Great news about petrol and diesel, a cheaper Chery SUV, and a R250,000 car taking South Africa by storm

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

Great news for petrol and diesel in South Africa

There is currently no threat of South Africa running out of petrol or diesel, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East cutting off global oil and petroleum product supplies.

This was confirmed by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) and the Fuels Industry Association, which stated that the country’s fuel supply is secure.

The department acknowledged that a significant portion of South Africa’s fuel is sourced from the Gulf states, but that local suppliers are actively diversifying their portfolio by exploring alternative sources outside the Strait of Hormuz.

Bad news for speeding fines in South Africa

The incoming Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system will ensure that motorists’ speeding fines don’t disappear.

The traffic fine platform Fines SA warned that police officers are already able to verify a driver’s full compliance history in real time through municipal and national systems.

It added that, with the growing use of speed cameras, average-speed-over-distance trackers, and digitally integrated enforcement platforms, traffic offences are now detected, recorded, and tracked with far greater accuracy than in the past.

The R250,000 car taking South Africa by storm

Mahindra recently announced that it has sold its 10,000th XUV 3XO in South Africa, just 500 days after the car was introduced.

“This achievement represents the fastest-ever 10,000-unit sales milestone recorded by any vehicle in the local Mahindra stable,” said the automaker.

The 3XO, which starts at R259,900, is quickly establishing itself as one of the country’s most popular affordable cars, costing less than locally-made alternatives like the VW Polo Vivo.

Bad news for panel beaters in South Africa

Autobody repairers in the post-collision repair sector in South Africa are experiencing considerable strain, which could have a far-reaching effect on insurers, car manufacturers, and customers.

This is according to Juan Hanekom, national director of the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (Sambra).

“They are required to make significant capital investments in equipment, training and compliance to meet modern OEM standards, yet they operate in an environment of increasing cost containment and margin compression. That gap is where the pressure is intensifying.”

New Chery Tiggo Cross unveiled for South Africa – And it’s R80,000 cheaper

 Chery has announced that two new Tiggo Cross models will launch in South Africa later this month.

These will be updated versions of both the Tiggo Cross LiT MT and CVT, which have received significant safety and comfort upgrades.

Pricing for the new Tiggo Cross range starts at R279,900, making it a staggering R80,000 less than the previous base model – the Million Edition – which asks for R359,900.