New Ford Ranger Super Duty coming to South Africa, and Chery’s new car brand sets an ambitious target

The official fuel price adjustments for August 2026 are being implemented today, with petrol experiencing a small reduction while diesel is being hit with a considerable hike.

Both grades of petrol are receiving a small cut of 52c per litre, while diesel 0.05% and diesel 0.005% are going up by R1.38 and R1.23 per litre, respectively.

The price of Brent Crude oil has dropped to $79 per barrel on market optimism that the United States and Iran will reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, potentially freeing up Persian Gulf supplies.

Qatar said yesterday that an interim proposal had been drafted, and both Washington and Tehran signalled progress in talks to reopen the waterway, reported Bloomberg.

US President Donald Trump told reporters in Los Angeles that “negotiations were good,” talks were “moving along very nicely”, and more would be known within 48 hours.

The rand is currently trading at R16.35 to the US dollar, supported by the decline in oil prices, while global markets await key US labour data for clues on its Federal Reserve Policy.

A tyre burst on a Kenya Airways flight while landing at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday evening, causing flight disruptions for several hours. Some aircraft needed to be diverted to other airports.

5 important things

First-ever Ford Ranger Super Duty coming to South Africa: Ford has officially confirmed that the Ranger Super Duty will arrive in South Africa next year in a variety of body styles, including Single, Super, and Double Cabs, with prices starting at around R1.1 million. [TopAuto].

Magistrates requesting luxury cars like Mercedes and BMW: The Judges’ Action group argues that the Income Tax Act should be amended to grant magistrates a tax allowance, aligning their benefits with those of judges who enjoy state-owned vehicles like a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or a BMW 7 Series. [IOL].

New Chery brand sets ambitious annual sales target: Chery’s newest car brand, Freelander, has set an annual sales target of 300,000 within the first 3 to 5 years ahead of pre-sales opening for its first car, the Freelander 8, on 10 August. [CarNewsChina]

New permanent one-way system for busy roads in Cape Town: The City of Cape Town’s Mobility Directorate plans to introduce a permanent one-way system along portions of Strandfontein Service Road in Ottery, Cheddar Road in Wynberg, and Kenmar Crescent in Claremont. [City of Cape Town]

Uber facing scrutiny over struggling robotaxi venture: Uber’s robotaxi partnership with Alphabet is looming over the ride-hailing company’s quarterly results, with analysts warning that the company needs to show investors that its self-driving platform is going according to plan. [Bloomberg]