These were the five biggest stories in South Africa’s transport industry this week.
New Gauteng number plates launching soon – With one big catch
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced that the province will receive its new licence plates on 1 April 2024 and that everyone will be required to get them.
From 1 April, anyone whose car licence disc expires will also be required to get a new registration number and new plates.
The new identifiers are an attempt to crack down on vehicle cloning, as it is estimated that 80% of criminal activities in Gauteng involve cars with false plates.
New Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series launched in South Africa
Toyota has officially launched the new Land Cruiser 70 Series in South Africa, consisting of the 76, 78, and 79.
The 79 is the bakkie and includes eight models in single and double-cab styles with prices starting at R765,500.
The 76 and 78 use an SUV body type and have a combined three options at a starting rate of R999,900.
The world’s fastest car – and it’s made by a South African
A South African-born CEO has unveiled a new hypercar that claims to be the fastest-accelerating vehicle ever made.
Priven Reddy, who hails from Durban, has established Ararkis Automobili Ltd in London, UK, which has now revealed its first car – the Sandstorm.
Only 20 are set to be made, and each one will have an equally impressive price tag of $2 million (R38 million).
South Africa’s most affordable new electric car launching in March
The new BYD Dolphin is going on sale in South Africa in March and is set to become the country’s cheapest electric vehicle.
It will retail from R550,000, making it more than R100,000 cheaper than the current title holder, the GWM Ora, which goes for R686,950.
However, the Dolphin may not hold this accolade for very long, as South Africa may soon also get the Dolphin Mini ( the”Seagull” in Asia) which goes for substantially less than its bigger sibling.
What it will cost to fix Gauteng’s biggest sinkholes
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has announced the budget needed to fix two of the biggest sinkholes in Gauteng.
The first hazard, located on the N1 in Centurion near the Flying Saucer interchange, will cost take an estimated R280 million to repair.
The second hole, found on the R21 near the O.R. Tambo International Airport, will add a further R144 million to the maintenance tally.
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