By Jarryd Neves, Motoring correspondent
Last week, Ford published the highly anticipated Ford Ranger, a really fundamental automotive for the American carmaker. The present model, first considered in 2011, is repeatedly one in every of the tip 10 simplest-selling autos in South Africa, a challenger to the ever-long-established Hilux. In Could per chance 2021, as an instance, Ford shifted a appreciable 1,972 examples of the bakkie … no imply feat for a automotive with a starting mark of R323,900.
The unusual model, with its updated know-how and the selection of a turbodiesel V6, will be built in South Africa from 2022 onwards. Earlier this 300 and sixty five days, Ford South Africa announced a R15,8bn investment in inform to develop native manufacturing. Over 1,200 folks will be hired to crimson meat up the factory revamping, according to Ford South Africa. At the time, the firm published that the Silverton assembly plant will be revamped to accommodate production of the unusual bakkie. Interestingly, Volkswagen’s Amarok replacement (according to the Ford) will be built alongside its American counterpart.
Because the realm pivots to electromobility, Ford has talked about this can open an electrified (maybe a plod-in hybrid) derivative, that will most seemingly be accessible by 2024.
Premium carmaker Audi has joined the likes of Jaguar, Volvo, BMW and sister designate Porsche in offering so a lot of electrical autos in South Africa. In the neighborhood, the uptake of battery-powered autos has been dull, with MyBroadband reporting that of the 917,000 autos equipped in SA in 2019 and 2020, appropriate 246 were electrical.
At the moment, a 23% import tax on electrical autos makes them prohibitively expensive for the bulk of South Africans. Numerous considerations, comparable to unreliable vitality present and cargo shedding, originate them much less clear for americans that can afford them.
For now, the e-tron vary will be equipped thru appropriate 10 dealerships, scattered someday of the nation’s bigger cities: Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban. To assuage considerations about charging, the South African arm of the highest fee designate has elected to present potentialities with an evaluation to pick out upgrades or installations required for home charging.
What’s more, the German carmaker has talked about this can even “duvet the installation of a 32-amp industrial socket up to speed of R5,000 with the design to crimson meat up the passable fetch 22 situation-up of a charging point inner the client’s home.” The vary kicks off with the e-tron 55 evolved (priced at R1,990,000) and ends with the vary-topping RS e-tron GT, priced at R3,300,000.
In Germany, Audi’s home nation, the continuing semiconductor chip disaster continues to obstruct automotive production. The sumptuous carmaker has needed to diminish production at two vegetation, Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, stories Automotive News Europe.
Over to the United States, the establish Traditional Motors has resurrected the Hummer brandname. Previously associated with wanton excess and a heavy carbon footprint, the American firm has revived the designate as an electrical carmaker. The principle electrical Hummers are anticipated to originate their design to eager potentialities in time for Christmas.
At the moment, appropriate one model is equipped, a raise-up truck with a label of over $100,000 (±R1,600,000) and so a lot of roughly 529 km. The model vary will be prolonged in 2023, with more inexpensive alternate choices. With Tesla anticipated to beginning production of the Cybertruck in the the same 300 and sixty five days, the electrical truck flee would maybe also merely aloof warmth up. Upstart Rivian, which specialises completely in electrical off-roaders, has delayed supply once again, according to Reuters.
Study more:
- Merc exec to head up Aston Martin US; VW merchants want compensation – In the driving force’s seat with Jarryd Neves
- Volkswagen SA, Suzuki search file gross sales; Volvo considerations airbag bewitch – In the driving force’s seat with Jarryd Neves
- The generation of the SUV – In the driving force’s seat with Jarryd Neves
(Visited 1,285 instances, 8 visits this day)
