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Business Fleet Africa
EDITION 23 March 2023
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26
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Isuzu celebrates 10 years in
the lead.
Table of Contents
3 Editorial
Business
4
The 2023 Budget speed and the transport
industry
8
The SA logistics sector recovered omewhat
in January
RoadSafety
6
The need for effective driver training of
company fleet drivers
News
12 Industry News
32 News
Intheheadlights:HCVFleetVehicles
14 Isuzu Truck celebrates 10th year in the lead
16
Volvo leads booming market for electric
trucks
18 Fuso celebrates 60th anniversary
20 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is headed to SA
22
Why today’s city traffic is more challenging
for truck drivers
SupplyChainandLogistics
26
Logistics industry trends reshaping supply
chains
Fuel
28 Li-ion battery manufacturing outlook
29 The best usage for hydrogen ICE vehicles
FleetManagement
30 Prevention is better than cure
Intheheadlights:LCVFleetVehicles
36 BMW updates 3 series
37 Fiat enhances 500X range
38 Hyundai refreshes Palisade for 2023
39 Toyota Hilux line-up treated to key updates
40 Toyota expands Corolla Cross offering
IndustrySales
41
SA commercial vehicle market remains
positive
42 Buyers Guide
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March2023 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
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there from.
Government needs to step in
The proliferation of car guards and street vendors directing traffic
during loadshedding is a serious concern, and traffic authorities
must do more to ensure the proper flow of traffic during times
when traffic lights are not functioning. The Automobile Association (AA) agrees that
untrained pointsmen who direct traffic could be responsible for more harm than good and
should be discouraged from this practice.
While the intention is noble, and in many cases traffic does flow, it only takes one serious
accident to realise the folly of this endeavour. Since the pointsmen are not legally authorised
to perform this duty, there will be no legal recourse should something go wrong.
The Association says, however, that motorists have no choice but to comply with the
directions given in such circumstances because all drivers are following the instructions. “It
is impossible for one motorist to ignore these instructions as this would cause chaos when
other drivers are complying. This situation requires urgent intervention by traffic authorities
who, in many cases, are simply nowhere to be seen when traffic lights go down,” says the AA.
Loadshedding schedules are widely available, and traffic authorities should do more
to deploy personnel to those areas which carry the most traffic, specifically during peak
traffic times.
Some good news in the 2023 Budget Speech
During the 2023 National Budget recently presented by Finance Minister Enoch
Godongwana government acknowledged that constraints in logistics had negatively
affected economic growth and employment. Shocking is the fact that more than a quarter
of long-distance freight traffic has shifted onto the road in the past five years as a result of
severe deterioration of the freight rail network.
“This is due in large part to historical underinvestment in the network. Prolonged pow-
er failures and poor operational performance of transport industries continue to hamper
operations and investment in manufacturing, mining and agriculture. Several reforms are
under way to improve the performance of the transport sector, specifically freight rail and
to improve the capability of the state.” said Godongwana.
More important than the acknowledgement, was the invitation to the private sector to
get involved in a potential solution. Government is currently pursuing greater competition
in transport and logistics through third-party access to the freight rail sector which is now
in a pilot phase. In addition, several other reforms are in place to support recovery in the
transport sector.
It is great to see that the transport industry formed such a big part of this year’s budget
speech. We can now only hope that these measures are practically put in place because they
should have positive effect on the economy while also contributing to improved road safety.
Reuben van Niekerk
Editor
Editorial
EDITORIAL
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To kick start 2023, we at Business Fleet Africa will be rewarding one lucky reader with a R10 000 prize.
Each month (From the February 2023 issue) there will be a set of questions, the answers to which
can be found on the pages of that issue of Business Fleet Africa. Each month, up until the July issue,
you can enter as many times as you like. The winner will be drawn randomly on the 31st
of July 2023.
To view the second round of questions, enter and for the Terms Conditions of this competition
please click on the link above.
Enter here

On 22 February, the Minister of Finance,
Enoch Godongwana, unveiled the
National Budget. The proposed budget
allocation aims to strike a balance
between national spending priorities
and limited resources.
Despite a wide variety of geopolitical
factors, South Africa’s economy grew
by an estimated 2.50% in 2022, which
was an improvement on the projected
figure of 1.9%. Real Gross Domestic
Product is projected to average 1.4%
between 2023 and 2025 and Stats SA
predict a 2.0% GDP projection for 2023.
As with the economy vehicle sales
showed better growth than expected,
outperforming the country’s GDP and
growing 19.3% year-on-year with the
retailing of 363 092 units compared to
the 304 341 of 2021.
The 2023 Budget speech focused
on the energy crisis, tax cuts for
households and businesses, increases in
various social services, including health,
education and various social grants and
the R903 billion earmarked for infra-
structure spending.
If the planned Eskom debt takeover
realises, business can look forward to
less load-shedding as the resources
which would have gone to servicing
debt will now be used to maintain the
Eskom infrastructure. This will hopefully
result in businesses spending less on
BUSINESS
The 2023 Budget speech
and the transport industry
‘The 2023 National
Budget made it clear
that in the short term,
all available additional
resources were being
utilised to mitigate
the impact of the
ongoing energy crisis,
and that means that
a variety of other
important initiatives
were unfortunately put
on the back burner.’

5
running alternative energy solutions
such as fuel-powered generators.
The 25 percent rebate, up to
R15 000 for residential solar installa-
tions and the rebate guarantee scheme
for business bodes well for helping
South Africans cope with ongoing
power outages and rising energy costs.
In addition, zero increases in cor-
porate tax, personal income tax, VAT,
fuel levy and road accident fund levy
should significantly help ease cash flow
pressure on businesses.
The projected R903 billion to be
spent on infrastructure, including
roads, power plants and water supply
initiatives, is also welcomed.
“The 2023 National Budget made it
clear that in the short term, all available
additional resources were being utilised
to mitigate the impact of the ongoing
energy crisis, and that means that a va-
riety of other important initiatives were
unfortunately put on the back burner,”
says Derick de Vries, Executive Head of
Standard Bank Fleet Management.
The automotive industry was
collectively disappointed that no solid
commitment was made on the support
programme for the manufacturing of
New Energy Vehicles and New Energy
Vehicle components in the country.
The Minister did also not provide
any policy guarantees for the South
African automotive industry’s inevitable
transition. Delays with the promulga-
tion of the New Energy Vehicle White
Paper continue to represent one of the
biggest risks regarding the retention of
jobs and manufacturing contracts at
local vehicle production facilities.
“The future of the South African
automotive industry with regards to
local manufacturing will be based on
the ability to deliver the vehicles with
the drivetrains that the global market
demands going forward, and this can
only be done with the support of gov-
ernment, who needs to rubber stamp
the legislation needed to make the
manufacturing of new energy vehicles
viable,” adds de Vries.
The potential loss of local vehicle
manufacturing in any form will have a
massive impact on the South African
automotive industry in various ways,
including job losses. Another area that
will suffer greatly is vehicle pricing,
currently offset by the APDP import-ex-
port credit programme.
Increased vehicle prices, which are
already under pressure due to the
weakening exchange rate, will result
in increased transport costs across
the board. Along with increased new
vehicle prices comes increased service,
maintenance and insurance costs.
Increased new vehicle prices will
make it that much more difficult for
transporters to upgrade their fleets
when necessary and will lead to in-
creased maintenance costs as well as an
increased chance of vehicles falling into
an unroadworthy state and contributing
to our already grim accident and road
fatality numbers.
“While the strategies that are being
put in place to mitigate the fallout
of ongoing load shedding due to the
failure of Eskom are welcomed, it is
a pity that this must be at the cost of
other initiatives that are critically im-
portant to keeping the country’s wheels
turning,” concludes de Vries.
Standard Bank continues to offer
customers various innovative solutions
that help them utilise the vehicles
they need to run their business as
their needs and affordability change,
from traditional loan agreements to
a variety of fleet management and
leasing options that suit every need and
affordability case. BFA

ROAD SAFETY
Before writing this article, I was viewing
video footage of another horror crash
involving dozens of cars being destroyed
by a run-away side-tipper in KwaZulu
Natal. Studying the aftermath of the trail
of destruction left by the juggernaut
revealed that it was a sheer miracle
that there were no fatalities. However,
emergency services reported many
injured, some very seriously.
This follows a horror crash that
claimed the lives of 22 people in
Limpopo when a head-on collision
occurred between a mini-bus and a
cement mixer. Over the past weekend a
high-speed crash claimed the lives of an
MEC and his VIP bodyguard when they
crashed into some stray cattle in the
Free State.
Sadly, these are only the high profile,
major fatal crashes that are covered
by the media. Dozens more people are
killed daily on our roads in accidents
which go un-reported, and, in most cas-
es, these senseless deaths are avoidable.
Whenever the topic of advanced,
defensive driver training comes up with
my fleet clients, I’m often asked: “Why
do they need additional training, they
can drive – they have a license!”
For many companies, additional
driver training is seen as a waste of
time and money. I know of many fleet
companies which do not even screen
new-hires effectively. Most new recruits
are subjected to a quick drive around the
block alongside a “madala” driver before
the recruit is given the thumbs-up to get
behind the wheel of a rig costing millions
of rand.
It is only when there is a major crash
that owners start looking around for a
service provider for a quick fix.
For those contractors who provide
transport for certified and accredited
operators, defensive driving is not a lux-
ury, but a necessity. It forms part of the
policy and culture of the organisation
and is non-negotiable. These progres-
sive companies have recognised that
driver training is a small price to pay for
improved peace of mind. Driver training
is an investment, not an expense.
It is assumed that the holder of a
driving license can operate a vehicle of
that class. The reality is that with the
high levels of fraud and corruption at
license testing stations, many drivers
buy their licenses with the least amount
of training. The training is often inade-
quate and unprofessional with limited
exposure behind the wheel. The actual
driving experience commences when
they are offered a driving position at
your company, driving your vehicles in
peak traffic, carrying a heavy load.
A vehicle is a lethal weapon and driv-
ing is a hazardous occupation. Drivers
are exposed to much longer hours of
workplace risk than other employees.
Truth be told, a fleet driver is subjected
to greater hazards on the road than an
airline pilot. Yet we are happy to accept
mediocre driving standards, with limited
driver training.
The need for effective training
of company fleet drivers

7
In some cases, we even applaud
drivers who break traffic rules to get
the deliveries done on time. This is a
recipe for disaster that could come back
to haunt company fleets that run their
operations on short-cuts.
Even seasoned drivers with years of
no-crash experience need to undergo
refresher training, as complacency and
bad habits set in, giving such drivers a
false sense of security, which could end
in disaster. Human beings are creatures
of habit who always default to the route
of least resistance which results in
carelessness and negligence and heaven
forbid, outright recklessness.
There are no prescripts in law that
govern advanced, defensive driver
training. However, there are many global
best practices that professional opera-
tors employ.
Here are some driver enhancement
best practices and guidelines from
professional operators;
Q
Q Pre-hire screening is non-negotiable
and must be done professionally.
Drivers spend the bulk of their time
driving so they should be thoroughly
assessed in terms of driver attitude,
driving competence, legal compliance
as well as driving economically and
with mechanical sympathy.
Q
Q New recruits should undergo a work-
shop on the contents of the compa-
ny’s transport and safety policy as
part of their induction process. They
must sign a pledge agreeing that they
understand, acknowledge and will
apply the various prescripts, a copy of
which should be filed with the Human
Resources department.
Q
Q All new drivers should undergo a
certified advanced, defensive driving
skills course by an accredited service
provider with a track record for
reducing operational costs for their
clients. The course should cover,
amongst others, critical aspects
under the broader definitions of
driver fitness, vehicle fitness, loads
management, documentation and
importantly, managing hazards and
driving in adverse conditions.
Q
Q The international best practice norm
suggests the following minimum
training cycles:
Q
Q Abnormal loads and conveyance
of dangerous goods: minimum
every 12 months.
Q
Q Passenger transport vehicles
(buses, mini-buses, scholar trans-
port, ride hailing, shuttle bus etc.):
minimum every 12 months.
Q
Q Light delivery vans and cars:
minimum, every 24 months.
Q
Q Delivery motor-cycles, every 12
months.
Q
Q Driver monitoring and evaluation
should be integrated into the driving
environment. In this way, your top
drivers and those habitual offend-
ers at high risk can be identified
through your fleet management
system. Based on this information
appropriate action can then be taken,
such as monthly awards for the best
drivers and coaching for the bad
drivers. These interventions must
be recorded should it lead to formal
disciplinary measures for those who
fail to comply.
Q
Q Ride alongs by supervisors and by
peers are an excellent way of getting
drivers to refresh and share safe
practices with each other, provided
they themselves have been taught
the correct way in the first place.
Drivers are not the only ones who
reap the benefits of continuous safe
driving practices through effective
driver training. The company will see a
definite reduction in offences, incidents
and casualties. Other benefits include
lower fuel costs, reduction in repairs
and maintenance and savings in time
and insurance costs, all of which should
result in a significant reduction in
operational costs.
A good driver is an asset to the com-
pany. Investing in their enhancement
leads to greater confidence, morale and
productivity which leads to a positive
image for your company. Not to mention
protecting the lives of other, innocent
road users, which is something that no
value can be attached to. BFA
Ashref Ismail is a multiple
award-winning road safety
practitioner with more than 35
years’ experience at provincial,
national and international levels.
He holds qualifications in Traffic
and Municipal Policing, Teaching,
Public Relations and Professional
Driving. He currently runs his own
fleet risk management consul-
tancy, specialising in advanced,
hazard management training and
driver wellness.

Following four consecutive months of
contraction, the South African logistics
sector as measured by the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index recovered
considerably during January, though
off a low base. The Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index increased by 1.5% in
January following a monthly decline of
3.4% in December (and declines in the
preceding three months). On an annual
basis the Ctrack Transport and Freight
Index ended 2.1% higher than a year
earlier, a far cry from the annual growth
rate of 13.7% recorded in August 2022.
The sector has faced many headwinds
during 2022 and still finds itself in
recovery mode as we enter 2023.
The detrimental impact of the Transnet
strike on the logistics sector in the final
months of 2022 as well as the growing
voice of business decrying the dismal state
of the rail industry have, at last, resulted in
some attention from government. During
the 2023 National Budget presented by
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on
22 February 2023 government acknowl-
edged that constraints in logistics had
negatively affected economic growth
and employment. Quoting from the 2023
Budget Review document: “More than a
quarter of long-distance freight traffic has
shifted to roads in the past five years as a
result of severe deterioration in the freight
rail network.
This is due in large part to historical un-
derinvestment in the network. Prolonged
power failures and poor operational per-
formance of transport industries continue
to hamper operations and investment in
manufacturing, mining and agriculture.
Several reforms are under way to improve
the performance of the transport sector,
specifically freight rail and to improve the
capability of the state”.
More important than the acknowl-
edgement, was the invitation to the
private sector to get involved in a potential
solution. Government is currently pursuing
greater competition in transport and
logistics through third-party access to the
freight rail sector which is now in a pilot
phase. In addition, several other reforms
are in place to support recovery in the
transport sector, which were also pointed
out in the budget speech including;
Q
Q The Economic Regulation of
Transport Bill, which will establish the
transport regulator, has been tabled
in Parliament.
Q
Q Transnet is taking steps to improve
operations in key corridors, for
example software upgrades that will
increase efficiency through better
signalling.
Q
Q Additional intervention in the form of
steps to prevent theft and vandalism
The South African logistics sector
recovered somewhat in January 2023
TRANSPORT AND FREIGHT INDEX
Graph 1 Ctrack Transport and Freight Index % change on monthly basis
ctrack
Ctrack Transport and Freight Index
Percentage change on monthly basis
Jul-18
Jul-19
Jul-20
Jul-21
Jul-22
Jan-18
Jan-19
Jan-20
Jan-21
Jan-22
Oct-18
Oct-19
Oct-20
Oct-21
Oct-22
Jan-23
Apr-18
Apr-19
Apr-20
Apr-21
Apr-22
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
-2%
-4%
-6%
-8%
-10%
Ctrack
%
Recovery Post Lockdown
KZN Looting
Covid 19 Hard-Lockdown
KZN Floods
Transnet Strike -3.4%
1.5%

9
and resolving legal challenges in
relation to locomotive procurement.
Q
Q The operations and infrastructure
management functions of Transnet
Freight Rail are due to be separated
by October 2023, a step intended to
facilitate competition and improve
pricing.
Rail Freight was the worst performing
sub-sector of the Ctrack Transport and
Freight Index in 2022 and has been
underperforming for years, so steps
to address the sector’s challenges
are welcomed and if these steps are
implemented it could potentially be a
major boost for the logistics sector. The
Rail Freight component of the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index declined by
26.3% year on year in January 2023, the
10th
consecutive decline recorded.
“It is very heartening to see that the
transport industry formed such a big part of
this year’s budget speech. We can now only
hold thumbs that the proposed reforms
are put in place efficiently and effectively
as they are most certainly required for the
ongoing survival of many of the sectors of
the transport industry,” says Hein Jordt,
Chief Executive Officer of Ctrack Africa.
While the obvious beneficiary of the dis-
mal state of Rail Freight has been the Road
Freight sub-sector, the growing number
of heavy trucks on South African roads is
having a continued negative effect on the
quality of the road network and has accel-
erated the need for ongoing maintenance.
The additional allocation of R12.4bn in the
2023 National Budget for the rehabilitation
of provincial roads, to reduce the road
rehabilitation and strengthening backlog on
national roads is welcomed and will result in
spending on roads increasing from R61.8bn
in 2022/23 to R85.5bn in 2025/26. The
budget also noted that the South African
National Roads Agency Limited will increase
the length of the network in active mainte-
nance from 1 200 kilometres in 2022/23 to
2 400 kilometres in 2025/26, and the length
of the network in active strengthening to
600 kilometres by 2025/26.
The number of heavy trucks on both
the N3 and N4 toll routes increased in
January 2023 compared to a year ago,
while the Road Freight payload for the
country also continued to grow. This
is confirmed by the fact that the Road
Freight component of the Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index increased by 17.0% year
on year in January 2023, the 22nd
straight
month of double-digit annual growth.
The Air Freight sector, which turned
out to be one of 2022’s star performers,
showed signs of moderation in January
2023. All the underlying components of the
Air Freight sub-sector declined on a month-
ly basis, including total consolidated airport
flight movements, which decreased by 1.9%
while cargo on planes decreased by 9.9%
in January. According to the International
Air Transport Association (IATA), the
lower demand for air cargo is now evident
across the globe, reflecting the multiple
headwinds facing the global economy and
spilling over to trading partner countries. Air
cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs) to Africa was
down 10% year on year in January. The Air
Freight component of the Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index subsequently declined by
1.8% in January compared to the previous
month, but still grew by 4.6% compared to
the same period last year and 7.8% year on
year ending in December.
The Sea Freight component of the
component declined by 9.8% in January
compared to a year ago but increased on a
monthly (9.6%) and quarterly basis (4.6%),
reflecting a hesitant recovery in Transnet
ports’ activities following the prolonged
strike in October 2022. However, container
Graph 2
Transnet freight rail volumes and train km
Ctrack,
2023
National
Budget
Transnet freight rail volumes and train km
Ctrack
TFR Traffic (RHS)
TFR Volumes
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20
2020/21
2021/22
230
220
210
200
190
180
170
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
Million
tonnes
Million
train
km
Graph 3 Average daily coal trucks: Port of Durban and Richards Bay
ctrack,
2023
National
Budget;
2022
datapoint
includes
data
up
to
Oct22
Average daily coal trucks: Port of Durban and Richards Bay*
k
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
2020
2021
2022
2019
Daily
trucks
To Port of Durban
To Port of Richards Bay

