These were the five biggest stories in South Africa’s automotive industry this week.
New JAC T9 officially launched in South Africa
JAC has finally launched the new T9 double cab in South Africa after nearly a year of anticipation.
The bakkie is available in four specifications with prices starting at R529,900.
For now, it is exclusively paired with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, but more powertrains are expected to arrive in 2024.
Cape Town’s top 5 smash-and-grab hotspots are all located on one street
The City of Cape Town recently put out a statement revealing that its top five smash-and-grab hotspots are all located along a single street.
The 24km-long Jakes Gerwel Drive and its various intersections accounted for the vast majority of vehicle-related crimes reported since April this year.
The number of smash-and-grab cases has seen a dramatic increase in recent months, increasing six-fold between April and September.
Major South African insurer sees big drop in car theft and hijack claims
Santam, South Africa’s largest insurer, reported a big drop in its car theft and hijacking claims for the first half of the 2023 financial year compared to the same period the year before.
The insurer attributed the improvement to a controversial policy change that required that certain clients install a tracker on their cars.
The clients required to do so are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on whether their car and the area they live in are deemed high risk.
What it costs to buy the first armoured Chery in South Africa
South Africans are now able to purchase a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro capable of stopping a bullet from Gauteng-based Armoured Mobility.
The armouring process is approved by Chery South Africa, meaning the car’s after-service support is not affected by the modifications, and that all its equipment and features still work, too.
Suzuki teases next-generation Swift
Suzuki gave the world its first glimpse of the next-generation Swift at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.
The company revealed a concept model showcasing various design tweaks and new features that customers can look forward to.
The new hatchback is currently set to go on sale in various markets starting in the second half of 2024.
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