are the same in both types of cabs, allowing drivers to
easily switch from one type of vehicle to another.
Worldwide maintenance
DAF will work in close collaboration with the Belgian Armed
Forces to provide maintenance for the CF Military trucks. The
DAF dealer network with more than 1 100 locations is available
worldwide, as is the unrivalled DAF International Truck Service
support team. The DAF dealer organisation can count on the
support of Paccar Parts for excellent parts availability.
A big step forward
“Well-developed logistical and transport capabilities are essential
to the success of military operations. The introduction of these
new transport vehicles is another big step forwards for the
Armed Forces,” said Ludivine Dedonder, Minister of Defence.
“These new vehicles are suitable for operations in any
setting and are also literally vital for our military personnel,
who risk their lives every day for our safety. No less than 40%
of these vehicles are armoured and provide vital protection for
our personnel when in action. If necessary, the other vehicles
can also be fitted with the same type of armouring to ensure
that our personnel are kept safe,” added Dedonder.
Count on your equipment
“An army must be able to count on its equipment under the
most demanding and difficult circumstances. We are there-
fore extremely proud that the Belgian Army has chosen the
reliability and unrivalled qualities of our CF Military trucks. The
versatility of our vehicles goes to show that DAF also offers
excellent transport solutions for all military purposes,” says
Harald Seidel, President of DAF Trucks.
“Reliable equipment and the safety of our personnel
are of the utmost importance. We needed to replace our
30-year-old non-armoured trucks with armoured vehicles to
ensure the safety of personnel during missions with vehi-
cles that have powerful all-terrain capabilities within their
category,” stresses Lieutenant General Frédéric Goetynck,
Director-General of the DGMR (Directorate General Material
Resources). BFA
INDUSTRY NEWS
First DAF CF military trucks
delivered to Belgian armed forces

ROAD SIGNS
INDUSTRY NEWS
Road transport is the most prioritised
area to reduce CO2
emissions, according
to leading e-commerce and manufactur-
ing companies in Europe. A new report
carried out by Ipsos and Volvo Trucks
shows that companies are willing to pay
more for transport suppliers with lower
CO2
emissions.
The research company Ipsos has, on
behalf of Volvo Trucks, interviewed 100
large e-commerce and manufacturing
companies in eight European countries
about their demand for fossil fuel free
transports in future procurements.
The survey was conducted in June
2022 and included interviews with 100
professionals at senior level, typically
responsible for procurement, logistics,
supply chain management and/or
sustainability.
The vast majority of these companies
have set targets to reduce their climate
footprint. 78% of those interviewed say
that they are willing to pay more for a
transport supplier with little or no CO2
emissions and 85% are prepared to
change transport suppliers if they don´t
meet their requirements.
The research also shows a clear con-
nection between their future business
opportunities and fossil fuel free
transport options. 60% of companies
believe they risk losing customers within
the next three years if they can’t meet
their consumer’s demand for deliveries
with little or zero CO2
emissions.
“It’s very positive to see this big push
for fossil free truck transports. It means
that we will see a massive shift in the
industry in the coming years. We believe
that electrification will be the key driver
towards zero emission road transports
and we are proud to already offer
fully electric truck alternatives for most
assignments. Going electric means more
business opportunities”, says Roger Alm,
President of Volvo Trucks.
Volvo Trucks has set a global target that
in 2030, 50% of all new trucks sold will
be battery or fuel cell electric. The tran-
sition to electric is being led by Europe
and North America where targets are
even higher. For example, in Europe the
ambition currently sits at around 70% for
all new trucks sold in 2030. BFA
High pressure on the transport
industry to shift to electric