handling in the country remains 33.8%
below the September 2022 pre-strike
level. Cargo handling was also negatively
impacted by the strike and has only
partially recovered in the past few
months, confirming fears that it will take
the industry months to recover from the
crippling strike.
The Storage and Handling sub-sector of
the Ctrack Transport and Freight Index sec-
tor was under pressure for most of 2022,
with a trend of declining inventory levels
evident before the Transnet strike just
made matters worse. Storage and Handling
declined by 16.6% in January compared
to a year ago and declined on a monthly
(-3.8%) and quarterly basis (-11.7%).
The transport of liquid fuels via
Transnet Pipelines (TPL) increased strongly
in January 2023, with the pipeline compo-
nent of the Ctrack Transport and Freight
Index increasing by 6.1% on a monthly
basis, however, still tracking 2.1% lower
when compared to a year earlier.
Ctrack TFI and GDP growth
The December 2022 Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index (112.1) declined notably
compared to the September level (120.7),
signalling that the transport sector has
probably been a negative contributor to
economic growth in the fourth quarter
of 2022. The transport sector will most
likely underperform compared to some
of the other sectors of the economy, in
contrast to its outperformance during the
third quarter. The negative impact of the
prolonged Transnet strike put a damper
not only on the transport sector’s contri-
bution, but also the broader economy’s
performance during the fourth quarter,
given linkages to other sectors. This is
already evident in negative growth rates
recorded in the fourth quarter of last year
for both the mining and manufacturing
sectors, which are both heavily reliant
on the transport sector, and a consensus
view that the economy contracted on a
quarterly basis during the fourth quarter.
Over and above the strike’s impact, the
ongoing challenges of harsh load shedding,
the high costs of living, increased produc-
tion costs due to high fuel prices, rising
wage demands and elevated interest rates,
will continue to contribute to the country’s
dismal economic performance into 2023.
“The South African economy is in dire
need of a functioning logistics network
amid all the economic woes currently
plaguing our country and all stakeholders
should unite to address the obstacles
in the industry. From this point of view,
recent developments to address the sec-
tor’s challenges, as mentioned in the 2023
National Budget, is indeed a step forward
and welcomed,” concluded Jordt. BFA
Table 1 Change in Ctrack Transport and Freight Index in January 2023
Percentage change between Rail Road Pipeline Sea Air
Storage and
handling
Ctrack Freight
Transport Index
January 2023 vs January 2022 (y/y) –26.3% 17.0% –2.1% –9.8% 4.6% –16.6% 2.1%
January 2023 vs December 2022 (m/m) –3.2% 2.8% 6.1% 9.6% –1.8% –3.8% 1.5%
Quarter to January 2023 vs. Quarter to October 2022 (q/q) –19.4% 0.9% –0.8% 4.6% 0.8% –11.7% –3.5%
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.
Graph 4 Real GDP growth vs Ctrack TFI (q/q change)
StatsSA,
Ctrack Ctrack Transport and Freight Index
Real GDP growth vs Ctrack TFI
Ctrack
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
%
Real GDP Growth
Ctrack TFI
201801
201901
202001
202101
202201
201803
201903
202003
202103
201802
201902
202002
202102
202202
202203
202204
201804
201904
202004
202104

INDUSTRY NEWS
In South Africa, road fatalities are a
crisis. According to the Road Traffic
Management Corporation’s 2021 State
of Road Safety in South Africa report,
there were 10 611 fatal crashes in 2021,
a 26.4% increase over 2020, and a 2%
increase over 2019. There were 12 545
road fatalities in 2021.
Hollard is working to enhance
road safety in South Africa through its
Highway Heroes competition, which
identifies and rewards South Africa’s
best and safest truck and for the first
time this year, bus drivers.
“Highway Heroes is all about improv-
ing road safety, the competition, which
has been running since 2015, promotes
safer driving practices. The Hollard
Highway Heroes competition has led to a
big improvement in participating drivers’
road behaviour. Better driving, in turn,
reduces risk and leads to safer roads. It
also means lower fuel and maintenance
costs, and fewer claims,” said Paul
Dangerfield, Hollard Trucking National
Operations Manager.
This year, for the first time, the com-
petition is open to drivers of all truck
and bus fleets – not only those affiliated
to Hollard.
“By including bus drivers in the
competition, we want to have a greater
positive influence on enhancing road
safety in South Africa. But the broader
mission is to go beyond trucking and
buses to cut risk and reduce road-acci-
dent claims and tragic loss of life,” said
Dangerfield.
Last year, Hollard Highway Heroes
received 2 400 entries. This year the aim
is to attract at least 5 000 truck drivers
and a decent first cohort of bus drivers.
Entries opened on 1 March and remain
open until 31 May. After the first mon-
itoring phase ends on 31 July, 50 truck
drivers and 20 bus drivers will progress
to the second assessment phase from 1
September to 15 October.
There are big cash prizes to be
won such as R50 000 for five category
winners, R100 000 for the top bus
driver and R150 000 for the overall
winning truck driver. The winners will
be crowned at a high-profile gala event
at Emperors Palace, Ekurhuleni, on 17
November. BFA
Hollard launches 2023 Highway Heroes competition
The JAC Group’s joint venture with
Volkswagen in China has made history
by introducing the world’s first electric
vehicle (EV) powered by a sodium-ion
battery. This milestone could be a
game-changer for the electric vehicle
industry, as sodium-ion batteries offer
a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion
batteries.
Lithium prices surged last year,
creating huge cost pressures in pro-
ducing lithium-ion batteries. However,
sodium-ion batteries offer better cost
performance and deliver excellent cycle
performance, making them a good
alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
The five-seat passenger vehicle,
called Hua Xianzi (flower fairy), is fitted
with a 25 kilowatt-hour (kWh) Na-ion
battery from HiNa Battery Technologies
that can travel up to 250 kilometres
on a single charge. The Beijing-based
high-tech company is affiliated with
the Institute of Physics of the Chinese
Academy of Sciences. It is involved
in developing and commercialising
sodium-ion batteries and aims to expand
the new battery technology to other EV
platforms, including buses, trucks and
scooters.
While sodium-ion batteries have a
lower energy density than lithium-ion
batteries, they offer other advantag-
es, such as better low-temperature
performance, charging speed, a longer
lifespan, and can be recharged more
times without degradation. They are
also less prone to overheating and
other safety issues, making them a safer
option for large-scale energy storage.
Cheaper raw materials are used in
the manufacturing process of sodi-
um-ion batteries. The scarcity and cost
of lithium have been a challenge in
the battery industry, with companies
worldwide spending years looking
for suitable alternatives. Sodium-ion
battery technology has emerged as
one of the most promising contenders.
HiNa Battery Technology states that
this breakthrough could help reduce EV
production costs by ten percent.
The sodium-ion battery-powered
Hua Xianzi represents an important step
forward in the EV industry as sodium-ion
battery technology provides a cost-ef-
fective solution that is safe, reliable and
efficient. In addition, these batteries
could help reduce the environmental
impact of EVs. BFA
JAC Motors unveils world’s first sodium-ion battery vehicle

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Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) and
the Isuzu Truck brand have once again
maintained their top position in the
South African truck market – celebrating
their 10th consecutive year as the truck
market leader according to the latest
NAAMSA report.
“We have several reasons to
celebrate when ringing in the new year,
with such an excellent sales record, the
amazing hard work of everyone in the
Isuzu dealer network, and the team
members who power the Isuzu products
and stand by them day in day out,”
says Craig Uren, Senior Vice President,
Revenue Generation at Isuzu.
“We live in a world of diminishing
standards where numerous global
issues are impacting the SA economy.
In addition, last mile logistics are very
different to what it was five-years ago,”
added Uren.
2022 Sales Review
The South African truck market including
van and bus recorded total sales of
30 153 units for the 2022 calendar year,
an increase of 11.4% overall on 2021
numbers, with Isuzu’s growth at 4.7%.
Isuzu achieved a total sale of 3 304
units of the total market, excluding vans
and buses – a record performance for
the brand which smashed the previous
year’s total with an increase of 4.76%.
The Medium Commercial Vehicle
market increased by 17.8%. Isuzu sales
in this category increased by 10.12%
compared to 2021.
The Heavy Commercial Vehicle
market increased by 19.6%. Isuzu sales
in this category increased by 0.24%
compared to 2021.
On achieving 10 consecutive years
of market leadership, Uren said, “Our
growth can be attributed to the relent-
less hard work of the greater Isuzu team,
the backbone of which is our dealer
network and their relationships with our
customers.”
Market leadership
Challenges such as global and domestic
supply chain issues impacted many
sectors of the South African economy
in 2022. However, this did not stop the
strong market demand, which helped
drive Isuzu truck sales.
“I have been working closely with
our dealer network over the past years
and it’s fantastic to see Isuzu chalk up
another stellar sales performance off
the back of this determined effort,”
says Uren. “With such high demand
for Isuzu products, it’s been our top
priority to maintain a steady supply of
Isuzu trucks while delivering excellent
customer service and after-sales
support, he adds.
Isuzu’s 2022 market success is
propelling the brand to continue building
capacity and capability to meet and
exceed its customers’ and the industry’s
needs.
“We understand that the South
African customers deserve the best,
which is what Isuzu delivers year in, year
out,” concluded Uren.
Looking ahead
Isuzu plan on continuing their success by
ensuring that their offering remains what
the market demands. In the short term
they will be offering dual fuel and CNG
solutions while also expanding their Euro
five portfolio. Isuzu’s CNG solutions will
be available to the market from April and
are expected to represent significant
savings over the lifecycle of the trucks.
In the medium-term Isuzu is looking
at introducing battery electric drivetrains
on certain models while long term
planning includes the introduction of
hydrogen electric vehicles. BFA
Isuzu Truck celebrates
10th
year in the lead
INDUSTRY NEWS

