This Week In The News

NEWS IN SHORT

DA wants import duties on electric cars scrapped:
EV import taxes should be scrapped, the Democratic Alliance said in a newly published economic policy document.
These are the five cars that were replaced or discontinued in South Africa in the last three months.
1) Honda WR-V
2) Kia Rio
3) Mazda BT-50
4) Nissan NP200
5) Suzuki Vitara
Warning over imported tires in South Africa South Africans have been warned about the use of cheap imported tires, which may not provide the same level of safety and after-sale support as local ones. More than 50% of the tires in local circulation are now foreign-made, usually from China, and this figure is expected to reach 70% in the next five years.
The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), in partnership with Germany’s Chamber of Crafts Erfurt, is nearing the end of a 12-month project that aims to drive vocational training in the automotive aftermarket with a focus on Alternative Energy Vehicles (AEVs), including hybrid (HEV) and fully-electric (EV) autos. This initiative is viewed as an essential step toward preparing technicians and professionals for the future of transportation in South Africa. The landmark project is scheduled to conclude in June 2024 and provide the RMI with invaluable insights into the specific training needs to bolster AEV support in South Africa, as well as the common fundamental interfaces in this area.

While new vehicle sales dipped by 12.2% at the close of Q1 this year, according to naamsa, the SUV was the best-selling Light Vehicle body shape in that same period with 36 400 units sold across Dealer and Rental channels. Similarly, Hybrid and Electric Passenger vehicles saw an 82% sales jump compared to the same period last year.

From 1 May 2024, R6.40 per litre goes towards some form of tax or levy when buying petrol – making up around 25.1% of the retail price. Filling a 50-litre tank with 95 octane fuel in May will cost R1,274.50— or R1,257.50 for 93 octane. This means you will pay an average of R320 in taxes every time you fill
up in South Africa.

China is flooding the market with cars that are just stacking up at ports.

Chinese auto imports and EVs are a hot topic both in the U.S. and abroad, as the idea of cheap imports by Chinese automakers competing with western brands has experts and lawmakers worried to the core.

According to a report by the Financial Times, auto imports are piling up at European ports, with some officials going as far as calling them "car parks," as automakers and distributers navigate a slowdown of sales and a bottleneck in Chinese automakers' supply chains.

Executives representing the ports have blamed Chinese automakers for clogging the ports, as they send cars to destinations without ordering further transportation. According to executives representing the Port of AntwerpBruges, the busiest port for car imports for all of Europe, cars arrive at the port with nowhere to go.

“Car distributors are increasingly using the port’s car parks as a depot. Instead of stocking the cars at the dealers, they are collected at the car terminal,” executives representing the Port of Antwerp-Bruges told the Financial Times.

According to supply chain experts and car industry executives on the ground, Chinese automakers aren't selling their wares fast enough, with some cars spending up to 18 months before finding a buyer or being transported elsewhere.

The situation at the ports comes as automakers in China such as BYD (BYDDY) , XPeng (XPEV) , and the state-owned SAIC increase their exports to Europe as part of an effort to keep their factories running and to capitalize on demand for low-cost EV in the region.

The number of cars exported by Chinese manufacturers into Europe is 58% higher when compared to the same time in 2023, with most of the units making their way onto shores in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands.

James Ochoa Financial Times Apr., 2024 4:13 PM EDT

APRIL 2024 SALES DATA USED CARS.

The 5 Best Used Car Sellers

TOYOTA
FORD
VOLKSWAGEN
BMW
HYUNDAI

Top 10 Derivatives Used Car Sales

1.	VOLKSWAGEN	POLO VIVO 1.4 TRENDLINE (5DR)
2.	VOLKSWAGEN	POLO VIVO 1.4 COMFORTLINE (5DR)
3.	NISSAN NP200	1.6 A/C SAFETY PACK P/U S/C
4.	CHERY TIGGO	4 PRO 1.5T ELITE CVT
5.	CHERY TIGGO	4 PRO 1.5 LIT
6.	CHERY TIGGO	7 PRO 1.5T DISTINCTION CVT
7.	RENAULT	TRIBER 1.0 DYNAMIQUE / ZEN
8.	SUZUKI	ERTIGA 1.5 GA
9.	FORD	RANGER 2.2TDCI XL P/U D/C
10.	CHERY	TIGGO 4 PRO 1.5 LIT CVT