Luxury carmaker slashes prices by R271,000, a warning for Chinese car buyers, and a new locally-made VW SUV

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

Luxury carmaker slashes prices by up to R271,000 – For a limited time

Volvo is offering a 15% discount on select models for a limited time in South Africa.

The promotional discount was announced on Tuesday, 27 May and will expire at the end of the month on Saturday, 31 May.

The discount applies to most vehicles in the automaker’s lineup, including the XC90 Recharge, which is currently selling for R271,000 less than usual.

Warning for Chinese car buyers in South Africa

WeBuyCars CEO Faan van der Walt has warned consumers to be cautious about buying Chinese cars in South Africa.

The CEO advised motorists to consider whether the brand will still be in the country by the time they want to sell, which could severely impact the value of their car.

South Africa has seen an influx of Chinese brands over the last few years, but this has raised concerns that the market will not be able to sustain them all and that some brands will be forced to withdraw.

South Africa dodges petrol price bullet

The government plans to raise South Africa’s fuel taxes next month, but it could have been a lot worse.

The country’s single largest fuel add-on, the General Fuel Levy, will be increased at the start of June, but the same cannot be said of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy.

The RAF levy is the second biggest contributor to South Africa’s fuel prices, but it has not been adjusted despite several calls to do so.

Full steam ahead for VW’s new South African-made budget SUV

VW has officially entered the next phase of development for an assembly line that will produce a new entry-level crossover for South Africa.

The crossover, known as the Tera overseas, is a budget model intended to help VW recapture the affordable car market from Chinese brands.

The Tera is slightly smaller than the T-Cross, and will feature both a turbo and non-turbo version of the brand’s 1.0-litre engine.

Big overhaul for loss-making regional airport in South Africa

The loss-making Wonderboom National Airport (WNA) on the outskirts of Pretoria is set for a big upgrade over the coming years.

Rather than sell the site, the City of Tshwane has elected to invest in WNA to turn in into a source of revenue for the municipality.

One possibility is that WNA will be converted to focus on cargo transportation, rather than passengers.