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INDUSTRY NEWS
In 2022, the number of heavy electric
trucks on the roads in Europe and
the United States grew faster than
ever before. Volvo Trucks has now
sold more than 4 300 electric trucks
globally in more than 38 countries since
2019, when production of these units
commenced.
Locally, Volvo Trucks will start
delivering heavy electric trucks to its
customers in South Africa from May
2023. In South Africa, these heavy
electric trucks fall within the extra heavy
commercial vehicle segment comprising
trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings
(GVM) exceeding 16.5 tonnes.
“Although we are in the early stages of
our electric truck journey here in South
Africa, our staff and dealers are fully
trained and prepared for this new tech-
nology, enabling us to efficiently support
our customers as more and more fleets
move to sustainable transport solutions.
There are of course some infrastructural
and legislative obstacles to overcome,
but together with our customers and
other stakeholders, we are working hard
to ensure the success and longevity of
heavy electric trucks in South Africa,”
says Waldemar Christensen, MD of Volvo
Trucks South Africa.
Volvo Trucks is the market leader in In
Europe with a 32% share of the market
for heavy electric trucks, and in North
America, nearly half of all heavy electric
trucks registered in 2022 were Volvo
trucks.
In 2022, the market for heavy (≥16
tonnes) electric trucks in Europe, grew
by 200% to 1 041 trucks, and Volvo
Trucks holds the highest share of this
market.
“We are determined to lead the
electric truck transformation and our
market leading position in 2022, not only
in Europe, but also in North America
and other markets, is proof that we are
doing just that. Although, the market for
electric trucks is still small, the trend is
clear: many of our customers are now
starting their shift to electric. We intend
to be the catalyst for this transition and
aim for 50% of our global sales of new
trucks to be electric in 2030,” says Roger
Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.
Volvo Trucks currently offers the
industry´s broadest product line-up with
six product ranges in series production,
catering to a very wide variety of trans-
port solutions in and between cities.
“We now have a product portfolio
that can cover most types of transporta-
tion for all kinds of customers. Looking
at the goods flow patterns, it’s possible
to electrify nearly half of all transport
needs with our line-up of electric trucks,
we see it as our mission to support our
customers in making that happen.”
concludes Alm. BFA
Volvo leads the booming
market for electric trucks

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INDUSTRY NEWS
The first-generation Canter entered the
light-duty truck segment in March 1963
as the T720 cab-over type model with a
design providing a wide field of view and
easy operability. Named the Canter to
conjure the image of a sturdy but nimble
horse, it was highly acclaimed as the
best in its class for its excellent driving
performance and economy. After the
launch of the first-generation Canter,
the Metropolitan Expressway opened
in Japan in 1964, enabling high-speed
transportation of cargo. Along with the
development of roads, the development
of high-speed trucks has progressed,
Fuso Trucks celebrates
the 60th anniversary
of its light-duty Canter truck

long-distance transportation has
become commonplace, and the use of
high-output engines has spread, making
it possible to transport large amounts of
cargo at high speed. The Canter, which
can turn in a small radius, has contribut-
ed to the efficiency of transportation in
Japan by being used for transportation
in a variety of ways. 2023 marks the
60th
anniversary of the light-duty Canter
truck.
Since the launch of the first-gener-
ation model, the Canter has evolved
alongside Japanese society through
many eras, from the postwar recon-
struction period, through the rapid
economic growth that brought long-dis-
tance and high-speed transportation,
to the changes of the 21st century that
pushed ecological issues and carbon
neutral transportation to the forefront.
Throughout its 60-year history, the
Canter has delivered every aspect
required of a light-duty truck at a high
level. On top of consistent performance
and driver comfort, the Canter has
achieved ever higher levels of fuel
efficiency and environmental friendli-
ness over the decades with continuous
engine improvements and hybrid
technology. Through the development
of advanced safety technologies, MFTBC
has sought to make the Canter a safe
and reliable truck for drivers and others
on the road. The design of the Canter
has also evolved to match the needs of
drivers and the shifting zeitgeist. Over
the years, the Canter has managed to
establish an immovable identity within
the industry as a safe, comfortable, and
environmentally friendly companion to
drivers and businesses everywhere.
Since the 1960s, the Canter has
expanded its sales around the world
and has led the light-duty truck segment
in the global market. In Indonesia, one
of the first overseas Fuso markets, the
truck has managed to maintain its mar-
ket share in the light-duty segment for
the past 48 years. Currently, knock-down
production is carried out in 12 overseas
markets. In Indonesia, knock-down pro-
duction has been carried out for the past
48 years, and in Taiwan, it has continued
for 40. Furthermore, sales of the Canter
have expanded into Africa, Central and
South America, and the Middle East,
with built-up vehicles being exported
to over 60 countries around the world.
Combining knock-down production
locations and export markets, the Canter
is now sold in over 70 countries around
the world.
Throughout the truck’s long history,
the Canter has represented the Fuso
brand and MFTBC’s dedication to stand-
ing as a pioneering presence for custom-
ers, societies, and the transportation
industry. Continuing the legacy, MFTBC
launched Japan’s first series-produced
electric light-duty truck, the eCanter,
in the light-duty truck segment in 2017.
With the fully remodelled next-genera-
tion model of the all-electric truck to be
introduced to markets in 2023, MFTBC
and the Fuso Canter will continue on a
path of innovation.
“2023 is indeed an extraordinary
year for us as we celebrate a significant
trucking milestone, one that is firmly
entrenched in our rich global history.
I am proud to say that the last 60
years of Canter have been nothing but
an exemplification of our steadfast
commitment to our valued customers
to ensure reliable mobility solutions and
excellent value for money. Since its first
market entrant in the early 1980s, the
Canter has played an integral part in
our Fuso Trucks brand success story in
South Africa and has deservingly earned
its status among customers and drivers
alike as the “light gallop” in the light-du-
ty segment. The next 60 years of Canter
are exciting and worth looking forward
to, as we cast our eyes towards adapting
to the rapid shift in the commercial
vehicles industry of electrification
and connectivity”, concludes Michael
Dietz, President CEO Daimler Truck
Southern Africa. BFA
19

ROAD SIGNS
INDUSTRY NEWS
Mercedes-Benz Vans is systematically
electrifying their entire model range and
the new eSprinter promises to impress
with efficiency, range and load capacity
when it arrives in South Africa next year.
The new eSprinter comes with a
multitude of technical innovations and
is based on a new concept consisting of
three modules. These allow the greatest
possible freedom in the development and
design of various conversions and super-
structures previously only known from
the conventionally powered Sprinter.
The front module, a uniformly
designed front section, includes all
high-voltage components and can be
combined unchanged with all vehicle
variants, regardless of wheelbase and
battery size. The module for the integrat-
ed high-voltage battery is located in the
underbody to save space. The battery
location between the axles, together
with the robust battery housing, result
in a low centre of gravity, which has
a positive influence on handling and
increases driving safety. The third pillar
of the modular design is the rear module
with the electrically driven rear axle.
Following the principle of the common
parts strategy, this is used in all variants
of the new eSprinter. The compact
and powerful electric motor is also

integrated into the rear module.
Versatile and efficient
The market launch of the new eSprinter
will begin in the USA and Canada in the
second half of 2023. The vehicle is a long
panel van with a high roof. It is equipped
with the largest battery available, which
has a usable capacity of 113 kilowatt
hours. The load capacity is 14 cubic
metres, and it has a permissible gross
vehicle weight of up to 4.25 tonnes.
The electric range, based on a simu-
lation using the WLTP cycle, is estimated
to be as much as 400 kilometres or 500
kilometres in the city.
In Europe, this first variant of the
panel van will be launched at the end
of 2023, with the cab chassis variant
and other battery variants gradually
following. This makes the eSprinter
attractive as a base vehicle for numerous
new sectors, as well as for converters
and body manufacturers.
The electric powertrain (eATS)
The main components of the eATS in
the new eSprinter include two new
developments, the efficient motor
and the innovative electric rear axle,
both of which are being used for the
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter
coming to SA in 2024

first time in a battery-electric van from
Mercedes-Benz.
The permanent magnet synchronous
motor (PSM), which weighs only around
130 kilograms, is characterised by
particularly high efficiency and opti-
mised thermal management. The motor
is available in two power levels, with 100
or 150kW of peak output, and delivers
up to 400Nm.
The electrically driven rear axle
makes cab chassis variants possible in
addition to the classic panel van. For the
customer, this brings advantages regard-
ing conversions and superstructures,
vehicle lengths (A2 and A3), maximum
gross vehicle weight (up to 4.25 tonnes)
and trailer loads (up to 2 tonnes).
High-voltage battery and charging
Customers can choose between three
different batteries for the new Mercedes-
Benz eSprinter, depending on their
individual range and payload require-
ments: a battery with a usable capacity of
56, 81 or 113 kilowatt hours. Lithium/iron
phosphate (LFP) cell chemistry allows the
battery variants to be kept free of cobalt
and nickel, while active thermal manage-
ment ensures maximum efficiency.
Like all Mercedes-Benz eVans, the
new eSprinter is capable of charging with
both alternating current (AC) and direct
current (DC). The on-board charger,
which converts the current in the vehicle
when charging with alternating current,
for example at a Wallbox, has a maxi-
mum output of 11 kilowatts. The new
eSprinter can be charged with up to 115
kilowatts at fast-charging stations.
For customers, fast charging means
charging from 10 to 80 percent of full
capacity takes around 28 minutes for the
56 kWh battery and around 42 minutes
for the 113 kWh battery.
Digitisation and infotainment
with MBUX and Mercedes me
The new eSprinter also impresses in
terms of digitisation and infotainment as
it comes with the innovative Mercedes-
Benz User Experience (MBUX) with the
latest software generation. Numerous
features and services make everyday
life with an electric vehicle easier
for customers. BFA
21

