Hyundai Automotive South Africa (HASA) is evaluating the viability of introducing the heavy-duty Hyundai Xcient truck range onto the South African market, says HASA commercial vehicles director Wade Griffin. The market study should be completed towards the end of the year, he adds.  “The rand : dollar exchange rate is not favorable at the moment.” Griffin says the right-hand-drive version of the Xcient is.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th October 2014

Emirates, the world’s largest carrier by international traffic, says it would expand its operation in Africa by more than 40 percent in the next decade. This is in line with the airline’s 10 years growth plan which includes investment expansion as well as the provision of critical links to emerging markets globally. Dubai, Emirates base, serve as the fastest route from Africa to Asia – a major trade partner with sub-Sahara.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th October 2014

Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited has started phased delivery of low priced made-in-Nigeria cars assembled at the company's plant in Lagos to its provisional dealers nationwideThis is coming barely three months after Stallion Group owners of the multivehicle plant roll-out made-in-Nigeria Nissan range of vehicles in April.The Chairman of Stallion Group, Mr. Sunil Vaswani who broke the news recently said the new vehicles "will be affordably.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 9th October 2014

Matchedje Motor, a sole national automotive company that on Thursday last week launched campaign to sell its first 100 all-terrain vehicles priced at US$19,600, is planning a second-phase expansion of its vehicle manufacturing factory to produce 100,000 vehicles annually.   The company, which is currently producing all-terrain vans, buses and electric scooters produced locally on Mozambique soil, has the first phase of the factory already.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th October 2014

According to the automaker’s president for MEA, Mr Jim Benintende, the region presents the final frontier for global growth in the auto industry. He added that the company is committed to offering products that will resonate with the expanded customer base. “Ford is bringing a full family of safe, high-quality, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars, trucks and SUVs to customers throughout the Middle East and Africa. [We are] putting.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 6th October 2014

China’s top auto dealer and a listed member of Fortune 500 Company, Geely holding Group has indicated an interest in penetrating the Tanzanian automobile market with the overall intention of deepening its African footprint. “Africa is the best market that our company have interest in introducing our ranges of cars,” said Ash Sutcliffe, Geely’s Global Public Relations officer. The Chinese company – which started as.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th October 2014

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