NAIROBI, Kenya (Bloomberg) -- Porsche has opened a franchise in Kenya as it seeks to take advantage of the expanding economy in the region. Porsche is returning to the market after seven years, Steffen Fleck, network development director for Porsche Middle East and Africa, told reporters in the capital, Nairobi. The automaker did an "analysis and, based on Kenya's strong micro-finance indices, which indicate the economy will register a 5.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 2nd October 2014

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has bestowed a Category 1 rating on the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) following several months of examinations. A category 1 rating suggests effective operational organization, flight safety and air space licensing; all of which are areas that the ECAA has excelled in. State Minister of Transport, Getachew Mengiste, revealed that this endorsement will allow Ethiopian Airlines to fly.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 1st October 2014

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles has launched direct flights to Antananarivo, Madagascar, to add to South Africa, Tanzania and Mauritius, where it currently operate flights to. “We are thrilled to add Antananarivo to our global network, further cementing our position as the airline of choice in the Indian Ocean region,” said Manoj Papa, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer. The.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 1st October 2014

The first of 41 trams being built for the two-line network under construction in Addis Abeba was unveiled at CNR Changchun’s plant in China on August 26. The trams were ordered in March 2014 and are scheduled to be delivered by January, being shipped via Tianjin and Djibouti with a journey time of about 50 days. CNR said the arrival of the first Chinese-built trams in Africa would act as demonstrator for Chinese technology, opening the.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 1st October 2014

State owned TAAG Angola Airlines has partnered Lufthansa in a bid to increase flights between Germany’s Frankfurt and Angola’s Luanda. “Lufthansa would add one more flight a week with an Airbus A340-300, which represents a 50 percent increase in capacity on flights between the two cities(Frankfurt and Luanda) ,”said chairman of Lufthansa Karl Ulrich Garnadt. “We want to strengthen this partnership so we can offer.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 1st October 2014

 VENTURES AFRICA – The fruits of Nigeria’s Automotive policy continues to grow as the country’s National Automotive Council (NAC) on the implementation revealed that 21 Auto companies have signed commitments with technical partners to set up local assembly operations.   The report gave the product lines as; Five Cars and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), six mini-buses, four buses, four pickup trucks, and eight.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 8th September 2014

VENTURES AFRICA – South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company, through its subsidiary, Hyundai Automotive South Africa has opened a new plant in Benoni, Guateng, as it looks to consolidate its position in a very competitive industry.   The automobile company is competing with the likes of General Motors and Toyota for a share of the country’s automobile market whose exports rose 8.2 percent to R102.7 billion ($9.5 billion) in.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 8th September 2014

German automotive firm Bosch on Thursday announced it has entered the East African market.   The firm's MD of Southern Africa Steffen Hoffman told journalists in Nairobi that it will invest over 250,000 Euros in their business venture in Kenya.   "We want to tap into the motor industry that has been growing rapidly in the past decade as a result of the growing middle class, " Hoffman said during the.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 6th September 2014

SOUTH Korean car manufacturer Hyundai is preparing to build vehicles in South Africa.   The Seoul-based company’s local representative has confirmed it will assemble light delivery vehicles in Gauteng from next year and may manufacture cars in South Africa at a later stage.   Despite not officially releasing sales figures, Hyundai is generally considered a strong third in the South African new-car market, behind Volkswagen.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 6th September 2014

Petroleum products refining company Engen announced in July that it had launched its Gengear XEP-series indus- trial gearbox oils for high performance under pressure applications onto the local market. After the recent introduction of the energy-saving hydraulic fluid Hydrokin ESF-series at customer events in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Johannesburg, Gengear XEP customer introductions will be part of a second series of roadshows in.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 6th September 2014

Increasing local demand for diesel vehicles is pushing development of diesel fuels to become more environment friendly while increasing engine power, reports petroleum industry company BP. South African diesel-vehicle drivers will be able to benefit from BP’s latest-generation diesel fuel, which was showcased in February at Johannesburg-based vehicle test track facility Gerotek.   Speaking at the briefing, BP global head of diesel.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 6th September 2014

Industrial products importer JSE-listed Hudaco has inked a deal to acquire automotive components distributor Partquip for R550-million, complementing the group’s existing automotive after-market businesses, which distribute clutches, seals and automotive bearings. “Partquip is an ideal fit for Hudaco in that its main business is the distribution of branded products, an area of core competency for Hudaco,” the group said in a.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 6th September 2014