INDUSTRY NEWS
Truck drivers face an increasing number
of safety challenges on our busy urban
roads. Why is this and how is truck safety
in our growing cities being addressed?
There is no doubt that our cities
are growing at an exponential rate.
According to the UN, in 2018 55% of the
world’s population lived in urban areas,
a proportion that is expected to increase
to 68% by 2050. In many cities, road
infrastructure has not evolved at the
same pace, causing increased congestion
and difficult driving conditions for truck
drivers and the increasingly diverse mix
of road users all over the world.
Although little is currently known
about the impact of electric scooters on
traffic accidents, their recent prolif-
eration has added another dimension
to the rising number of pedestrians
and cyclists on the road. There is also
often a lack of awareness of truck blind
spots among these types of vulnerable
road users. Smartphones can be a
major distraction for all road users and
compound the situation. According
to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, distracted driving has
become a significant cause of vehicle
crashes in the US, with much of the
distraction on the roads attributed to
texting while driving. It is also common
to see pedestrians and even cyclists
moving around while listening to
music or using their phone, with lim-
ited awareness of their surroundings.
Studies show that almost one fifth (17%)
of all pedestrians crossing a road fail to
pay attention to the traffic because they
are using their smartphone.
The increase in e-commerce and
its impact on truck deliveries
The rise in e-commerce presents other
safety challenges for truck drivers. These
include the need to meet faster delivery
times and a lack of suitable parking to
be able to complete deliveries safely in
an increasing range of urban locations.
An annual survey conducted by the
American Transportation Research
Institute highlights how the e-commerce
boom has intensified the issue of urban
truck parking.
“Truck drivers in cities today face
tough driving conditions on a daily basis:
tight deadlines in many cases to get the
job done, challenging road infrastructure
to manoeuvre their vehicle safely, and
the need to remain alert to the many
risks of collisions on our congested city
roads,” says Anna Wrige Berling, Traffic
Product Safety Director, Volvo Trucks.
Truck safety in cities is getting
the recognition it deserves
With increased urbanisation and a more
diverse mix of road users jostling for
space, road safety has become high
on the agenda for many city policy
makers. The fact that young road users
are particularly at risk, according to the
World Health Organisation (WHO) the
leading cause of deaths worldwide for
5-29 year olds is road traffic accidents,
has also heightened the need for better
urban road safety.
One of the biggest issues for truck
drivers is visibility, particularly when
it comes to vulnerable road users. In
London, trucks are disproportionately
involved in fatal collisions with this
group. While trucks account for just four
percent of the overall miles driven in the
capital, between 2015 and 2017, heavy
goods vehicles were involved in 63 per-
cent of fatal collisions involving cyclists
and 25 percent involving pedestrians
Why today’s city traffic is more
challenging for truck drivers

23
(Transport for London). For this reason,
London now has a Direct Vision Standard
based on how much a driver can see
directly through their cab windows.
Trucks must meet the required standard
in order to enter the city centre.
For Europe, the EU’s General Safety
Regulation is also coming into force in
2024. Among other requirements, all
trucks in Europe must have active safety
technology to inform drivers if there is
a vulnerable road user in the risk area
at the front, side or rear of the vehicle.
Direct vision standard requirements will
follow in 2029. To meet the direct vision
standard, the cab design, applicable to
all markets, will change. Furthermore,
supplementary 360-degree camera sys-
tems that utilise four cameras on each
side of the truck to enable a complete
view of the areas around the vehicle,
are now cheaper and more accessible
in low-income nations. In higher income
countries, they already have a place on
many city trucks.
Towards zero and a more holistic
approach to urban road safety
The EU’s long-term goal is to reach zero
fatalities and serious injuries, known
as ‘Vision Zero’, on European roads
by 2050. The United Nations also has
an ambitious target to promote the
reduction of global road traffic fatalities
and injuries by 50% by 2030.
Matts-Åke Belin, WHO Global Lead
Decade of Action for Road Safety, says:
“The outcome of truck accidents, be-
cause of their weight and size, is almost
always severe. Truck safety is therefore
an important part of this global target.”
The WHO is also encouraging more
walking and cycling to reduce envi-
ronmental impact and increase health
benefits. To do this, Belin says that safety
must become more integrated into how
we design cities and organise mobility.
“In the past, safety was an ‘add-on’
requirement and accidents were usually
attributed to human error. Now we are
understanding that we must plan for
human error and take a more systemic
approach to road safety. Part of this is to
have a safety mindset when we design
roads and use the innovative technology
available to us to support truck drivers
and other road users.”
How trucks are changing
for safer urban driving
Today, seatbelts, automated transmis-
sions and, more recently, automated
emergency braking, lane keeping sup-
port and collision avoidance technology,
as well as blind spot cameras, enable a
safer urban truck driving experience. The
situation has improved. Over the past
few decades, statistics in the US and EU
show that fatal accidents involving heavy
vehicles have significantly decreased,
despite the fact that the total number of
trucks has increased. Very soon drivers
can also expect the next step, legislation
that ensures the latest advances in truck
active safety systems are enforced.
“It is very clear that truck driving
in our cities has become increasingly
challenging when it comes to safety.
But with Vision Zero at the top of the
agenda, truck drivers will start to see
more comprehensive, mandatory
safety support, not only via improved
direct and indirect visibility, but also via
intelligent warning systems that alert the
driver if there is a collision risk. However,
road safety is not just about legislation.
It is about a collaborative mindset where
authorities, road users and industry
players must work together to reduce
traffic fatalities and move towards zero,”
says Anna Wrige Berling. BFA

INDUSTRY NEWS
The average passenger car in South Africa emits 148 grams
of CO2
per kilometre, which is 18.9 times more than riding a
train. The X’trapolis Mega Train being produced at Gibela for
PRASA is made from 30% lighter steel than trains made of
carbon steel. Stainless steel translates to less energy con-
sumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions. In addition,
99% of the train components are recoverable.
“Alstom’s commitment to eco-design is centred on mini-
mising the environmental footprint of its solutions throughout
the lifecycle. This approach is already applied to more than
50% of Alstom products globally. The target is having 100% of
all new products by 2025,” says a spokesman for the compa-
ny. Alstom’s actions also extend to freight; they are contract-
ed to supply electric Traxx locomotives to Transnet. BFA
Volvo Construction Equipment launched an electric
retrofit programme for its 20-ton L120H wheel
loader. These vehicles are diesel-powered, but Volvo
developed an initiative with Parker Hannifin to replace
the diesel engine with a 240-kWh battery, about twice
the size of the largest EV batteries offered in sedans.
The result is near-silent operation, with a runtime
of five hours. Volvo CE says a recharge from 0%
to 100% takes two hours or less, with the loader
requiring minimal downtime. In 2022 the company
began testing the world’s first fuel-cell articulated
haulier prototype, the Volvo HX04. Charged with 12kg
of hydrogen in under eight minutes, the haulier can
operate for about four hours, with Shell having built a
state-of-the-art hydrogen refuelling station for Volvo
in Sweden. BFA
X’trapolis Mega Train for PRASA
Volvo Construction Electric Retrofit Programme
Nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NCM)
batteries aren’t the only lithium-ion
batteries used in electric vehicles.
Ford has revealed that it plans to offer
lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries
in some of its vehicles. The goal is to
provide a less expensive battery with a
lower energy density for shorter-range
models, but one with unique perfor-
mance characteristics such as a higher
tolerance for faster and more frequent
charging and a higher tolerance for
being fully charged.
These batteries can be charged to
100% far more frequently, which is
something that NCM batteries don’t
particularly like. LFP batteries also reduce
the automaker’s dependence on critical
minerals, lowering consumer costs and
reducing wait times for vehicle buyers. BFA
Ford is betting on LFP Batteries
Watch the video here

From phones to computing to power tools, cutting the cord has
been a mark of progress—and much in the same way, wireless
charging for EVs could be a game-changer. With Tesla finally
teasing a wireless inductive charging pad within the various
forward-looking statements made during March, consider it
game on.
Tesla provided no details about when and even if it might be
offering the tech to owners. With its promise of daily charging
without having to manage charge connectors morning and
night, there’s a very good reason the company has decided to
investigate it. The company fitted a Tesla Model 3 and Ford
Mustang Mach-E with wireless charging tech for demonstra-
tion purposes, and it’s the only company that supplies the
technology to a factory OEM application outside China with
the Genesis GV60 in its home market of South Korea. BFA
Until other solutions, such as electrification, become more viable biofuels
are the best and, in some cases, the only option available for substantially
reducing carbon emissions in the near term. According to the Pathways Study,
increasing the use of these renewable fuels is the fastest route to achieving the
highest carbon emissions reductions in the short term, but it will be expensive.
According to a comprehensive Market Research Future (MRFR) report, the
biofuels market will touch USD 2,18,217.9 Million at a 6.8% CAGR by 2030.
However, depending on the feedstock used, biodiesel is now between 70%
and 130% more expensive than fossil diesel on the wholesale market, accord-
ing to new research from Brussels-based NGO Transport Environment (TE).
The limited supply of biogas remains a challenge for the transport sector.
Until this is resolved, natural gas will continue to play an important role in the
sustainable transport system. BFA
Wireless EV charging?
Biofuels are between 70% and 130% more expensive
25
Researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and US Department
of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have developed a lithium-air bat-
tery that could make that dream a reality. The team’s new battery design
could also power domestic aeroplanes and long-haul trucks in the future.
The main new component in this lithium-air battery is a solid electro-
lyte instead of the usual liquid variety. Batteries with solid electrolytes are
not subject to the safety issue with the liquid electrolytes used in lithi-
um-ion and other battery types, which can overheat and catch fire. More
importantly, the team’s lithium-air solid electrolyte design can potentially
boost the battery’s energy density by as much as four times compared lith-
ium-ion batteries, meaning a longer driving range. The new battery design
could reach a record energy density of 1 200 watt-hours per kilogram,
which is nearly four times better than that of lithium-ion batteries. BFA
Lithium-Air batteries four
times better than Lithium-ion

