IN THE NEWS
Honouring a Legacy of Compassion: JMC Motor South Africa Brings Heart and Hope to Elandsvallei Home for the Aged This Mandela Day
In the true spirit of Nelson Mandela’s legacy of community and service, JMC Motor South Africa, in proud partnership with Raceview Motors, JMC Alberton; spent Mandela Day wrapped in the warmth of community, serving the beloved elders at Elandsvallei Home for the Aged in Primrose, Germiston
Engen and Vivo Energy employees make every minute count on Mandela Day
In honour of Nelson Mandela International Day, Engen and Vivo Energy employees dedicated their 67 minutes of service to helping combat poverty and inequality, demonstrating the power of collective action to make a meaningful difference in vulnerable communities.
GAC MOTOR SOUTH AFRICA CELEBRATES MANDELA DAY BY BRINGING JOHANNESBURG FAMILIES TOGETHER
More than 200 people came together at Generation Schools Taroko on Saturday, 18 July, as GAC Motor South Africa partnered with Generation Schools, the Real Madrid Foundation South Africa, B-Active and Pura to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day through a community event centred on being active, family and giving back.
JAECOO J5 BEV arrives as the brand’s first fully electric model in South Africa
OMODA & JAECOO South Africa has opened pre-orders for the J5 BEV, the first fully electric JAECOO model to be offered in the country. The new model is scheduled to arrive at dealerships by the end of August 2026.
EDITOR BLOG
Fuel Price, Driving the growth of EV’s
Sales in the medium and heavy commercial vehicle segments reflected a positive performance during March 2026. Medium commercial vehicle sales at 823 units recorded a 14,0% increase compared to the 722 units sold in March 2025, while heavy trucks and buses, at 2,310 units, reflected a 14,5% increase compared to the 2,017 units sold in March 2025. Investment decisions in these segments remain closely linked to infrastructure spending, freight volumes, electricity costs, and overall business confidence.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks continues to lead the way in specialized trucking solutions. With a legacy of engineering excellence and a commitment to meeting the toughest transport challenges.
Electric vehicle sales are on the increase despite the slow growth in infrastructure to support this market. Companies like Conti are developing tyres for the Electric Vehicles and we look at their innovations in this issue.
The South African motoring public is spoilt for choice when it comes to electric vehicles with the current array of some 30 fully electric vehicles available. Hybrid vehicles are also in the mix and appear to provide an alternative and a more practical solution for anyone venturing into the realm of electric/ ICE motoring.
However, one of the major hurdles continues to be pricing which is not unique to the South African market. Most manufacturers using the newer technologies such as lithium for batteries have found they are not as readily available as components for ICE mass produced vehicles. The economies of scale are not quite there for electric vehicles in the short term.
On the other side of the coin, the electric commercial vehicle market is expanding rapidly as logistics, public transport and fleet operators shift towards solutions for more sustainable mobility.
Some manufacturers like DFSK have provided alternatives with their D35 Panel Van, offering both electric and gas operated alternatives featured in this issue.
There is no doubt that transport in the various guises has been a dominant factor in producing greenhouse gas emissions, therefore a shift to EV’s is the only way
to decarbonise the atmosphere and lead the way to
economic and environmental transformation.
Acknowledgement to naamsa for vehicle statistics.
Pierre Sanson
Issue 06 – 2026
MAGAZINE
