June 4, 2020
THE WITNESS
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11
WHEELS
www.witness.co.za
INDUSTRY BRIEFS
Creative spark Maserati this week released a spectacular but undated press photo of a lightning bolt striking the company’s signature trident on top of its head quarters in Modena, Italy. Maserati used the photo to pubiicise its Ghibli Hybrid, the first Maserati that will have a petrol-electric combination drivetrain. It a rather lyrical media statement Maserati said, ‘the signature trident becomes a lightning-rod, channeling the energy from the atmosphere and infusing it with the DNA of the historic Master of Italian Engineering — starting the next chapter in the Maserati story: the first hybrid engine in the history of the marque where innovation and technology meet with high performance automotive engineering, driving Maserati boldly forward towards a more sustainable future’. The ‘Master of Italian Engineering’ did not mention that it is a late comer to hybrid drivetrain party, but in keeping with its alternative approach, the company had confirmed its electric cars will all boast ‘a distinctive signature sound, already a unique attribute of all Maserati cars equipped with traditional combustion engines’.
KIA Motors has made substantial upgrades to its smallest model, the Picanto, in Europe, where the little hatch now offers safety and telematics tech associated with larger German makes. The upgraded Picanto has re-engineered powertrains with what Kia said are lower emissions. The current auto model is popular in South Africa and buyers will be pleased to know the updated Picanto is the first model to change gears using KIA’s new Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). The AMT is based around a five-speed manual transmission with clutch and gear shift actuators to automate clutch operation and gear shifts. Using a single dry clutch, the AMT is a cost-effective option for customers who favour the convenience and ease-of-use of an automatic transmission, without sacrificing the fuel efficiency of a conventional manual transmission. In Europe, the Picanto will be sold with two 1,0 petrol versions — one with a turbo — and a 1,2 turbo diesel. All three engines are equipped with a new Integrated Thermal Management System (ITMS), with the small engines’ hard-working combustion chambers based on the engine’s operating point. The updated Picanto features several of Kia’s latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and a range of new active safety systems to enhance occupant safety, including up to seven airbags, making it one of the safest cars in its class, but in price sensitive “Safrika”, not all these safety systems will be fitted.
More looking online Used car sales down during lockdown, but internet searches point to ‘pent-up demand’ AUTOTRADER sold 17 000 used cars, during lockdown, which is a decline of 52,11% compared to the 36 000 cars sold in May last year. AutoTrader CEO George Mienie said in a statement that the big news was that 37,7 million vehicle searches took place in May — 49,78% more than the 25,1 million searches in the same month last year. “We have to remember that trading resumed halfway through the month and that licensing departments remain closed — so the sales figures are quite encouraging given the circumstances,” said Mienie. “The search results indicate pent-up demand, which is great for the economy and could indicate a returning to normal.” As the country’s largest motoring marketplace, car searches and sales via AutoTrader have long been regarded as an accurate barometer of consumer buying patterns. The cumulative value of used car sales in 2020 shows a dramatic — but understandable — decline compared to 2019. A cumulative selling price of R4,8 billion was recorded in 2020 on a year-to-date basis versus R10,2 billion over the same period in 2019. The Ford Ranger was once again the most sold used car in May 2020 — but the two other podium positions changed completely when compared to April 2020. The Kia Sportage and Jeep Wrangler (numbers two and three in April) were replaced by the Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Hilux. “This is interesting to see,” said Mienie. “This indicates that the market is normalising. The Polo and Hilux are perennially popular.” In a similar vein, the vehicle in the
NIKOLA, an American start-up that buiids electric dune buggies and hydrogen trucks, started trading under NKLA on the NASDAQ last week. CEO Trevor Milton told FreightWaves: “Going public presents additional challenges for a start-up. It’s going to be a lot of work,” We’ve had to hire a huge team to manage all that. But I think that it actually makes it easier for us because we no longer have to deal with all the people saying it’s total vapourware fraud. “With all the money we have on hand, plus the warrants that’ll be exercised, you’re talking about over $1 billion in cash in our account upfront with no debt, and a business model that’s incredibly profitable,” Milton said. Nikola received $4,1 million under the federal Paycheck Protection Program to deal with the economic fall-out of the coronavirus pandemic. But it returned the money after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission cleared its merger in May. Nikola plans to builds its battery electric trucks at an old Iveco plant in Ulm, Germany, next year, and to start producing its hydrogen-powered fuel electric trucks in Coolidge, Arizona, in 2023. “We actually have the very first semi-truck in the world to be in mass production with zero emissions that’s made to drive more than 300 miles, not just a rinky-dink little trial truck,” Milton said, in obvious reference to Elon Musk’s Tesla all-electric trial truck. Musk is on record for stating that using lots of electricity to make hydrogen and its pollutants on industrial scale and then using it to make electriicity again is “bullshit”, an argument that Milton initially followed when announcing his Tesla-rivalling truck. But Milton has since done the maths on the limited ranges that heavy lithium-ion batteries still offer and opted instead for lighter, longer-ranging hydrogen tanks.
number four spot in April — the Kia Picanto — was replaced by the Volkswagen Polo Vivo in May. “This is what we have come to expect from used car
buyers. The Polo Vivo is always a top performer in the used car market.” Mienie said that Gauteng was the most active province during May, ac-
counting for a whopping 61% of the total used car market share in South Africa. The Ranger reigned supreme in this province, with over 10 000 sales
last month. • AutoTrader is owned by OLX, an online marketplace owned by Naspers, which also owns The Witness.