Flexibility and agility are becoming
vital to servicing clients, says Bidvest
International Logistics experts Rhett
Oertel and Marcus Ellappan.
The logistics industry battled several
challenges in 2022, including the war
in Ukraine and turmoil over China’s
strict COVID-19 policies. Despite the
conflict in Eastern Europe, supply chains
returned to some degree of normality.
Many significant developments oc-
curred within the industry. The impact
of these will still be felt during 2023 and
beyond.
Trends to look out for
From a shipping perspective, acquisi-
tions by shipping lines last year changed
the landscape to some extent. The lines
were highly profitable between 2019
and 2022, and many used some of their
profits to enter various landside logistics
businesses – from warehousing to
transport and IT-related services.
Another major development during
2022 was the increased adoption of
technology and automation to drive
efficiencies and reduce costs. According
to Bidvest International Logistics (BIL)
Head of Sales Rhett Oertel, in 2023,
technology adoption will keep driving
supply chain companies toward automa-
tion while increasing visibility, improving
predictive analytics and ultimately
optimising supply chains. This shake-up
is expected to create new alliances as
we move forward, with old associates
becoming new competitors.
“The impact of blockchain, artificial
intelligence (AI) and electric vehicles
in the supply chain industry will be
ongoing. Blockchain is in use in trade
financing and contract execution and
is even moving towards AI use in the
supply chain where it could help with
forecasting,” says Oertel.
It is a view shared by Oertel’s col-
league and BIL Director Marcus Ellappan,
who says that with the logistics industry
under constant pressure to reduce
costs, businesses will increasingly look at
automating processes.
Environmental, Social, and
Governance (ESG) compliance
Another trend that emerged in 2022 and
should become even more prevalent
this year is Environmental, Social, and
Governance (ESG) compliance.
“ESG will remain for years to come
as companies focus on reducing
their carbon footprint and overall
environmental impact. This will entail
companies needing to be more involved
in the entire lifecycle of products and
packaging. The emphasis on ESG is at the
forefront of many discussions nowadays
as companies look to partner with
people who, like them, invest in green
technologies and initiatives,” says Oertel.
For South African businesses,
load-shedding and high fuel prices
remain a huge problem. As a result,
Ellappan expects to see them focusing
a lot more on efficient management of
fuel usage and renewable energies.
Burning fuel in generators
is not the way to go
The industry is keeping a watchful eye
on tensions between certain countries,
as in the event of these escalating, new
policies that impact trade could be intro-
duced. Trade agreements or changes in
tariffs, for example, will affect the flow
of goods and the cost of doing business.
“I do believe, as a company, one
needs to be aware of these devel-
opments and strategically apply the
required focus on the aspects that will
impact your market most effectively,”
says Oertel.
Flexibility and agility
“All in all, supply chain business models
seem to be changing, and the need for
flexibility and agility is becoming key to
servicing clients. E-Commerce is continu-
ally growing, leading to the demand
for faster, more flexible, and reliable
supply chains. Coming out of COVID-19,
together with various global supply
chain issues, businesses are forced to
become more efficient. The benefits of
digital transformation, risk management
and ESG will most certainly relate to
a business’s bottom line results and
sustainability,” agrees Ellappan. BFA
Logistics industry trends
reshaping supply chains
SUPPLY CHAIN AND LOGISTICS

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Comfort
Driver-orientated
Cockpit
4.9ℓ/100km
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and 2-year/30 000km service plan.

FUEL
In 2022, Li-ion battery production capacity in the APAC re-
gion accounted for 81.1% of the world’s output, with China,
Japan and South Korea as the primary producers. Industrial
policies encouraging the development of new energy
vehicles have boosted market demand. As Europe and
America scramble to implement policies and incentives,
APAC power battery enterprises regularly win long-term
orders from overseas automobile enterprises.
Chinese battery companies are increasing
their footprint in Europe
The planned battery capacity of Chinese battery manufac-
turing CATL, based in Europe is about 200 GWh. This is far
more than that of Japanese and Korean enterprises and
greater than local battery manufacturers in Europe.
Chinese battery cell manufacturer and Volkswagen
partner Gotion High-Tech announced plans to build battery
facilities with annual production targets of 6 and 12 GWh,
respectively.
Envision AESC is also planning a battery cell factory in Spain.
It will be operational in 2025 with a capacity of up to 50 GWh.
The company is also in the process of setting up a factory in the
UK, with an annual capacity of 12 GWh.
Chinese battery enterprises EVE Energy, SVOLT and CALB
have also announced plans for European operations.
China’s power battery enterprises are less enthusiastic
about building factories in the United States than Europe due to
the American version of the “Whitelist of Power Batteries”.
CATL has chosen a different way to enter the United States
market, cooperating with Ford on a new plant. While Japanese
and Korean manufacturers rapidly expand their capacity in
North America through joint ventures, Chinese manufacturers
are primarily focussing on Europe.
In 2022, LG Energy Solution announced plans to build
another three battery plants in the USA including two which are
joint ventures with Honda and Hyundai, respectively.
In addition to three plants announced through a joint ven-
ture with Ford, SK On revealed plans in 2022 to build a battery
plant in Georgia in conjunction with Hyundai.
In 2022, Samsung SDI announced plans to build two battery
plants in the US.
EV OEMs push further with self-built plants
Major automobile enterprises have released aggressive
roadmaps for electrification that will ensure long-term demand.
More car manufacturers hope to enter the battery production
process to secure their supply chain.
In 2021, Volkswagen announced they would build six
giga-factories in partnership models, with a total production
capacity of 240 GWh.
In 2022, GAC launched its battery subsidiary ‘Lvqing’ and
broke ground on a 36 GWh-capacity battery plant in China.
Joint ventures
In 2021, BlueOvalSK, the joint venture between Ford and
SKI, announced plans to establish three battery plants with a
combined capacity of 129 GWh per year.
Ultium Cells (a battery cell joint venture between General
Motors and LG Energy Solution, US-based) unveiled plans
in 2021 to build three battery plants with a total capacity of
160 GWh.
In 2022, joint venture factories were started between CATL
and Geely, REPT and SAIC, Farasis and Geely, Sunwoda and
Geely, and BYD and FAW.
Major battery manufacturers speed up IPOs
Power battery manufacturers have turned their attention
to the secondary market to accelerate the development
process of enterprises and cope with the pressures of tight
finances. Substantial funds will be required to build factories,
develop technology, or lay out the upstream and downstream
industrial chains. BFA
More data is available from Interact Analysis’s latest Li-ion
battery and Manufacturing Equipment Market
Li-ion battery manufacturing
market outlook

Hydrogen internal combustion engine
(H2 ICE) vehicles have become a hot
topic. By now, most suppliers and OEMs
have evaluated this space and, if they
have decided to participate, have a
strategy in place.
Hydrogen ICE has many possible
target markets. But none of these is go-
ing to see significant volumes this year.
According to Jamie Fox, Principal Analyst
at Interact Analysis, it remains unclear
what the best performing market will be.
A combustion engine like a petrol
or diesel, but burning hydrogen
Let’s consider what hydrogen engine
vehicles are. We are not talking about
most hydrogen vehicles produced today,
which use fuel cells, a completely differ-
ent technology. Instead, we are talking
about a combustion engine broadly
like a petrol or diesel engine, but which
burns hydrogen instead.
Advantages and disadvantages
Hydrogen fuel takes up space and is
heavy. According to Fox, the advantages
of hydrogen ICE include the ability
to use existing production facilities,
a reasonable up-front vehicle cost
and high power and energy density.
Disadvantages include high running
costs (at current hydrogen prices), the
need to refuel, infrastructure, and the
fact that the engines still produce small
quantities of NOX emissions.
Where will hydrogen engine
vehicles add value?
In off-road environments, it will often,
unlike on-road, not be necessary to
carry all the fuel for a day’s work, making
the vehicle design easier.
So where should makers of engines,
injectors, and other components focus?
In many applications it will be difficult to
compete with battery electric vehicles
(BEV), which are less expensive in terms
of the total cost of ownership. Given the
cost of hydrogen and the low efficiency
of engines, the total lifetime cost of
battery electric vehicles could be half
or a third of an H2 ICE vehicle in some
instances. For vehicles doing over 320km
daily, the running price of H2 ICE may be
too high. But if the vehicle does shorter
distances daily, H2 ICE vehicles are a
good option. Occasional longer distances
might be a problem for a BEV vehicle
too, so ICE could find a niche.
When you have machines for daily
use, such as tractors and excavators, the
batteries will be flat in three hours, but
15 hours of continuous work might be
required. In these types of situations,
hydrogen vehicles have a chance to get
into the game. Lower CAPEX and better
resistance to fuel impurities, dirt, and
dust in operation may make H2 ICE more
appealing for off-road applications.
Application and flexibility
Once you have designed an on-road
truck, you can sell the same truck to
different companies for various applica-
tions. With on-road vehicles, manufac-
turers must produce a new vehicle for
each application.
Forecast and conclusion
Interact Analysis forecasts higher
volumes for on-road than off-road
vehicles, but this is the median case.
The bear scenario for H2 ICE on-road
is worse than off-road. In a pessimistic
case, it’s plausible to imagine a world
with a high hydrogen price, battery
prices crashing as capacity builds up,
and no support from hydrogen regula-
tors. Then the number of H2 vehicles
on-road would be much lower than the
forecast in their report. However, H2
ICE would still, even then, be able to
compete in off-road niche areas where
diesel is being phased out and BEV can’t
get the job done. BFA
Hydrogen ICE vehicles –
on-road or off-road?
FUEL
29

