American car brands returning to South Africa, a big win for motorists with car loans, and the official petrol price for June

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

Official petrol price decreases for June announced

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources’ latest fuel price adjustments came into effect this week on Wednesday, 4 June 2025.

Petrol dropped by a mere 5c per litre, while diesel thankfully saw a larger drop of 37c per litre.

The meagre savings are the result of the General Fuel Levy, which the government raised for the first time in three years by 16c per litre.

Big win for motorists with car loans in South Africa

The National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) has welcomed the decision from the South African Reserve Bank to lower interest rates by 25 basis points.

The basis point reduction will lower the cost of purchasing a vehicle on a finance plan, providing much-needed relief for cash-strapped households.

NADA Chairperson Brandon Cohen said that, while the rate cut is modest, it will still have a meaningful impact for citizens with car, credit card, and home repayments.

Gauteng announces new number plates – With a catch

Gauteng has finally revealed its new number plates – a plan which was first announced two years ago.

The plates feature new security measures meant to curb the prevalence of fraudulent and cloned licences in the province.

The new plates won’t be in circulation for some time, however, as they still need to undergo a six-month pilot programme before they are rolled out to the public.

American car brands are coming back to South Africa

South Africans will soon be able to purchase a variety of cars sourced from the United States.

The Durban-based company Rospa International has signed an agreement with Autogroup International to import vehicles from America, which will be converted to right-hand drive.

This will give motorists the chance to drive cars from brands that have pulled out of South Africa, such as Dodge and Chevrolet.

New Hyundai 7-seater SUV launched in South Africa

Hyundai has officially launched the new Santa Fe in South Africa at a starting price of R1,249,900.

The next-gen Santa Fe is a premium SUV that showcases the brand’s new design language with seven seats and tech like a dual curved display with two 12.3-inch monitors.

It is also the first Hyundai in South Africa to offer a hybrid powertrain, combining a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor.