JOHANNESBURG - The global automotive industry produced more than 91-million vehicles in 2015, 1.1% up from 2014.   Of that number, Africa accounted for 960,527 units, with SA producing the bulk of these at 615,658.   In 2016, Ford announced a R2.4bn investment in SA to build its Everest sports utility vehicle (SUV). BMW is spending R6bn to switch production at Rosslyn from the 3 Series to the X3 in 2018. Chinese car maker.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 25th August 2016

 An ordinary bus-turned computer lab is boosting digital literacy among thousands of youths in Nairobi’s slums.   Inside the bus used by Craft Silicon Foundation as a classroom for computer classes in Kawangware, Nairobi. The vehicle had its interior customised, its seats removed and replaced with 64 chairs and 32 reading tables. Each table has a computer desktop, modifications that have turned the ordinary bus into a typical.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 25th August 2016

The Coega Development Corporation signs a historic R11 billion investment with the Beijing Automobile International Corporation (BAIC), the biggest automotive investment in Africa in the last 40 years   The Coega Development Corporation (CDC), operator of the 11 500 hectares of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), has successfully concluded a deal with BAIC of R11 billion for a completely knocked down (CKD) automotive.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 24th August 2016

Indian automakers are slowly tightening their grip on new car exports to Africa as they square off with China, Korea and Japan for opportunities in the continent. Multinationals from emerging economies are hungry to go global, and in the past decade have been racing to the continent to fuel their growth. While Africa still sources the bulk of its new vehicles from traditional markets in Europe and America, India has been making pronounced.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 24th August 2016

 In the abundance of natural gas deposits in Tanzania, the public is advised to convert their petrol or diesel-fueled vehicles to natural gas so as to save cost and reduce carbon emissions.   With an initial investment of 65 million dollars, the Tanzanian government implemented a project targeting to supply 30,000 households with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for cooking by 2015 and power 8,000 cars in Dar es Salaam. The project is.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 23rd August 2016

Dodoma — The government plans to put new tyre plant that deploys modern technology in order to meet the present market demands and standards.   Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Adelhem Meru, briefed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Dodoma yesterday that the new factory will not replace General Tyre East Africa Limited (GTEA).   He said there are no plans to revamp the General Tyre.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 18th August 2016

Porsche Panamera has set an all-new distance record for diesel-powered vehicles in South Africa, while Volkswagen’s new Passat has set a distance benchmark for petrol-powered vehicles.   With the backing of Continental Tyre, Porsche South Africa, Volkswagen South Africa, Total and Car Magazine, the objective of the two teams of economy aces was to beat the existing South African one-tank record of 1 941 km, set in 2011 with a.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 11th August 2016

Dar es Salaam — Tanzania has secured a $110-million soft loan from Poland to establish a tractor assembling factory that will enhance the agriculture sector, the government has confirmed.   The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Adelhem Meru, said the factory, which is expected to be constructed in Kibaha, would take-off before the next financial year.   "The construction will start.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 23rd July 2016

Tanzania rolled out a red carpet to India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi who arrived in Dar es Salaam on Saturday night in his five-day, four-nation tour of Africa to drum up business between India and African countries.   The visit by the Indian leader is expected to provide a massive boost to Tanzania's industrialization strategy as the two countries agreed to deepen diplomatic and economic ties in agriculture, food security, trade,.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 14th July 2016

Buses to ply in the next phases of the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (BRT) project will have their engines run using natural gas to save operational costs, the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has revealed.   "Plans were to use natural gas for buses currently operating in the first phase of the BRT but this was not possible due to some technicalities," a TPDC official, Mr Ismail Naleja, explained at the ongoing.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th July 2016

East African countries are closer to an agreement that could boost motorcycle assembly in the region.   The EAC Secretariat has appointed a team of experts from each member state to develop a proposal that will promote value addition and motorcycle assembly in the region.   The experts will identify imported motorbike parts that can be excluded from taxation in order to lower the cost of production and encourage industrialisation.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th July 2016

Kia Motors will build training centres for mechanics in Ethiopia and Kenya in a bid to contribute to their economies by providing education for young people.   According to Korea Times, a Kia Motors official said Sunday that the company held a groundbreaking ceremony for the center in Ethiopia on Friday and another in Kenya on Saturday.   Chung Jin-haeng, President of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, participated in the ceremony held.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 1st June 2016