FLEET MANAGEMENT
For any business in the transport industry,
be it a small delivery company or a
multinational logistics company, the safe-
keeping of drivers and cargo remains the
top priority. The key differentiator in the
way that vehicles are used, and whether
they are utilised safely, and efficiently, can
be directly contributed to the drivers. The
management of these drivers and assets
is of critical importance and is best done
by a bespoke fleet management system
such as those offered by Ctrack.
Ctrack has a 35-year track record of
fleet monitoring and management, and
the use of their technology is well-proven
in terms of incident reduction and cost
saving. Risk, cost control, fleet utilisation,
operations control and asset control are
integral to this ongoing research and
development culture. Ctrack believes in
complete life cycle asset management
by harvesting data that can provide
hindsight, insight and foresight.
Ctracks’s bespoke fleet manage-
ment systems feature well-developed
functionality that is easy to implement
and manage, both for fleet managers
and operators.
“Prevention is better than cure,
and Ctrack has the tools to ensure
tragedy avoidance thanks to innovative
technology. Ctrack’s well-developed
fleet management systems have the abil-
ity to control the how, when and where
and the functionality to answer the
why,” says Hein Jordt, Chief Executive
Officer of Ctrack Africa.
There are certain locations where
specific types of vehicles carrying
certain kinds of goods should not go.
With geo-fencing and route guidance,
fleet managers can prevent vehicles
from going into certain areas or, even
more specifically, from using specific
categories of roads. Vehicles can, for
example, be limited to highways only.
Enforcement of these geozones is done
via warning buzzers, limiting speed or
cutting engine power completely. Load
protection is possible thanks to precise
location monitoring of where vehicles
load and offload their cargo.
Customisable alerts of varying levels
of importance can be configured, and
real-time tracking ensures that fleet
managers are immediately notified of
critical alerts and can act accordingly
and assist drivers should they find them-
selves in a situation that falls outside of
defined parameters.
Geo zones also allow for easy man-
agement of speed, stop street violations,
and monitoring vehicles stopped in
unauthorised locations. The information
gained is passed on to drivers as part of
their regular training regime.
Driver training is key to ensuring safe
operation of vehicles and goods, and
Ctrack has a wide variety of hardware and
camera solutions to monitor how vehicles
are used. This ensures accurate driver
coaching and addressing of the common
driver shortcomings. In the event of an
incident, it is easy to determine exactly
what happened and how similar incidents
can be prevented in future.
Ctrack’s proprietary driver app offers
pre-programmed route guidance that
adapts to changing conditions and allows
drivers to track their driving behaviour,
improve where necessary and com-
pare against benchmarks to measure
performance.
Ensuring that only correctly trained
drivers with valid licensing for that class
of vehicle are behind the wheel can be
managed by RF IDs or access cards. This
system ensures that fleet managers
know exactly who is driving which vehi-
cle and when and compiles a digital re-
cord of all operations. Most importantly,
it ensures that only licensed drivers are
operating the class of vehicles for which
Prevention is better than cure

31
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA 31
they are licensed. The system also
eliminates one driver being allocated
to more than one vehicle at a time.
One of Ctrack’s big advantages
is its flexibility, and making many of
these bespoke solutions possible is
its proprietary SMILE technology,
with endless opportunities.
For example, 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 allow-
ing drivers and fleet managers to
activate mitigation actions swiftly.
In instances of gunfire, SMILE can
automatically lock safes, providing an
additional layer of protection without
the operator needing to do anything.
While Ctrack offers several
software solutions, including their
recently refined Crystal platform that
allows owners or fleet managers to
look after their own fleet manage-
ment, the Ctrack Bureau Service
allows customers to pair Ctrack’s
world-class tracking technology
with an expert fleet manager at a
minimal cost.
Ctrack’s Bureau Service is the
complete outsourcing of fleet control
room activities, backed by highly pro-
ficient hindsight, insight and foresight
data analytics and reporting.
Managing a large fleet in a
dynamic environment requires spe-
cialised fleet management expertise.
Ctrack’s Bureau service gives these
clients access to highly trained fleet
managers who monitor all data 24/7.
This allows them to proactively assist
in managing these sophisticated
operations and tailor solutions to
each specific operation as and when
the need arises.
“The use of Ctrack’s fleet man-
agement systems has been proven
to ensure control of all vehicle costs,
productivity, as well as improving
the way in which vehicles are used.
This ensures compliance, increases
productivity and reduces accidents,
all of which are critical to running a
successful fleet, especially when it
comes to transporting high-value or
hazardous goods,” says Jordt. BFA

NEWS
There seems to be no end to Suzuki Auto South Africa’s sales
momentum. South Africa’s leading manufacturer of compact
vehicles sold 4 309 vehicles in the short month of February, a
jump of 33% compared to the same month last year.
This follows a very successful January when Suzuki sold
35% more than in January 2022 with total sales of 4 362,
the strongest start yet for South Africa’s favourite maker of
compact cars.
Suzuki ended February with a 13.85% share of the passenger
vehicle market.
According to naamsa, the automotive business council, the
auto industry grew by 2.6% in January with total sales of 45 352
units, of this, 29 976 units were passenger vehicles.
Perhaps more interesting is the fact that several of the
best-selling passenger vehicles and models such as the Swift,
Baleno and Jimny are all manufactured by Suzuki.
In February, the Suzuki Swift found 1 367 new homes,
followed by the Suzuki Baleno (655 units) and Suzuki Jimny (129
units). The new generation Suzuki Celerio sold 127 units.
The naamsa sales report also noted that Suzuki’s dealer
network sold 3 401 units, a new dealer record and the sec-
ond-most vehicles through this channel in the industry.
This is a singular achievement if one considers that many of
the established brands have significantly larger dealer foot-
prints in South Africa.
“For Suzuki, our dealer sales have always been the barom-
eter of our success. Unlike fleet and government sales which
are often made in bulk, the dealer sales represent a decision
by an individual or family to spend their hard-earned money
on a Suzuki. It is a real vote of confidence in the brand and our
customer service.
“To be the second best-selling dealer channel with 90 deal-
ers in a market where some brands have over 100 or even 200
dealers means that customers have gone out of their way to
buy a Suzuki and Suzuki dealers have reciprocated by sourcing
the right model, assisting with finance and insurance and giving
a level of customer service that is rewarded by return visits and
good referrals,” says Henno Havenga, Manager of Dealer Sales
at Suzuki Auto.
The 92nd Suzuki dealer – Suzuki Mossel Bay – was opened
in February. Like every dealer in the Suzuki network, this
dealer was selected to be as close to customers as possible. It
ensures that with its current dealer network in place, virtually
every Suzuki customer is close to a service centre and to dealer
support.
With two very strong sales months to start the new year
and the strong performance by its dealer network, Suzuki has
firmed up its position as the third most popular vehicle manu-
facturer in South Africa. It has maintained this ranking through-
out 2022, which was a major milestone for the brand. BFA
New dealer record for Suzuki

33
Iveco, and Plus, a leading global provider
of highly automated driving and autono-
mous driving solutions have announced
that the companies are starting public
road testing of their jointly developed
next generation highly automated trucks
in Germany. As a part of the public
road testing, the companies will collect
road data to validate their autonomous
truck’s operations and start designing
the potential factory production. The
PlusDrive-enabled Iveco S-Way truck is
designed to improve safety, efficiency,
driver experience, and to provide a more
sustainable option for fleets.
“Germany is a leader and trendsetter
in autonomous driving, so we are excited
to launch our public testing program in
a country that has long embraced tech-
nology innovation and the life-changing
impact of safety solutions like
highly automated trucks. This
is an important phase in our
plans to bring highly automated
trucks to market,” said Marco
Liccardo, Chief Technology
Digital Officer, Iveco Group.
The public road testing
starts in Germany, and will
expand to Austria, Italy, and Switzerland
in the coming months. Each country’s
unique roadways and driving conditions
will expose the highly automated truck
to a broad range of terrains, road gra-
dients, weather conditions and driving
scenarios. This will help to continuously
expand the capabilities and features of
Plus’s autonomous driving technology.
“Real-world experience is an invalu-
able part of the testing and validation
of our technology as we prepare our
autonomous driving product for com-
mercial deployment in Europe. Given
that Germany alone faces a shortage of
60 000 truck drivers, our highly automat-
ed driving solution, PlusDrive, will help
improve road safety, sustainability, and
driver recruitment and retention issues
confronting fleets in the region,” said
Shawn Kerrigan, COO and Co-founder
at Plus. BFA
Iveco and Plus start public road
testing of highly automated truck
DP World and the Government of
Somaliland recently inaugurated the
new Berbera Economic Zone (BEZ),
which along with the Port of Berbera, is
transforming the area into a major trade
hub in the Horn of Africa.
The first phase of the BEZ was official-
ly opened by His Excellency Muse Bihi
Abdi, President of Somaliland, and Sultan
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman
and CEO of DP World, at a special event
attended by several hundred guests.
The opening followed the inaugu-
ration of the new container terminal at
Berbera Port in June 2021. DP World’s
vision for Berbera is to develop it into a
trade hub, taking advantage of its stra-
tegic location along one of the busiest
sea routes in the world and access to the
vast hinterland in the region, including
Ethiopia.
The BEZ is located just 15 km from
the port along the Berbera to Wajaale
road (Berbera Corridor) that connects
to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, which needs
multiple sea gateways to meet its trade
requirements.
This integrated maritime, logistics
and industrial hub will serve the Horn of
Africa, a dynamic region with a popula-
tion of more than 140 million people.
It is based on the highly successful
model of DP World’s Jebel Ali Free
Zone (Jafza) in Dubai. There will also
be synergies between the two zones,
where companies in Dubai can register
for Berbera through the Jafza one-stop
shop, while companies in Berbera can
access Jafza’s incubation centre facilities.
The zone is designed to create
a business-friendly environment to
attract investment and create jobs for
Somaliland. It includes a competitive
and conducive environment, enabled
by a new Special Economic Zone Law,
Special Economic Zone Companies Law,
fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, along
with a one-stop shop for all registration
and licensing requirements, modern
offices, warehousing and serviced
land plots.
DP World has already signed an
agreement with IFFCO, a major UAE-
based food company, to develop a
300 000 square feet edible oil packing
plant in the BEZ and a dozen more com-
panies operating across various sectors
have already registered. BFA
DP World and Somaliland Government
open Berbera Economic Zone
NEWS