27
The truck is a Scania Battery Electric
Vehicle (BEV) and is 100% electric, with
zero reliance on fossil fuels and emits no
carbon dioxide, the Shoprite Group said.
Lights up at night
In a first for South Africa, the truck will
also have special glow in the dark signage
to make it more visible when travelling at
night. When exposed to bright daylight,
the signage can absorb and store
particles, and the stored energy is then
emitted when the sun goes down.
Range and capacity
With a range in the region of 350km, the
vehicle will be used for local deliveries
and will be recharged using renewable
energy generated by the group’s existing
solar installations.
The refrigerated truck can hold
approximately 16 pallets, has nine
batteries, solar panels fitted to its roof
and a fully electric cooling system which
is also powered by the battery packs of
the vehicle.
Energy efficient
“As Africa’s largest grocery retailer, the
Shoprite Group significantly focuses
on reducing its environmental impact
across its operations. One of the ways
we’re doing this is by increasing the
energy efficiency of our truck fleet,” the
company said in a statement.
Reducing environmental impact
The addition of the new electric truck
forms part of the group’s ongoing efforts
to reduce the environmental impact of
its supply chain.
The Shoprite Group recently acquired
over 100 of the most fuel-efficient Euro 5
compliant trucks in southern Africa, and
trailers which are fitted with solar panels.
The group has increased its fleet of so-
lar-powered trailers by 234, now totalling
1 041, which enables the refrigeration
and tailgate lift to continue to run even
when the truck is switched off.
Solar panels equivalent
to 20 soccer fields
In October, Shoprite announced that
it had increased its installed capacity
of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems by
82% to 26 606 kWp. This was achieved
through 143 674 square metres of solar
panels at 62 sites – equivalent to the size
of 20 soccer fields and enough to power
the equivalent of 3 735 households for
one full year.
Shoprite increased its total renew-
able installations in the last financial
year from 32 to 62. These now produce
40 894 MWh – 11 614 MWh more than
in November last year.
In addition they have doubled their
focus on growing its solar-powered and
renewable electricity installations while
improving energy efficiency to reduce
its environmental footprint, further
reducing added strain on the national
electricity grid.
Other initiatives include a drive
to reduce electricity consumption by
installing LED lights at its sites, which has
saved 399 million kWh to date. BFA
FLEET OWNERSHIP
Glow-in-the-dark deliveries
South Africa’s biggest grocery retailer, the Shoprite Group, says
it will pilot a heavy-duty electric truck as part of its fleet, and
28-year-old Robin Jooste from Colorado Park, Mitchells Plain,
has been selected to drive it.
Leading the shift
All lit up

SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOGISTICS
Numerous studies have shown that effective delivery is a
crucial influencer in a shopper’s online purchase decision. And
as much as delivery strategies have improved, some consumers
remain sceptical about whether their goods will reach them on
time or even at all.
Shipping is a significant factor in e-commerce
The onus is now on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to
remove these doubts if they hope to grow their businesses.
“For merchants, shipping is likely to be one of the major
factors they need to consider, both in terms of operations and
costs,” says Anita Erasmus, Head of Business for Bob Group, an
e-commerce ecosystem aimed at making e-commerce reliable,
simple and trustworthy.
The group is an amalgamation between South Africa’s
pioneering online auction and marketplace brand Bidorbuy
and logistics powerhouse uAfrica. Erasmus says while courier
companies are good at collecting parcels and getting them
delivered, there is so much more to it regarding e-commerce.
Multifaceted
“Setting up a successful e-commerce store is a multifaceted
undertaking, requiring creating the store and functions like
payments, shipping and marketing. Bob Group aims to assist
merchants in areas where we believe we can make this process
easier,” says Erasmus.
Erasmus says it’s important to remember that the selected
courier company becomes a direct extension of a business.
“You need to ensure seamless integration between your online
platform and the courier service, especially in terms of tracking
parcels and communicating with your customers.”
Automated technology
The Bob Group, through uAfrica, specialises in automated
technology that facilitates this process, many aspects of which
were previously done manually. The system allows SMEs to get
competitive quotes and ship from multiple couriers while also
enabling them to generate electronic shipping labels with one
click to request collections from various couriers. Features like
packing slips, bulk fulfilment and inventory management are
also available to streamline the order management process.
Automated tracking updates also ensure customers are
always up to date on the status of their parcels.
“Ultimately, shipping success comes down to innovative
technology and tight integration between your online store and
the courier companies you use,” says Erasmus.
Value adding
“The process starts at check-out. This is where your chosen
shipping charge strategy comes into play. From picking and
packing right through to last-mile delivery and maintaining
communications channels with end users, companies like
uAfrica
can add value from the point of check-out,” adds Erasmus.
Such technology will benefit South Africa’s township and
rural economies, making this a new e-commerce frontier in the
country.
Major growth in the clothing, food and cosmetics sectors
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in the
variety of online products, with considerable growth in the
clothing, food and cosmetics sectors. The shift is also being
seen in the country’s townships.
While e-commerce uptake had initially been slow, it’s now
surging. Township-based clothing brands have sprung up and
are thriving. The report found that most surveyed preferred
buying locally produced clothing labels, and with that has come
greater demand for the items beyond the townships.
Effective delivery strategies are vital
“Efficient shipping strategies are thus key if they are selling on
marketplaces such as Bidorbuy. We believe there is still plenty
of room for ecommerce to grow in South Africa,” concludes
Erasmus. BFA
The 2022 South African Township CX Report, released in June,
found that 70% of the 1 400 people surveyed made a purchase
online in the past year. In the inaugural 2021 report, that
percentage stood at just 28%.
Efficient delivery is vital
for e-commerce success
Shipping may not be the most attractive aspect of e-commerce, but it’s undoubtedly among the
most critical sectors and the industry is expected to surpass R400 billion in South Africa by 2025.

Keep every aspect of your fleet, Always Visible.
Transport Logistics
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better diagnostics, support compliance reporting, as well
as provide tailormade analytics for both short term, and
long-term decision making. Ctrack will optimise the right
solution for your specific business needs.
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Keep your eyes on the road
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Always
Visible

SPECIAL REPORT
With demand dropping across the board in different sectors,
automotive OEMs continue to wrestle with chip scarcity.
What are the leading causes of chip shortages?
Because of low profitability, chipmakers have not actively
sought to increase their automotive portfolio products.
Semiconductors within cars are inexpensive and made to last
a decade at minimum. Leading-edge semiconductors, like
5nm chips used in Apple phones, are far more profitable due
to significant order demand and shorter lifespan. Vehicles
do not need such chips, which is why most automakers have
relied on chips that were defined as leading-edge in 2002, 20
years ago.
Increasing automotive chip capacity is expensive
Redesigning current products to use newer and more advanced
chips, like the 5nm nodes, is an expensive process for automo-
tive OEMs. Increasing capacity would be costly, bearing in mind
that automotive orders are a small percentage of manufac-
tured chips. Likewise, chipmakers had no incentive to increase
capacity due to old tools utilised to create these chips, which
again provide low profitability.
EVs require more advanced chips, and
this may drive profitability
The increasing demand for EVs and future bans on selling pet-
rol-powered vehicles in other countries has started to change
the status quo. EVs tend to rely on more advanced chips than
petrol-powered cars, and with escalating demand, chipmakers
will begin to see worthwhile profitability by increasing capacity.
Joint ventures and collaboration needed
With demand still soaring for traditional petrol vehicles, more
chipmakers are willing to join in with automakers in designing
components and sharing the expensive costs.
To date, several large automakers have taken strides to
promote collaboration, including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz,
Nissan, and General Motors. Some of these solutions involve
direct negotiations and commitment to orders, while others
include co-developing and the manufacturing of new chips
Sanctions impacting the supply chain
To keep production steady without future reductions, automak-
ers will continue to limit features on automotive models. Toyota
Motor Corporation, Japan (TMC) will temporarily give new car
Why the chips remain down
Microchip constraints continue to plague the industry. Lead times are still way out due to chips
on allocation or on going raw material shortages. Recent sanctions on China by the US have
exacerbated the problem with surging prices and severe supply constraints.

