These were the five biggest stories in South Africa’s automotive industry this week.
Goodbye Ford EcoSport
Ford has officially delisted the EcoSport in South Africa, more than a year after its final production line shut down in April 2022.
The EcoSport was the last affordable passenger vehicle from the blue oval left in the country, following the departure of the Fiesta.
The company has not officially announced a successor yet, however, it is expected that it will be bringing over the Puma crossover, based on a recent dealership listing.
R2.1 billion spent on Gauteng’s trains
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) announced this week that it has spent more than R2.1 billion on recovering rail infrastructure in Gauteng to date.
As a result, 18 vandalized rail corridors have been rehabilitated, of which seven are now operational using new electrical motor units.
One project, the Leralla-Germiston line, came online on July 6 and now carries 10,000 people daily, thanks to a R600 million commitment.
New Chinese car brand coming to South Africa
The Chinese carmaker Jaecoo announced this week that it plans to launch in South Africa in 2024.
Jaecoo is the sister brand of the recently-introduced Omoda, with the two names forming what is known as the “O&J brand.”
Omoda also made news when it revealed the new C9 crossover last week, which will go on sale in the country before the end of the year.
Why you shouldn’t post photos of your car online in South Africa
Posting images of a car online with its number plates visible runs the risk of criminals cloning that plate and using it to conceal a stolen car that is the same make and model as yours, potentially implicating you in a crime you weren’t involved in.
TopAuto was recently contacted by a reader saying that their car had been stolen in Gauteng and that it had been found the next day at the Mozambican border with fake plates copied from a press vehicle featured on the site.
It is presumed that criminals use the details taken off the web and social media apps to create fake plates with the same alphanumerics as their stolen vehicle, allowing it to go undetected for longer.
When the new Suzuki Jimny 5-door is going on sale in South Africa
Suzuki has confirmed that the long-awaited Jimny 5-door will go on sale between September and December this year.
The new model will offer a more practical everyday experience thanks to its extra ports-of-entry, and will also have new features to boot.
The baby SUV will retain its 1.5-litre engine, and its larger body has not affected its off-road credentials, such as its ground clearance of 210mm.
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