These were the five biggest stories in South Africa’s transport industry this week.
R2-billion licence fraud bust in South Africa
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is trying to recover over R2.1 billion in lost revenue as a result of vehicle licence disc fraud.
The RTMC has been clamping down on fraud and corruption for the last 13 months, raiding as many as 23 trucking and transport companies that have been identified for dodgy licensing practices.
The businesses allegedly obtained licences through illegal means and are suspected of being involved in other crimes like money laundering and racketeering.
2 Isuzu SUVs unavailable in South Africa for now
Isuzu’s mu-X SUV catalogue was recently shrunk by two units in South Africa.
The LS 4×4 and Onyx variants are presently unavailable, though they will be brought back at a later stage.
The two models were pulled as the brand prepares for the launch of the updated mu-X.
2 major petrol refineries in South Africa coming back online
The Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) is reinstating two major fuel refineries in South Africa.
The plants will be brought back online to reduce the country’s reliance on imported propellants.
South Africa currently imports roughly 70% of all its fuel, compared to 30% in 2019.
Jeep, Peugeot, Opel, and Maserati on the chopping block
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has warned that underperforming brands in its portfolio will be scrapped if they fail to reach sales targets.
The automotive conglomerate owns 14 different brands, including Jeep, Peugeot, Opel, and Maserati.
Several of these nameplates underperformed in the last financial year across various global markets, indicating they could disappear in the future if sales don’t improve.
New VW Touareg officially goes on sale in South Africa
VW has officially launched the updated Touareg SUV in South Africa.
The flagship of the VW stable is now available in two specifications at a starting price of R1,457,900.
Both versions are fitted with a 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that rockets the hefty SUV from 0-100km/h in a Golf GTI-rivaling 6.5 seconds.
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