These were the five biggest stories in South Africa’s transport industry this week.
New Ford Territory goes on sale in South Africa
The new Ford Territory has officially gone on sale in South Africa at a starting price of R576,000.
The Territory is a mid-size SUV and is intended to fill the gap in the brand’s line-up between the Puma crossover and seven-seater Everest.
It is available in three specifications and uses a 1.8-litre EcoBoost engine.
Goodbye banks – South Africans are using new ways to buy cars
South Africans are turning away from bank loans and turning towards alternate ways of paying for a car, such as subscriptions and leases.
These new methods are considered more flexible and convenient than other financial options that lock individuals into long-term contracts.
Services such as Toyota’s Kinto One have seen a massive uptick in car subscriptions since its launch in 2022 with over 2,000 vehicles currently driving around in the country that were obtained through this offering.
Extortionists delay R400-million road upgrade in Cape Town
The expansion of a highway in Cape Town has been halted since 28 February as a result of criminal attempts to extort the project.
The expansion is intended to add a new MyCiti bus service in Mitchell’s Plain, which will provide affordable transport to low-income households.
This has become a serious issue in the City of Cape Town, which recorded 96 separate attempts to extort its infrastructure projects over the past 14 months.
When you can buy the new Audi A3 in South Africa
Audi has confirmed to TopAuto that the facelifted A3 will arrive in South Africa in the final quarter of 2024.
The vehicle will be available in Sportback and Sedan body types, though the new Allroad crossover-inspired model is not currently planned for our market.
The facelifted models have sportier styling, an expanded equipment sheet, and a host of new subscription services.
Banks can reduce petrol prices by 40c per litre in South Africa
Financial service providers can help to reduce petrol prices in South Africa by dropping the transaction fees they charge fuel stations.
Professor Jannie Rossouw from Wits Business School estimates recently claimed that this could reduce prices by as much as 40c/l.
“If we can get the financial services industry to reduce that levy of about 40c per litre, it would help to get the fuel price lower in South Africa,” he said.
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