Car owners playing a dangerous game in South Africa, the new Jetour T2, and a warning for motorists paying speeding fines online

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

New Jetour T1 and T2 debut in South Africa

Jetour has officially launched the new T1 and T2 in South Africa.

The T-badged models are 4×4 SUVs that offer something different to the Dashing and X70 introduced last year.

The T1 has a starting price of R514,900, while the T2 asks for a minimum of R569,900.

Warning for motorists paying speeding fines online

Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) spokesperson Monde Mkalipi has warned motorists to be careful about paying traffic fines online.

This warning comes over concerns of scammers sending fraudulent alerts to unsuspecting drivers in the lead up to the AARTO Act rollout.

The RTIA has recently received numerous calls from frustrated South Africans who thought they had paid their fines through an official digital channel, only to find they were still being blocked from renewing their driving or vehicle licenses.

Car owners are playing a dangerous game in South Africa

There is a growing trend of motorists cancelling the insurance on their financed cars.

WesBank warned that individuals are doing this to cut back on monthly expenses, but doing so opens them up to serious financial and legal risks.

In South Africa, comprehensive insurance is a non-negotiable condition of any vehicle contract, and finance houses are legally entitled to ensure compliance, meaning that owners are still liable for their instalments in the event the car is stolen, hijacked, or damaged in an accident.

4 new cars that will be built in South Africa

At least four new cars are set to be built in South Africa over the next few years, comprising two bakkies, a 4×4 SUV, and an entry-level crossover.

BAIC and its light commercial vehicle sub-brand Foton plan to build the B30 SUV and the Tunland G7 double cab at BAIC’s factory in the Eastern Cape.

Stellantis will assemble the Peugeot Landtrek pickup outside Gqeberha, and VW wants to build the new Tengo crossover (Tera in other markets) at its Polo plant in Kariega.

Bad news for diesel users in South Africa

The price of diesel in South Africa has grown significantly over the last ten years, resulting in a high cost of living due to the reliance on road transport for foodstuffs and amenities deliveries.

In October 1995, the price of a litre of diesel was R1.55 inland and R1.45 on the coast, while 30 years later these prices have increased to R19.39 and R18.63, respectively.

This translates to around 1,151% and 1,184% price increases over the three decades since 1995.