FOUR CHECKS FOR YOUR CAR
Private people can also bid for cars auctioned online
THE South African Tyre Manufacturing Conference (SATMC) advised drivers should check five things before starting long-standing vehicles. “Your vehicle is made to move; if it has remained parked in one spot for the majority of lockdown, you need to conduct these checks before using it again,” says Darren Hayes-Powell, chairman of the SATMC. “If every driver does these simple checks, large investments to fix what would have been a smaller problem can be avoided,” Hayes-Powell said. The handy check list looks at all the often-forgotten basic parts of the car, from the wheels to the licence disk. 1. Check for flat spots and wear. 2. Check each tyre’s pressure. 3. Check your engine fluids. 4. Check your permit’s validity.
ALWYN VILJOEN
Expired permits and disks All expired permits and licences have been extended for 90 days by the national Department of Transport, which is currently inspecting vehicle testing stations for their Covid-19 readiness before allowing them to reopen. Most provincial departments of Transport have failed to meet the gazetted deadline for the opening of test centres on June 1, and this also the case in KZN. Witness Wheels established yesterday that 99% of vehicle test stations and registration centres remain closed for business, which effectively slows all car sales in the province. — WR.
IMPERIAL Auto reports that its online auctions have seen growth that echoes the increase in searches seen by Auto Trader. Imperial Auto hosts online auctions every Friday at 8 am and every Monday at 3.30 pm. CEO at Imperial Auto’s Online Auctions Esias van der Westhuizen, provided answers to the questions asked by many people who want to bid on the
cars on auction. People want to know if they can inspect the cars. Van der Westhuisen said inspections are welcomed, but by appointment only — and wear a mask. Private people who register on the website to bid are often confused by the system, which currently asks for company or dealer registrations. Van der Westhuisen said you can use your personal details to register, using your full names and surname instead of a company or trading name.
In place of a business registration and VAT number, put your ID number, and your personal details where the site asks for the director or billing person. After completing the application, Imperial Auto will also need scans of your ID, driver’s licence and a recent proof of address. Then you transfer a fully refundable R5 000 bidding deposit to its FNB account, using your initials and surname as a reference. All timed auction bids will be subject
to confirmation and accepted bids will be confirmed to buyers within 24 hours after the timed auction ends. All vehicles on premises and for delivery have been sanitised. The company can also deliver vehicles on arrangement. The next online auctions are tomorrow from 8 am and on June 8 from 3.30 pm. Phone Esias van der Westhuizen at 082 418 2649 to book an appointment or view the vehicles at https://imperialautoauctions.co.za
Assembly lines ready to roll again at Toyota’s plant THE largest motor manufacturer in KwaZulu-Natal, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), is back at work after two months of hard lockdown. Leon Theron, senior vice president of sales and marketing at TSAM, said while the assembly lines at the Prospecton plant near Durban stood still, Toyota dealerships and parts services kept various essential services vehicles running — including minibus tax-
is, armed response units and medical services. For the month of April, during Alert Level 5, Toyota supplied more than 2 600 parts pieces to the local dealer network with the express aim of supporting the mobility of all essential workers. In May, Toyota supplied more than 1,1 million parts pieces to its dealers in order to support essential vehicles operating under Alert Level 4. A further 163 000 parts
pieces were exported into African countries between May 18 and 31. Theron said the motoring industry welcomes the relaxation of the regulations that now allow for the opening up of business operations but warned the industry is not out of the woods yet — despite the relaxation of lockdown regulations — and “we still have tough times ahead of us”. He added the Toyota business ma-
chinery is propelled by more than just new vehicle sales. “... our business strategy is not only limited to new vehicle sales, but also encompasses pre-owned sales as well as aftersales service operations. We are therefore going to galvanise our support behind our hard-working Toyota, Hino and Lexus dealers as we negotiate these trying economic times,” said Theron. — WR.
Videos to educate truck drivers on Covid-19 THE Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport: South Africa (Ciltsa) and the Road Freight Association (RFA), have created five information videos which fleet operators can use to educate their drivers on Covid-19. These videos were formatted to be sent via WhatsApp and are available in
English, Xhosa and Zulu. The titles of the set are: • Staying save while delivering. • Know the symptoms of Covid-19. • What to do if you show symptoms. • Care for yourself at home with Covid19. • Preventing the spread of Covid-19 in
the workplace. All five videos are available to Ciltsa members for R990, excluding VAT, and branding is possible. Non-members pay roughly R400 a video, or R1 999 excluding VAT, for the set. To order please ask for an order form from Catherine at cvlarkin@ciltsa.org.za. — WR.
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