Luxury petrol station brand opening new stores, and the hijacking capital of South Africa

Foton’s sales increased from 1,668 to 3,226 cars in the first seven months of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, representing a 93.4% year-on-year growth rate.

The bakkie brand said this jump in sales is indicative of the fact that Chinese companies are becoming better established within the South African market.

Gregory Snodgrass, National Sales Manager of Foton South Africa, said it also reflected the fact that motorists are becoming more concerned about value for money.

“The South African customer has always been discerning, but we’re seeing buyers become increasingly informed and deliberate about where they spend their money,” he said.

“They’re looking closely at what they receive for their investment, what a vehicle will cost to operate, whether there is proper aftersales support behind it and, particularly in the commercial market, whether that vehicle can genuinely contribute to the productivity of their business.”

Oil prices have climbed again following Saudi Arabia’s closure of a major crude pipeline that bypassed the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent Crude is now trading above $108 per barrel. Saudi Arabia said the closure was a precaution following attacks last week. It did not say when operations would resume.

A meeting is planned for today (Monday 14 September) between Iran and several Gulf nations to create a temporary shipping lane through Hormuz.

The Iranian-backed Houthis have advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, threatening shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The rand is currently trading at a relatively strong position of R16.19 per US dollar.

5 important things

The most popular Toyota cars in South Africa: Toyota’s sales data for August 2026, revealed that the Hilux is the brand’s best-selling vehicle by a wide margin. The Corolla Cross is its most successful passenger car, followed by the Starlet and Starlet Cross. [TopAuto]

Town in millionaire municipality becomes the hijacking capital of South Africa: Delft in the City of Cape Town emerged as the country’s number one carjacking hotspot in the SAPS’ latest crime statistics. However, Gauteng remains the worst-affected province overall. [BusinessTech]

Learner’s licences sold for cash in South Africa: Four people were arrested for allegedly running a cash-for-licence scheme at a DLTC in Limpopo. The Special Investigating Unit said they were arrested with a large amout of cash and several licences on hand. [MyBroadband].

Ultra-luxury petrol station rolling out new stores across South Africa: Pantry by Marble plans to expand its premium convenience stores to 30 locations nationwide. The Pantry is a high-end forecourt in Rosebank that has become a massive success since it opened in 2022. [Daily Investor].

Tesla to unveil new Roadster: Tesla plans to showcase the next-gen Roadster at an event on 1 October 2026. Despite being the most valuable carmaker in the world, Tesla has a limited catalogue consisting of the Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, and Semi Truck. [Bloomberg].