5 important things that happened in South Africa’s car industry this week

These were the five biggest stories in South Africa’s transport industry this week.

South Africa’s new most powerful bakkie – Pricing and features

The first batch of BYD Shark 6 units officially landed in South Africa earlier this week and is set to go on sale at a price tag of R959,900.

The Shark is a new plug-in hybrid bakkie from the Chinese carmaker, pairing a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two electric motors.

The result is an output of 321kW and 650Nm, making it the most powerful model of its kind on the market.

BMW dealers closing doors in South Africa

Nine BMW dealers have closed their doors in as many years in South Africa.

In 2015, the luxury carmaker hosted 55 outlets across the country, but this has dropped to 46 showrooms as of the end of 2024.

The closures reflect the general decline in sales seen by luxury brands, as motorists continue to shift down-market in search of affordable transport.

Big win for Cape Town

The Port of Cape Town (PoCT) has been included in government’s Request For Information (RFI) process to test private sector appetite for partnerships on ports and freight rail lines.

The port was initially absent from the RFI, which said it would only include the harbours in Durban, Richard’s Bay, and Ngqura.

The PoCT is expected to greatly benefit from the RFI, as it is currently ranked as one of the worst-performing sites in the world.

Gautrain passenger numbers collapse – With R120 billion set to go down the drain

The Gautrain’s passenger numbers dropped from 13.9 million to just 7.9 million between 2019 and 2024.

The low figures have raised concerns as to whether the service is still worth supporting, potentially jeopardizing a R120-billion planned expansion.

In response, the Gautrain Management Agency announced that it would engage in market research to explore new business models and attract a larger audience.

Audi saying goodbye to its most affordable car

Audi has announced that it will scrap both the A1 and Q2 in 2026, and that they will not be replaced.

The A1 and Q2 are the brand’s most affordable hatchback and crossover, costing a minimum of R528,400 and R748,280.

Both cars are set to be replaced with new electric models, but Audi has yet to provide more information on these units.