JAC Motors has announced the addition
of the new X100 one-tonne
bakkie to its local X-Series
forward-cab range. The
new workhorse in JAC
Motors’ stable will join
its reliable siblings,
OTRACO Southern Africa, a leader in
off-the-road (OTR) tyre management
solutions and a subsidiary of Bridgestone
Southern Africa, has been accredited a
B-BBEE Level 1 supplier.
André Bode, OTRACO’s Managing
Director, says that the accreditation is an
important milestone in further enhancing
the company’s ability to deliver specialist
tyre management solutions to the mining
and construction industries.
“We have always regarded transfor-
mation, and thus B-BBEE, as a business
imperative because they will drive South
Africa’s future economic growth—a view
that is fully aligned with Bridgestone’s,”
he says. “Our clients in the mining and
other heavy industries are also them-
selves on a transformation journey, and
their suppliers need to be in lockstep
with them.”
Bode says that achieving the
accreditation required a significant
effort from his team. The accreditation
was achieved on the back of a broad and
comprehensive empowerment approach
that includes ownership, management
control, employment equity, skills
development, preferential procurement
and talent acquisition practices. The
company also addresses socio-economic
development in host communities via
its corporate social investment (CSR)
initiatives.
“Mining remains one of the founda-
tional industries in South Africa, with the
green energy transition going to require
huge quantities of minerals. As the tyre
and mobility solutions provider of choice
for the South African mining industry,
OTRACO is committed to supporting the
industry holistically. Our B-BBEE Level 1
accreditation is an important element of
our alignment with mining’s transforma-
tion journey; it’s also an investment in
our future,” concluded Bode. BFA
OTRACO gains Level 1 B-BBEE to strengthen
its partnership with the mining industry
Managing Director of OTRACO, André Bode
Like the popular X200, the new X100
outperforms its direct forward-cab
competitor in the performance cat-
egory and boasts a payload of 1 040
kg. The fuel-efficient Euro 4, 1 240 cc
four-cylinder petrol engine produces a
class-leading 65kW and 115Nm and JAC
claims excellent fuel consumption of 7.1
litres per 100km. A five-speed manual
transmission transfers power to the
rear wheels.
The X100’s retail price will be
announced closer to its planned intro-
duction date in the second quarter of
this year. It will be available in drop side
configuration and offers power-steering,
air-conditioning and electric windows
as standard fitment. Pricing will include
a three-year/100 000 km warranty and
24-hour roadside assistance. BFA
JAC Motors introduces budget‑friendly
X100 to local X-Series line up
the X200 2.8L TDI single-cab 1.5-tonne
and double-cab 1.3-tonne bakkies,
competing with one-tonne
rivals in the growing
LCV forward-cab
market.
NEWS

35
Goodyear has announced a new partnership with Exclusive Wheel and Tyre
Distributors (Exclusive Tyres) which will see the two companies working togeth-
er on the new go-to-market strategy for Goodyear’s Truck tyre business.
“Goodyear is an active partner to South Africa’s automotive industry, and we
continue to grow our capability and commitment to the country. The decision
to partner with Exclusive Wheel and Tyre Distributors on this new go-to-market
strategy for our Truck business forms part of our drive to enhance service and ef-
ficiency to customers and underlines our commitment to the sustainable growth
of the industry “, says Goodyear South Africa Managing Director, Richard Fourie.
Benefits for customers include improved stock levels and a wider availability
of tyre sizes within the country. BFA
Enviro Automotive, the importer and
distributor of DFSK’s battery-electric ve-
hicles, have announced local production
plans to reduce its products’ acquisition
cost and make transport operators’ in-
vestments in commercial electric vehicles
(CEVs) more affordable and sustainable.
After extensive research into the CEV
market, Enviro Automotive was set up to
import affordable electric vehicles and
to make transport operators’ invest-
ments in electric vehicles a sustainable
long-term solution. One of the first
business scenarios Enviro Automotive
investigated was to determine the feasi-
bility of a local assembly programme to
create additional value for its customers.
“We have years of experience in
the renewable energy market, which
influenced our decision to start our
local assembly programme with the
production of battery packs for elec-
tric vehicles. This will reduce the
acquisition cost of our vehicles
and strengthen our competitive
position in the fast-growing
local electric vehicle market,”
says Gawie Brink, Technical
Director of Enviro Automotive
and founder of Solar Europe.
Brink explains that Solar
Europe has been operating
in South Africa since 2019 and has
learnt valuable lessons in the renewable
energy market. “Our investigation into
renewable energy and on how to save on
delivery costs led us to conduct research
into battery-electric light- and heavy com-
mercial vehicles, which saw the formation
of Enviro Automotive and the signing of
distribution agreements with Chinese
manufacturers DFSK and Dayun.”
Enviro Automotive’s first DFSK test
units, customised for harsh African
conditions, arrived in the country in
June 2022. Since then, they have been
on trial at various transport operations
to collate data about
the vehicles’ performance in the local
delivery environment.
“The decision to start our local
assembly programme with battery packs
originates from our expert knowledge
and the high-tech equipment available
at Solar Europe. We have fully equipped
workshops and production lines that will
now be shared with Enviro Automotive.
We also have technicians trained in
mechanics and electronics, an excellent
skillset in the growing electric vehicle
market,” says Brink.
Brink clarifies that the production
of battery packs will not only be for
their vehicles, but they will also assist
other vehicle manufacturers
offering EV products
locally to supply and
maintain their battery
packs. “We predict phe-
nomenal growth in the
CEV market in the near
future, which will bring
several new opportuni-
ties such as infrastruc-
ture development, job
creation and community
upliftment as more players
compete for market share
in the green mobility
space,” adds Brink. BFA
Local assembly plans for Enviro Automotive’s
electric panel van and bakkie
Goodyear partners with Exclusive
Wheel and Tyre Distributors

ROAD SIGNS
IN THE HEADLIGHTS
The BMW 3 Series has been treated to a design refresh, an
extensively modernised premium ambience as well as updated
digitalisation to ensure that it remains relevant in the ever
shrinking sedan segment.
Modern design
Targeted updates to the front and rear-end design give the 3
Series sedan an even sportier look. With clearly structured
surfaces, dynamic lines and large air intakes, the front apron
and redesigned headlights and kidney grille contribute to the
strong visual presence. The standard full-LED headlights are
now much slimmer, with clear contours and daytime driving
lights arranged in an inverted L shape that create a modern
look. Adaptive LED headlights are available as an option.
At the rear a higher proportion of surfaces painted in
body colour and a clean cut design give the rear apron a
sophisticated look. Horizontal lines, slim lights and flared
wheel arches accentuate the width and muscular stance.
The sporty characteristics are visually
further emphasised by the M High-gloss
Shadowline trim which is now standard
fitment as are 17-inch alloy wheels.
Standard on certain models such as
the 330i, is the M Sport package which
adds new design features such as a
honeycomb pattern for the BMW kidney
grille, a new design for the front and rear
aprons and 18-inch M light-alloy wheels.
Newly designed cockpit
The interior has been treated to a com-
prehensive update which includes the
standard-fit BMW Curved Display. This
comprises a 12.3-inch information display behind the steering
wheel and a 14.9-inch control display that merge into a single
fully digital and high-resolution unit.
The selector lever for the eight-speed Steptronic trans-
mission features a new design and is positioned in the centre
console alongside buttons controlling other functions such as
iDrive and the Stop/Start system.
A three-zone climate control system is fitted as standard and
can be controlled via voice command or touch. All models now
come standard with BMW Live Cockpit Plus which includes the
BMW Maps navigation system.
BMW iDrive with BMW Operating System 8 offers powerful
connectivity and data processing capabilities as well as intuitive
interaction between the driver and vehicle.
The My BMW App acts as a universal digital interface
between the driver and vehicle, while inside passengers can
utilise the personal eSim, the BMW ID for individualising the
user experience and further improved smartphone integration
via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Under the bonnet
The BMW 3 Series is available with a variety of powerplants
including one diesel and four petrol engines with four or six-cyl-
inders. All engines are paired with the eight-speed Steptronic
transmission as standard.
Large variety of driver assistance systems
A wide variety of driver assistance systems includes front
collision warning with brake intervention, cruise control,
speed limit display, manual speed limit assist, lane departure
warning. BFA
At a glance:
Q
Q The BMW 3 Series has been
treated to sporty exterior
enhancements.
Q
Q The interior now features the
latest BMW Curved Display.
Q
Q Pricing starts at R767 894.
BMW thoroughly
modernises 3 Series
Model range and pricing
BMW 318i Sport Line��R767 894
BMW 320i Sportline��R832 894
BMW 320d Sportline��R880 313
BMW 318i M Sport package��R817 894
BMW 320i M Sport package�� R882 894
BMW 320d M Sport package��R930 313
BMW 330i M Sport��R953 197
BMW M340i XDrive M Performance�� R1 338 206
BMW M340i XDrive M Sport package Pro �� R1 353 206

Business Fleet Africa March 2023.pdf

Business Fleet Africa March 2023.pdf

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