A new Ford bakkie, a drive-thru licence renewal service, and a warning over a new seatbelt accessory

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

New Ford bakkie goes on sale in South Africa – But there’s a catch

A new Ford bakkie has just touched down in South Africa, but it’s not being sold by Ford.

The Durban-based company Rospa International has imported the Ford F-150 Lighting – the electric version of its full-size pickup truck.

The Lightning has been converted to right-hand drive and carries a price tag over R4 million.

Warning over new seatbelt accessory in South Africa

A road safety expert has warned that a seatbelt accessory sold by a South African company encourages dangerous driving habits by allowing individuals to subvert their car’s seatbelt warning system.

“Buckle Buddy” is an accessory designed for farmers driving on private roads, which can be clipped into a seatbelt receiver to stop the vehicle’s occupant alert.

Alida Venter, CEO of Drive More Safely, argued that this device is “illegal” and enables bad behaviour in a country that already has a high rate of seatbelt non-compliance.

New drive-thru car licence renewals launched in one of South Africa’s biggest cities

The City of Cape Town has introduced a new vehicle licence renewal service that lets motorists replace their discs without getting out of their cars.

The new centre, located in Brackenfell, is open six days a week and is meant to provide a faster and more convenient licence disc renewal option for citizens.

City management stated that it is currently working with the Road Traffic Management Corporation to extend the service’s operating hours and to open new locations to increase its coverage.

The cars South Africans are buying to save money

AutoTrader has published its mid-year industry sales report, revealing the most popular used hybrid and electric cars in South Africa.

Hybrids have surged in popularity over the last few years as motorists search for ways to cope with the rising cost of petrol.

While new hybrids are still prohibitively expensive for many households, the growing supply of used models means there is now an avenue for individuals to acquire a hybrid at a more affordable price.

New Porsche 911 Turbo S in South Africa – Pricing revealed

Porsche has taken the covers off the new 911 Turbo S – the most powerful production series 911 to date.

The latest iteration of the iconic sports car is confirmed for South Africa, and the local pricing has already been disclosed.

In Mzansi, the new Porsche will be made available in two body styles – coupe and cabriolet – with prices starting at R5,558,000 and R5,827,000, respectively.