31
buyers just one smart key instead of two as it seeks to ration
semiconductors. Without a steady supply, other automakers
will also be limiting production.
The US sanctions, viewed as the most comprehensive and
destructive to date targeting China’s semiconductor industry,
followed the enactment of the US Chips and Science Act to
bolster domestic chip making. These sanctions have caused an
immediate and widespread reaction across the still-recovering
and fragile electronics supply chain.
Japanese chipmakers are also facing problems with their
own factories based in China. India’s incentive programmes and
large numbers of engineering personnel have already attracted
several big-name chipmakers to scout locations for new facili-
ties. Vietnam, which is quickly proving to be another attractive
destination, is drawing in other tech giants with Google among
them, according to SourceEngine (the leading electronic
components marketplace).
How automakers are affected
Toyota recently released a statement reporting that “the
situation remains difficult to predict due to semiconductor
shortages. We will continue carefully monitoring parts of the
supply chain and minimise sudden decreases in production.”
Volvo is facing a similar problem. Demand for Volvo cars, like
Toyota, remains steadfast and high despite mounting recession
concerns. There will be a temporary break in production for
a week to combat semiconductor shortages. On top of this
challenge are the higher costs impacting operating profits.
Volkswagen recently stated that these challenges and supply
chain delays might become a permanent problem. To combat
future obstacles, VW has created a team to monitor possible
threats and improve its forecasting. This comes alongside a
report that VW will be lowering its delivery targets. Currently,
VW in the US have 150 000 unfinished cars and Ford has over
40 000 unfinished cars. Toyota reduced production by 50% at
half of their domestic facilities through November.
Grey markets and counterfeits booming
The grey market has been a known issue for the electronics
industry for years. SourceToday defines it as the “unauthorised
sale of new, branded products diverted from authorised dis-
tribution channels”. Most of these chips are either counterfeit
components or reconditioned and recycled failed or out-of-
date chips. Unable to source chips along their usual supply
chain or suppliers, many companies turned to the grey market.
Forecast
As the shortage continues for automotive manufacturers and
production stalls persist, grey market sellers have a supply of
buyers. The shortage led to a booming grey market with buyers
of these components in every sector, from automotive to
healthcare.
International management consulting firm McKinsey and
Company suggests that the automotive component shortage
will not be resolved until 2026 or even 2030.
Monitoring the market in the wake of the Asian global supply
chain shake-up will be imperative for months to come. If not, we
might miss the storm brewing right under our noses. BFA
Chip talent shortage in China expected
to fall far behind target in 2024

SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOGISTICS
Liam Connors, Director,
digital logistics, BT
As businesses debated what the new
normal would look like in the aftermath
of the pandemic, it has become clear that
digitalisation and digital transformation
have become imperative.
This is certainly true for logistics.
Like many other essential sectors, the
industry that moves the goods around
the world has to leverage data to make
better informed, more strategic business
decisions.
The pandemic greatly accelerated
the digital transformation roadmap for
many companies, in many instances
boiling carefully crafted five-year plans
into much shorter time spans. But that
particular unexpected event isn’t the
only driver of digital transformation in
the sector.
Perfect storm of change
Three key drivers have converged to
create a perfect storm for logistics
companies. The first of these is disrup-
tions to the supply chain. The pandemic
and its initial stay-at-home lockdowns
resulted in a significant uptake of online
ordering globally. To address this surge
in demand, delivery companies had to
significantly expand their headcount,
which in turn meant higher costs,
something that did not go down well with
shareholders.
Quicker delivery times became
the norm despite the ongoing driver
shortages, strikes, increased difficulties
crossing borders and wildly fluctuating
exchange rates.
The second key catalyst of digital
transformation is the constant impera-
tive to reduce costs. It is not just driver
shortages that tested logistic companies’
business continuity, so too have the soar-
ing fuel shortages, especially since the
onset of the war in Ukraine. Furthermore,
along with inflation, shipping and freight
costs have also risen.
The third key factor is that of the
growing power of big data itself. By 2025,
the creation of data globally is projected
to grow to more than 180 zettabytes.
It cannot be stressed enough that data
and by extension analytics, is the fuel of
every digitally transformed business and
industry.
Collecting, analysing, and leveraging
big data is essential if not critical to
intelligent decision-making in logistics,
especially on the journey to realising the
potential of logistics 4.0.
It is also fundamental to practical
applications, such as real-time status
updates, accurate product tracking and
reliable condition monitoring (like air and
temperature monitoring) for perishable
items.
The problem is that garnering a
data-driven holistic view of operations
is only possible through the ubiquitous
deployment of sensors and Internet of
Things (IoT) to capture data across every
level of the organisations. However,
not every business is able to make that
investment.
While each of these key points can
be addressed with analytics capabilities,
there are also five critical roadblocks to
digital transformation in logistics that
need to be addressed as part of realising
logistics 4.0. These include:
The need for connectivity
in every location
The innovations of logistics 4.0 require
strong, stable and consistent connectivity
to underpin their success.
Managing data protection
Digitalisation of logistics increases the
amount of potentially sensitive customer
and stakeholder information stored in the
cloud. Complicating matters, companies
must be aware of the compliance
regulations for each region they’re
operating in to avoid breaching the rules.
Furthermore, it is critical that employees
are trained in best practices to secure
their devices and data.
IoT and supply chain
security concerns
The downside to deploying IoT sensors
or connecting Operational Technology
(OT) to the wider network is that it greatly
expands organisations’ attack surface.
Concerns over cybersecurity, can make
businesses hesitant to take the risks of
embracing logistics 4.0.
Disruption and cost of
upgrading legacy systems
Many logistics companies rely on legacy
infrastructure and use manual processes–
like spreadsheets. Upgrading can seem
daunting, with fears arising of it being
expensive or too disruptive to normal
operations. However, failing to digitalise
their operations will not only prove more
expensive in the long-term, but it will also
affect an organisation’s ability to keep
pace as competition accelerates.
Support for progressing
beyond the pilot stage
The lack of board level support invariably
keeps digital transformation initiatives
from progressing beyond the pilot
stage. Often this comes from the lack
of strong commercial models and clear
ways of demonstrating a rapid Return on
Investment (ROI).
Future-focused solutions
Even as there are challenges to the digital
transformation of logistics, there are also
new solutions and maturing technologies
that enable innovation. 5G, for example,
offers a leap forward in bandwidth and
reliability that enables the use of large
volumes of data, coming from IoT. BFA
Making logistics 4.0 a reality

