October 1, 2020
THE WITNESS
Call for licences solution
Recycled plastic in new car interiors
AA wants a moratorium on fines for expired documents, revamp of system
Made-in-Rosslyn Ford Rangers queue to enter a Roll-on-roll-off (Roro) ship in Port Elizabeth, bound for Europe. American owners reported the least faults in the Ranger, which in the U.S. are built in Wayne, Michigan, to give the bakkies the highest award for quality in the mid-size pickup segment in the U.S, according to the latest JD Power Study. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
Ranger receives top honours for quality in its class THE Ford Ranger bakkies built in Wayne, Michigan, have received the highest award for quality in the midsize pickup segment in the U.S., according to the 2020 JD Power Initial Quality Study (IQS) report. The IQS now in its 34th year, is based on responses from 87 282 purchasers and lessees of new 2020 model year vehicles in the U.S. who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study took place between February and May 2020. The JD Power IQS takes an updated look at the problems owners are having with their new vehicles, including those related to new technologies. The study, redesigned this year, measures components that fail and features that are difficult to use, hard to understand or don’t work the way owners want. Initial quality is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality. “The IQS is the industry benchmark
for new-vehicle quality and year after year, automakers apply the insights they learn from consumers to make positive changes,” said Dave Sargent, vice president of automotive quality at JD Power. The JD Power awards released the following statistics from its detailed survey, gauging Ford Ranger customer satisfaction in the U.S. across the following areas; exterior styling, driving dynamics and visibility/safety, engine/ transmission, and interior design. Rangers for the North American market are assembled at the Michigan assembly plant. LOCAL IS LEKKER According to JD Power data, 88% of Ford Ranger owners in the U.S. agree that they prefer to buy a vehicle from a domestic company — a characteristic also likely to apply to South Africa because of the Ranger’s local assembly at Ford’s Silverton plant in Pretoria, with engines supplied by the Struandale En-
gine Plant in Port Elizabeth. Approximately 53% agree that they’re willing to pay more for a vehicle that is environmentally friendly, and 78% are willing to pay more to ensure their vehicle has the latest safety features. JD Power data shows that 60% of Ranger owners strongly agree that they avoid vehicles they think will have high maintenance costs, while 59% say reliability is a first consideration when choosing a vehicle. At the same time, performance and design are important to Ranger owners. The data says 83% of them agree that they like a vehicle that stands out from the crowd and 54% strongly agree that they like a vehicle that offers responsive handling and powerful acceleration. Ranger owners are also less likely to agree that to them a vehicle is just a way of getting from place to place. “The JD Power awards are held in high admiration with extremely competitive vehicles challenging for first prize in the mid-size pickup seg-
ment. The Ranger’s success in South Africa and numerous markets that we supply around the world reflects the exceptional work done by Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) in the local manufacture and export of Ranger,” says Kevin Heunis, quality director: Export and Import Operations at FMCSA. “Not only is the Ranger one of South Africa’s top-selling vehicles, but it is the pickup segment leader in Europe, which is our largest export market,” Heunis adds. The JD Power IQS Award is the second prestigious award to be given to the Ford Ranger within the space of a few months. In August 2020, the Ford Ranger was announced as the top-selling used car in South Africa, according to AutoTrader’s annual car industry report. In SA the Ranger nameplate spans 33 derivatives with the Ranger Thunder being the latest addition launched this year. — WR.
