Good news for petrol prices this October, a luxury carmaker shuts down factories, and Ford is the new BMW in South Africa

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

Good news for petrol prices this October

Lower international oil prices and an improvement in the rand/US dollar exchange rate have reversed the expected petrol price hikes for October.

At the start of the month, the Central Energy Fund’s data indicated that South Africa was due for a 20c per litre hike for both grades of petrol.

However, petrol 93 is now expected to receive no changes, and diesel users will benefit from a small cut.

Ford is the new BMW in South Africa

Double-cab bakkies have overtaken German sedans as the most aspirational vehicle type for motorists in South Africa.

Once-popular models like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 have fallen out of favour in recent years, while demand for flagship bakkies has gone through the roof.

Carmakers like Ford and Toyota have played into this demand with a renewed emphasis on high-end models like the Ranger Wildtrak and Hilux Legend, which now offer many of the features you’d expect from a luxury sedan.

Chery’s new hybrids knock it out of the park in South Africa

Chery’s new catalogue of hybrid vehicles is off to a great start in South Africa.

Over the last few months, the Chinese automaker has introduced four new hybrid models across its Tiggo SUV family, comprising both traditional hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

These models have proven to be a big hit, as they already account for 10% of Chery’s sales despite their short time on the market.

VW is looking for these 374 Amarok bakkies in South Africa

Volkswagen South Africa has informed the National Consumer Commission (NCC) of a recall affecting the Amarok bakkie.

The carmaker’s local division discovered an issue with Amarok models sold between 10 January and 12 June 2025 that compromises the function and safety of the braking system.

A total of 374 units have been identified with this issue, and owners are advised to urgently contact their preferred dealership to address the problem.

Luxury carmaker extends factory shutdown

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) extended its production shutdown yet again as the fallout from the cyberattack that crippled the carmaker persists into next month.

The company announced that its factories will stay closed until 1 October.

The cyberattack has affected JRL’s operations worldwide, and the company is losing millions in lost revenue for every day that its sites remain closed.