Motlatsi Moeketsi is a Senior Purchasing
Manager, at Ford’s plant in Silverton,
where she has played a critical role in
getting the processes in place nec-
essary for the launch of the all-new
Ford Ranger.
Who is Motlatsi –
tell us about yourself?
A lover of life, optimist to the core, and
family-oriented person with two young
children who keep me on my toes. I enjoy
the outdoors and partake in several
annual camping festivals in the Southern
Hemisphere. These road trips allow me to
unwind and reset, while spending quality
time with a diverse group of people,
filled with interesting conversations that
expand my perspective on life.
What is the best life lesson
you’ve been taught?
That you never really lose until you stop
trying. I have my mother to thank for
this life lesson. You see, I have failed
all too often at many things, but the
fighting spirit helps me gravitate towards
the lessons in the failures and to look
for further opportunities instead of
succumbing to defeat.
What do you enjoy about the
automotive industry?
I have worked in the automotive
industry throughout my career as I
started off at Mercedes-Benz as a
graduate trainee before taking up a
junior buyer position at Nissan SA and
then moving onto Ford. South Africa
occupies a unique space in the global
automotive industry as the only country
in Africa with seven OEM’s, being
the largest manufacturing sector on
the continent and a key contributor
to the country’s GDP, I had to be a
part of it. The constant change, with
the automotive sector becoming an
increasingly high-tech field has kept
me engaged and on a path of growth.
Currently, transitioning from combus-
tion engine vehicles to hybrid and even
full electric vehicles, automakers are
staying abreast of the changes, and this
necessitates agile teams to realise the
market shift. It is totally rewarding to be
part of this transition.
When did your journey at Ford Motor
Company begin?
Back in 2011 in the purchasing depart-
ment as a buyer. It was launch year for T6
and I had to literally hit the ground run-
ning. The Ford family was great. I found
confidants, coaches and mentors who all
played a significant role in supporting my
career path at Ford, sometimes believing
in me more than I did in myself. With hard
work, commitment, and team orientation
it is easy to thrive at Ford.
Talk us through a day in
your current role?
It definitely starts with a good cup of
coffee. We manage the value chain of
production parts used to assemble the
Ford Ranger. This necessitates close
relations with our supply partners, as
well as our internal customers. Having to
launch a new programme whilst phasing
out the current brings with it a host of
challenges, many of which are external
in nature with direct impact on our
operations. Challenges include COVID-19
restrictions in other parts of the world
from where we import parts, parts
availability constraints as well as rapid
increases in inflation on shipping and
raw material rates.
Working from home also means
having no immediate personal access to
the team, but we have learnt to make
the most of technological apps that keep
us connected with our teams and all
other stakeholders. No day is ever the
same and this is what makes my role as a
purchasing professional exciting.
What role has purchasing paid in the
ramp up to the new Ranger?
We got involved from inception having
to onboard supplier partners who are
now going through ramp up milestones
to ensure launch readiness and to supply
us with all the required components
and raw materials. We interfaced with
design and development engineers and
suppliers, through initial design concepts
for market tests and supplier nomina-
tions, followed by industrialisation and
then final ramp up milstones.
What steps do you take as a
procurement manager to develop
strong working relationships
with key suppliers?
Communication. It is important for our
suppliers to understand what our vision
is as a business and define what role
they need play to support us in realising
the plan. This way, everyone works as
one team towards a common goal.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Happy. Hopefully having travelled to a
lot more countries across the globe and
continuing to add value in my quest to
leadership and impacting those I work
with, positively. BFA
INDUSTRY NEWS
Thriving in the
automotive industry
33

FLEET MANAGEMENT
Powerful engines like those of trucks,
buses, and tractors are required to
meet the high-quality demands of a
business. In order to transfer heavy
equipment from one place to another,
carry passengers over long distances or
plough meters of land – fleet managers
and entrepreneurs need an engine oil
that is reliable, efficient and increases
the lifespan of vehicles. As stringent
emission guidelines increase, finding
the right oil has become increasingly
critical with many fleet owners requir-
ing an oil that provides fuel economy
benefits and extends oil drain intervals,
without compromising on protection
and performance.
Fortunately, there is an innovative
and technology powered oil brand
capable of coping with higher engine
pressures.
Liquid engineering that empowers
fleet operations to thrive
Across their 100-year history Castrol
has produced liquid engineering and ad-
vanced lubricants that serve the industri-
al, transport, and agricultural sectors. Its
branded products are recognised globally
for innovation and high performance
through its commitment to premium
quality and cutting-edge technology.
Whatever kind of heavy-duty vehicles
are utilised in your operation, Castrol has
the expertise and products needed to
ensure operational efficiency. The brand
is committed to making sure that their
heavy-duty engine oils are specifically
engineered to deliver a longer life and
continuous service intervals, even under
severe operating conditions.
Commercial vehicle oil brands that
make a difference to your business
Each product brand in Castrol’s innova-
tive range of oils addresses a different
engine need and appeals to different
consumer profiles, to ensure that all
classes of vehicles can perform at their
utmost potential.
To help prepare and maintain
vehicles for operations such as construc-
tion, landfill, mining, farming and more,
Castrol has introduced CastrolVECTON
with unique SYSTEM PRO
TECHNOLOGY™. To meet the demands
of the agricultural sector, this advanced
part synthetic heavy-duty diesel engine
oil offers longer oil life. This exceptional
diesel oil conforms to the latest engine
oil specifications and is available in three
viscosity grades.
Castrol VECTON also delivers up
to 45% extra performance reserves*
that fight oil breakdown by controlling
oxidation, reducing deposits, and neu-
tralising harmful acids while maintaining
viscosity.
Also designed to provide superior
protection within diesel engines, is
Castrol CRB Multi,a versatile, multi-pur-
pose, heavy-duty engine oil that helps
commercial vehicles to operate efficient-
ly and last longer.
Commercial liquid engineering
that keeps your fleet moving

