DURBAN, South Africa—Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (Pty) Ltd. has launched about a $101 million investment plan, mainly to bolster its original equipment tire supply capabilities in the region.   Focused on the company’s South Africa manufacturing plant in Ladysmith, the plan includes initiating local production of the Sumitomo Tires' brand, range extensions and quality enhancements to the Dunlop brand.   The investment.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 25th October 2014

Mobius Motors is preparing to launch its first production vehicle in Kenya known as the Mobius II, a vehicle designed for the rugged roads of Africa. The automaker is funding the initiative after raising financing from Richard Parsons and Ronald Lauder's Pan-African Investment Company (PIC). The investment will help Mobius complete its first production run of 50 Mobius II vehicles, and has scheduled production of the Mobius III for.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 17th October 2014

Kenya: Franchise managers have moved the race for a share of Kenya’s luxury car market a notch higher with increased investment and marketing. The franchise holders for Porshe — Multiple Group, which comprises Multiple Hauliers and RT East Africa — stoked the latest round of activity in the industry when they opened a showroom for the German automaker along Mombasa Road in Nairobi. Not willing to be left behind, DT Dobie, the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 17th October 2014

Imperial Holdings is expanding its motor vehicle business into Africa as part of a strategy to reduce the impact of volatility of the rand and cyclicality of the South African new vehicle market on the financial performance of the listed transport and mobility group. Manny de Canha, the chief executive of the Associated Motor Holdings (AMH) subsidiary, confirmed it had plans to replicate its vehicle business in Africa and had already started.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 17th October 2014

 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