Toyota imports Starlet from Maruti Suzuki in India THE Toyota Starlet (pictured) is the first vehicle to come from a new alliance between Toyota and Suzuki. The Starlet is imported from India, where it’s built by Maruti Suzuki and known as the Glanza. and is already on sale at 220 Toyota dealerships in place of the Etios. The mutually beneficial alliance was announced last week in what the companies described as a venture that will leverage each other’s strengths to compete in the evolving global vehicle market. Toyota said its expertise in hybrid technology and autonomous driving will benefit Suzuki, while Suzuki compact vehicle design and engines will benefit Toyota. The foundation of Starlet is Suzuki’s Baleno, which is built on Suzuki’s Total Effective Control Technology (Tect) platform. This platform uses the latest hightensile steel in critical areas as well as energy absorption channels to produce a strong, safe and lightweight chassis. A traditional McPherson strut front-suspension design is joined by a torsion-beam rear axle, riding on 175-65R15 tyres with a “Marie Biscuit” spare. Xs and Xr variants feature stylish turbine-shaped 16”-alloy wheels with 185-55R16 tyres. Under the hood is Suzuki’s 1.4-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine. Featuring Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and a tumble-flow intake manifold, the engine exhibits a rev-happy character
and makes light work of the daily commute. Power output is pegged at 68 kW at 6 000 rpm with 130 Nm of
torque at 4 200 rpm. Two transmission choices are on offer, a five-speed manual or a four-
BALENO AND STARLET DIFFERENCES THE entry level Baleno GL is R17 k dearer than the Xi Starlet, but Suzuki trumps Toyota with an industryleading a five-year or 200 000 km mechanical warranty on Baleno models and a four-year or 60 000 km comprehensive service plan. To match this, Starlett buyers will have to buy an additional service plan and warranty extensions from a Toyota dealer, where a six-year, unlimited warranty costs R7 870 or about R390 over 24 months. While the four Starlet models and three Baleno models all have active
electronic aids such as ABS, EBD, Brake Assist (BA) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), the automatic transmission Starlets have Hill Assist Control (HAC). The 2019 Baleno models do not have HAC or VSC, but Suzuki Auto South Africa has now added an electronic stability program (ESP) as standard across the range to stay competive with its brand twin. Baleno 1,4 pricing GL — R221 900 GLX — R259 000 GLX — auto R274 900
speed automatic, all driving the front wheels. Low fuel consumption is a key feature, with the fuel index registering between 5,1 and 5,4 l/100 km depending on variant. A 37-litre fuel tank provides an effective range of over 700 km on a single tank. Towing capacity is 400 kg unbraked and 1 000 kg braked. The entry level Starlet Xi has airconditioning, electric power steering, dual 12-volt power outlets, electric windows, tilt-adjustable steering column, 60/40 split rear seats, poweradjustable side mirrors and remote central locking. The Xs model adds alloy wheels to the ensemble. Park distance control (PDC), reverse camera, climate control and push-start operation and cruise control are also provided. All Starlet models also come with Toyota Connect, a telematics system that includes an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot and complimentary 15 Gb data. Once linked to their profile, customers can manage their vehicle via the MyToyota App. All Starlet models are sold with a three services or 45 000 km service plan — with 15 000 km service intervals. A three-year or 100 000 km warranty is also provided. Starlet 1.4 pricing Xi — R204 900 Xs — R215 200 Xs auto — R235 700 Xr — R258 500 Xr auto — R272 500
Nissan streamlines global operations NISSAN yesterday announced a realignment of its global regions from seven to four — Japan and ASEAN, the Americas, China, Oceania and the new Amieo region made up of Africa, Middle East, India, Europe (including Russia). Ameio will cover more than 140 markets with a population of around 3,8 billion, with 45 Nissan products on sale ranging from the iconic Nissan Patrol SUV to the all-electric Nissan Leaf. Nissan said the new region will enable faster decision-making and
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WHEELS
www.witness.co.za
JAGUAR Land Rover is working with Econyl nylon to develop highquality interiors made from ocean and landfill waste. Next-generation Jaguar and Land Rover models will feature floor mats and trims made with Econyl fibre from recycled industrial plastic, fabric offcuts, fishing nets from the farming industry, and nets abandoned in the ocean — known as “ghost nets”. This commitment to designing sustainable luxury interiors using responsibly sourced and recycled materials is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Destination Zero mission, with innovation helping to make environments safer and cleaner while offering customers a premium, sustainable option. The Econyl regenerated nylon, created by Aquafil — a global leader in the synthetic fibres industry, has already been used by high-end fashion, sportswear and luxury watch brands to create handbags, backpacks, swimwear and watch straps. The nylon waste is reclaimed by Aquafil from all over the world. In a single year, the company recycles as much as 40 000 tonnes of waste, with the recycling process reducing the global warming impact of nylon by 90% compared with the material produced from oil. For every 10 000 tonnes of Econyl raw material produced, 70 000 barrels of crude oil and 65 100 tonnes of carbon emissions are avoided. Inside state-of-the-art treatment centres the waste is analysed, treated and prepared to feed into a chemical plant, where the nylon waste is broken to its original raw material using a chemical treatment process, known as depolymerisation. The raw nylon material is then turned into the yarn, known as Econyl. Throughout the process, other by-products such as non-nylon, metallic materials or copper sulphate which is used for preventing seagrass growing on fishing nets, are removed and sent to alternative industries for recycling. The resulting Econyl regenerated nylon polymer has the same chemical and performance characteristics as raw fossil material, allowing it to be processed into a fibre for carpet flooring and textiles. This yarn can then be used to manufacture floor mats for future Jaguar and Land Rover models with the goal of using more environmentally conscious and sustainable materials while still providing customers with a premium and hardwearing product. The process is helping Jaguar Land Rover move towards a circular economy as part of its journey to Destination Zero. Adrian Iles, senior engineer of interior systems at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Our designers and engineers are committed to developing the next generation of sustainable materials that will feature on future Jaguar and Land Rover models. We place a great deal of focus on the creation of new sustainable materials, using the latest, most innovative techniques and textiles. Minimising waste, re-using materials and reducing carbon emissions sits at the heart of our Destination Zero mission. This pioneering materials research is one of the key ways we’ll achieve this and is an integral part of our design offering to our customers.” Earlier this year, Jaguar Land Rover was certified for the second consecutive year by the Carbon Trust, confirming business operations across the UK have met the internationally recognised standard for carbon neutrality, known as PAS 2060. Together, these UK based sites represent 77% of Jaguar Land Rover’s global vehicle production. Currently, Land Rover offers a premium Eucalyptus textile interior on Range Rover Evoque while Evoque, Range Rover and Jaguar’s all-electric I-Pace benefit from optional Kvadrat — a high-quality material that combines durable wool with a suede cloth made from 53 recycled plastic bottles per vehicle.