35
Castrol CRB Multi’s versatility
makes it a highly practical solution
for heavy-duty workshops and mixed
fleets. Its multipurpose functions
help keep engines clean by protecting
against oil thickening and deposit
build up in critical parts of the engine,
delivering engine protection for a long
and healthy engine life.
Driving sustainability
now and in future
For a long and healthy engine life,
choose Castrol, with equipped liquid
engineering capabilities that guarantee
your commercial vehicle engines will
operate at their best. Castrol VECTON
and Castrol CRB Multi adhere to the
Original Engine Manufacturer (OEMs)
recommendations, making it a credible
choice to help keep your business mov-
ing and avoid unexpected downtime. BFA
* Based on tests conducted on 81% of the
whole Castrol VECTON range by volume based
on 12 months sales up to March 2017.
For more information visit the

official Castrol website.

FLEET MANAGEMENT
Leading tracking and fleet management
solutions provider Ctrack offers a wide
variety of solutions aimed at any indus-
try that utilises movable assets.
Throughout their 35-year history,
innovation and technology have been
at the core of Ctrack’s ability to provide
their customers with bespoke solutions
for an ever-changing environment.
Ctrack is a South African company with
solutions for South Africans, developed
locally, thanks to continuous research
and development.
Many of the systems that are
commonplace in the tracking and fleet
management arena were developed by
Ctrack and offered to the market either
through a variety of partners, including
major insurance companies or under the
Ctrack brand.
Integral to this ongoing research and
development culture is risk, cost control,
fleet utilisation, operations control and
asset control. Ctrack believes in full life
cycle asset management by harvesting
data that is able to provide hindsight,
insight and foresight.
“Ctrack understand that every
industry and every client has different
priorities when it comes to fleet man-
agement. The type of cargo has a sig-
nificant effect on the true focus. While
some might value safety above all else,
others prioritise operational continuity,
and we are able to develop solutions
that cater for all of these priorities,”
says Hein Jordt, Chief Executive Officer
of Ctrack Africa.
Hardware is an important component
of a robust fleet management system.
Over the years, Ctrack has developed
various solutions locally that can track
powered and non-powered assets as
well as supporting equipment such as a
host of different cameras.
While this hardware forms the basis
of an efficient fleet management system,
Ctrack’s unique software solutions set
them apart and allow them to be all
things to all industries.
One of Ctrack’s big advantages is
their flexibility and making many of
these bespoke solutions possible is their
proprietary SMILE technology, with
which the opportunities are endless.
“Ctrack is able to listen to the needs
of our customers and offer them locally
engineered solutions that give them the
exact results they require to run their
particular business safely and efficient-
ly,” says Jordt.
With SMILE, the same hardware can
be used to offer an endless array of
Bespoke solutions
for every industry

