Kenya's removal of excise duty on locally assembled cars will boost the industry, but the government must make power supplies cheaper and address other concerns to draw more investment, the automobile industry association chief said on Thursday.   With little growth in mature markets, automakers are looking to tap into emerging African markets, but there is plenty of competition on the continent for where they might.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 3rd October 2016

 Japanese conglomerate Toyota Tsusho Corporation is eyeing more big-ticket contracts in Kenya after signing a support deal with the government.   The Nagoya-based company, a unit of the Toyota Motor Corporation, says it is ready to undertake several projects in diverse sectors of the economy including mining and power generation.   This will significantly expand its business in Kenya from the mainstay motor dealership which it.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 3rd October 2016

 Passenger vehicles market leader Maruti Suzuki India has clocked cumulative exports of 15 lakh (1.5 million) vehicles. These vehicles have been exported to over 100 countries including Europe, Latin America and Africa, the company said in a statement. Early this year, the company's premium hatchback Baleno, manufactured exclusively in India, became the first car to be exported from India to Japan.   The company started exports to.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 1st October 2016

 Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies, who is attending Monday’s Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) forum in Washington DC, made the most of an opportunity at a business breakfast on Sunday to encourage an investment by South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk in the country of his birth. The DTI said Davies, who was meeting with investors at the breakfast, had urged Musk’s company, Tesla, to work with his.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th September 2016

 Japanese carmaker Nissan has become the first manufacturer in South Africa to offer wheelchair friendly vehicles to taxi fleets. This move comes in order to meet safe and reliable means of transport for differently abled people. Nissan has used the NV350 Impendulo, converting the vehicle to a spacious carrier. The vehicle has hydraulic lifts, rear facing seats, and aluminium flooring, which grip wheelchairs better. Converted Impendulos are.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 26th September 2016

 The Ministry of Industry said that though the metal and engineering industry is at infant stage, it is playing crucial role in building the country's economy and advancing the technological capability of the nation.   Speaking at the signing of automotive assembly partnership agreement between the local Belay Ab Motors Plc. and the Korean Car Manufacturing Company KIA Motors Corporation yesterday, State Minister Dr. Alemu Sime said.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 24th September 2016

 Auto maker Car & General (C&G) is set enter a joint distributorship venture with Netherlands-based Cummins BV whose diesel engines and generators it has been selling alone in the region for years.   The partnership will consolidate the sales, service and support of Cummins products in East Africa, the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firm said in a statement.   The products include diesel engines, turbochargers,.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

 The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has said that it has started reviewing the country’s automotive policy with the stakeholders in the auto industry in order to eliminate the hindrances currently bedeviling the sector. The director, Policy and Planning, Mr Luqman Mamuda, who disclosed this, noted that when the policy was made in 2014, many companies welcomed it because of the tariff differentials between.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

 Suzuki Auto South Africa has introduced an automatic option for the Suzuki Vitara SUV. It is based on the 2WD GL+ variant and priced at ZAR 313,900. This is the second variant in the Vitara range to offer an AT option, which was previously exclusive to the top-end GLX.   The Vitara is powered by a 1.6L four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 120 hp and 156 Nm of torque. It is paired with a 6-speed automatic gearbox (torque.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

 London — Upswing of automotive production in North America and Europe enhances growth opportunities for coatings, finds Frost & Sullivan's Visionary Science team   Automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are concerned about the rising energy consumption at their paint shops and the resultant increase in carbon emissions. These environmental issues and OEMs' desire to accelerate production cycle times have.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st September 2016

 A philanthropist asked a racecar designer to make an all-terrain vehicle suitable for humanitarian missions in Africa. The result was the Ox, “the world’s first flatpack truck” — meaning it can be packed up into a flat box and shipped like Ikea furniture.   The truck is absurdly simple to assemble: its designers claim that three people can break it down into 60 parts in just 12 hours. (Apparently no one.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 20th September 2016

 Denel Vehicle Systems has developed a 6x6 truck based on its RG31 series of mine-resistant ambushed protected (MRAP) vehicles.   The 'Africa Truck', which has a gross vehicle weight of 28 tonnes and an empty weight of 12 tonnes, has been designed to be as modular as possible and can accommodate a range of superstructures or a hook lift system. It is also designed to be as simple as possible with a focus on maintenance in the field.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 17th September 2016