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create a more flexible working model across a number of markets where Nissan is electrifying its model range. Gianluca de Ficchy, currently chairman of Nissan Europe, will be chairman of the new region. Guillaume Cartier, currently chairman of the AMI region, will become president of AMI and vice-chair of the new region, responsible for marketing & sales. The senior management team for the AMIEO region will also include: • Kevin Fitzpatrick, senior vice
president for manufacturing and supply chain management • David Moss, senior vice president for R&D • George Leondis, senior vice president for administration and finance • François Bailly, senior vice president, chief planning officer Jordi Vila, divisional vice president for marketing and sales operations, Europe • Joni Paiva, divisional vice president for marketing and sales operations, Africa, Middle East, India, and Oceania. — WR.
THE Automobile Association (AA) says a moratorium on fining motorists without renewed driving licences (pictured) must be implemented as a matter of urgency, and that immediate steps be taken to fix the current renewal processes. “The current system was broken even before the lockdown began. Now, with thousands of anxious motorists struggling to renew their driving licence cards for a variety of reasons, the failures of the system are being exposed even more. And, what is most concerning, is that there appears to be no acknowledgement of this by the authorities, nor of any attempts to assist the public. “We must be honest and admit that the current processes are, quite simply, shambolic,” says the AA. The association says of particular concern is that the already under-resourced and inadequately staffed traffic law enforcement authorities are setting up roadblocks to ensnare motorists with expired driving licence cards and vehicle licence discs, even though they are aware that there are few avenues for motorists to actually renew these documents. All the while, more serious violations are not being dealt with because traffic law enforcement officers are focusing on soft targets. The AA says traffic policing must be about road safety and not revenue. “It’s an absurd situation where motorists cannot renew their discs or cards, and are then stopped and fined for not having done so. It’s not news to anyone that the online booking system is not functional, that Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) are open erratically and understaffed, and that online networks at DLTCs are also often down, all of which result in motorists being unable to renew their cards. “The only people who don’t seem to acknowledge these issues are the authori-
ties and it’s the motorists who ultimately suffer,” notes the AA. The Association says the vast majority of motorists in the country want to remain legally on the road, and go to great lengths to get their driving licences renewed. But, it asks, what must motorists who rely on their vehicles to earn an income do if they aren’t able to get these discs and cards renewed? “Law abiding citizens with no alternatives must continue using their vehicles to work and are then punished because of a problem they didn’t cause, by the very authorities who did,” says the AA. In addition to placing the moratorium on fines, the AA says it has now become more than critical that alternatives to the current renewals processes are implemented. “Not only must third party agents such as the AA be allowed to renew driving licence cards, but the current system needs a dramatic overhaul, and quickly. There can be no doubt that the current way of doing business must change, and change now,” the AA says. The AA says calls by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) to extend the validity of driving licences from five to 10 years makes sense provided motorists have their eyes tested by registered professionals at least every five years to ensure their vision is good enough to remain safe on the road. “It suggests that these eye tests are also carried by motorists and presented to authorities when asked to do so.” But, the AA says, increasing the validity of licences from five to 10 years must run parallel to ensuring the current system is improved and updated. “Motorists must be able to easily renew their vehicle licence discs and driving licence cards, through a system which is responsive and available, and which actually works,” concludes the AA. — WR.
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