control and data in a format that makes
decision-making easy. The benefits of
which have been proven in real-world
scenarios time and time again.
When it comes to cash-in-transit
vehicles, SMILE can accept 32 digital
inputs, giving operators eyes on the
entire vault, door and hatch usage while
allowing drivers and fleet managers to
activate mitigation actions swiftly. In
instances of gunfire, SMILE is able to
automatically lock safes, providing an
additional layer of protection without
the operator needing to do anything.
Within the agricultural sector and
with regard to the transportation of
precious cargo on often less than ideal
roads, SMILE facilitates the setting up
of geo-zones and pre-defined speed
zones. This has been proven to have
a massive effect on the deterioration
of road surfaces, the maintenance
of vehicles, and the safe delivery
of produce.
SMILE allows for the control of
accessories driven off the vehicle’s PTO.
In the case of side loaders, it is possible
to limit their loading and offloading to
specific geographic locations, significant-
ly reducing the theft of loads.
Jamming of tracking and fleet
manage
ment systems is becoming more
prevalent, and with SMILE, Ctrack is
able to activate the hooter, hazards or
physically immobilise the vehicle when it
detects interference.
Ctrack are able to utilise a variety
of other valuable data streams such as
camera systems and CAN bus informa-
tion and with SMILE set up rules and
parameters that allow fleet managers to
more precisely control assets in best way
for their particular industry.
Some of Ctrack’s devices can record
data up to ten times a second, and
this data can be overwhelming for
fleet managers. The quality of data is
pertinent to outcomes and critical to
success. Ctrack has developed easy-
to-use, cloud-based fleet management
tools that allow for snapshots or
custom reporting via any device with an
internet connection from any location.
“In an environment that can
quickly become obsessed with big
data, precise yet concise feedback is
critical to managing fleets of all sizes by
promoting efficient yet well-informed
decision-making,” concludes Jordt. BFA
37

ROAD SIGNS
IN THE HEADLIGHTS
Ford has launched the double cab ver-
sions of its all-new Ranger, with the rest
of the 24-strong model range, including
workhorse single cab and practical rap
cab models scheduled for release early
in 2023.
The highly anticipated Ranger, which
will be built locally at Ford’s Pretoria plant
aims to establish new benchmarks in the
extremely competitive bakkie segment,
while offering a vehicle and ownership ex-
perience that owners can rely on for their
businesses, family lives and adventure.
The previous-generation Ford Ranger
was one of South Africa’s most popular
and trusted vehicles for small and medi-
um business owners, farmers, families,
adventurers, commercial fleets and
more. The next-generation Ranger builds
on that success with a range of models
that offer improved performance,
capability, technology and safety.
New look
Visually, the next-generation Ranger is
bold and confident with a purposeful
exterior that shares Ford’s global truck
design DNA. This design includes a new
grille and signature C-Clamp headlight
treatment at the front. A subtle shoulder
line along the side incorporates bolder
wheel arches that add to the sure-footed
stance. At the rear, the taillights are
designed with signature graphics.
Inside story
The interior has been significantly
improved, with premium soft-touch
materials and a prominent portrait style
central touchscreen that is home to
Ford’s signature SYNC 4A connectivity
and entertainment system. This screen
measures 10.1-inches in regular models
and 12-inches on the Wildtrak. An
embedded factory-fitted modem allows
connectivity on the go when linked with
the FordPass App.
Many of the traditional driving mode
controls have been moved from the dash
and centre console to their own dedi-
cated display on the SYNC screen. With
one button press, Wildtrak owners, for
example, can access a dedicated screen
for all off-road and drive models where
they can monitor the driveline, steering
angle, vehicle pitch and roll angles and
other controls. The screen is also linked to
a 360-degree camera on Wildtrak models
to make parking in tight spaces a breeze.
Clever storage and useful features
include places to store and charge your
phone wirelessly as well as a large centre
console bin to stash other items. In
addition the door pockets are designed to
carry more and the wide dash conceals an
upper glovebox while there are storage
bins under and beneath the rear seats.
At a glance:
Q
Q Double cab models of the
locally built Ford Ranger have
gone on sale.
Q
Q The range includes three engine
options.
Q
Q Pricing starts at R486 000
Locally built Ford Ranger goes
on sale

Business Fleet Africa December 2022.pdf

Business Fleet Africa December 2022.pdf

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