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Category:FOCUS on Bus and Coach

Ze fantastic ZF

April 1, 2013

Ze fantastic ZF

One of the world’s largest manufacturers of vehicle driveline components, ZF is taking its local business to new heights with impressive product and service...

Marcopolo’s Russian moves

April 1, 2013

Marcopolo’s Russian moves

In recent months, we have devoted a substantial number of column centimetres to the global business expansion activities of Brazilian bus builder Marcopolo SA....

Developing diligent drivers

March 1, 2013

Developing diligent drivers

From drivers of minibuses to those of coaches, the bus industry has a number of exciting opportunities for new and experienced drivers alike. Learning...

Marcopolo Moves into North America

March 1, 2013

Marcopolo Moves into North America

The aquision of a substantial stake in a Canadian company gives this bus manufacturer access to exciting new markets. FRANK BEETON reports.

February 1, 2013

Dreaming green

Greyhound has gone green with a new business-class Dreamliner from Volvo and Marcopolo

February 1, 2013

Tender times

What can the bus and coach industry expect in 2013, and did market predictions for 2012 hold water? BLAIR BURMEISTER speaks to those in...

Iveco’s new S170 front-engined bus chassis will spearhead its South American sales drive, but will a right-hand steer version come to South Africa?

February 1, 2013

Iveco targets South American bus business

Iveco SpA, the specialist manufacturer within the Fiat Industrial group, is making an aggressive move into the South American bus market.

Gautrain ghost buses

December 1, 2012

Gautrain ghost buses

The Gautrain bus service isn’t being used anywhere close to its full potential. Many of its buses run without any passengers and if you...

December 1, 2012

Riding Solo

Cape Town’s public transport services will greatly benefit from the new Solo SR. JACO DE KLERK travelled to the Dornier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch...

’Tis the season to be jolly safe

December 1, 2012

’Tis the season to be jolly safe

As we approach another festive season, with the inevitable road fatalities that can be expected, CLAIRE RENCKEN takes a look at what the SA...

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focusmagsa

⚠️ 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗰

⚠️ 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

A comprehensive support ecosystem featuring preventative maintenance, 24/7 roadside assistance, performance monitoring and service innovation is being offered by UD Trucks Southern Africa (UDTSA).

🛠️ Preventative maintenance remains a cornerstone of UDTSA’s approach to maximising customer uptime. Rather than responding to failures after they occur, the focus is on proactively identifying and addressing potential issues before they impact vehicle performance.

🗣️ This is according to Steven Fabricius, GM: service commercial at UDTSA, who notes that uptime is more than a metric for the company – it is a commitment. “Through comprehensive roadside assistance and full-cycle customer support, we help customers maximise vehicle availability, reduce operational disruptions and keep their businesses moving.”

Fabricius goes on to outline how this service philosophy is brought to life through end-to-end uptime solutions that keep customers moving.

👉 Read all about it in our July issue of FOCUS: https://buff.ly/apQ5Gli

#UDTrucks #RoadSupport #CustomerService #UptimeEdge

📢 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱

📢 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

The technical credibility of Truck Test has been strengthened with the appointment of Jayesh “Tiny” Daya as technical director of the 2026 event.

📐Specialist technical oversight ensures every process, measurement and operational decision is managed professionally, fairly and safely – delivering greater value to participants, sponsors and readers alike.

🛣️ The appointment is also necessary because of the event’s sheer size – it’s the largest test ever on the African continent.

With over 35 years in the SA motor industry, Tiny has worked closely with fleets, OEMs, dealers and suppliers across the transport sector, with a strong focus on vehicle uptime, driveline performance and practical operational efficiency. He is also director of TDRSA, a local driveline remanufacturing and technical consulting business.

💡 Tiny has also been involved with TruckScience for many years, supporting technical benchmarking, fuel economy analysis and CV performance discussions within the industry. This has given him valuable exposure to the evolution of truck testing methodologies, operational benchmarking and the importance of credible, data-driven testing within the local transport environment.

👀 Read more in our July issue: https://buff.ly/fEZ6plu

#TruckTest2026 #TechnicalDirector #Trucks #Performance

🚨 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 – 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮

🚨 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 – 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀.

Our cover story is about Shacman – for good reason. The Chinese challenger is staking its claim in South Africa. Our hard-hitting cover story examines the investment, strategy and support behind its local push – and asks whether established truck brands should be looking over their shoulders. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸?

Also inside:
🔧 Who will repair South Africa’s trucks as technical skills disappear?
🔋 Could five-minute battery swapping transform heavy transport?
🚛 How did more than 2,500 trucks become stranded at Kasumbalesa?
🤖 Meet Dr Cool, the AI assistant taking on reefer breakdowns
💰 Why premium used trucks are becoming a strategic business choice

👉 Read the full issue here: https://tinyurl.com/mr3t4wc4

#FOCUSmagSA #Trucking #Transport #Logistics #Shacman #CommercialVehicles #SouthAfrica

👮 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗔 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆

👮 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗔 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗜𝗨

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a preservation order from the Special Tribunal, freezing two multimillion-rand properties linked to former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Group CEO Tshepo Lucky Montana.

🔎 This forms part of an ongoing investigation into a controversial R5.6-billion rail security contract, in which the SIU says it uncovered a “direct and uninterrupted money trail” linking the acquisition of the properties to proceeds allegedly connected to PRASA’s Integrated Security Access Management System (ISAMS) contract awarded to Siyangena Technologies, a subsidiary of TMM Holdings.

The Special Tribunal order prevents Montana from selling, transferring, leasing or otherwise dealing with the properties pending the outcome of civil recovery proceedings instituted by the SIU.

🏘️ The assets include a luxury property in Hurlingham, Johannesburg, purchased for R13.5m, and a property in Waterkloof, Pretoria, bought for R2.25m.

👀 More: https://buff.ly/pullFsP

#PRASA #Rail #CorruptionInvestigation #SouthAfrica

🤣 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗻𝘆: 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗿

🤣 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗻𝘆: 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁

Some might say it could only happen in Australia. In May 2025, friends Alex Craig and Paul Graham crossed the stretch of ocean between Cape Jervis and Kangaroo Island on a homemade barge complete with an outhouse and a barbecue.

🚽 Determined to avoid expensive shipping fees, the two embarked on the treacherous four-hour journey across Backstairs Passage in order to deliver the toilet to Craig’s piece of land on Kangaroo Island. Transporting it via ferry would have cost him over $2000, apparently.

🫕 While aboard the unconventional vessel, the pair also enjoyed a cook-up. “We had short ribs, pork ribs and some gourmet sausages,” Graham said. He added that this would not be their final adventure – so watch this space…

👀 More: https://buff.ly/5hiawDx

#FridayFunny #AussieAdventures #Transport #Toilets

🥔 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰

🥔 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀

While potatoes are a cornerstone of SA’s food security, speakers at the Potato SA Congress highlighted that solving supply chain bottlenecks is necessary to keep the staple competitive and affordable.

🚚 While local farmers produce quality crops and are efficient at harvesting them, greater value can be unlocked by improving how potatoes move from farms to consumers, because logistical bottlenecks further along the value chain are limiting industry growth.

🗣️ Peter van Zyl, procurement head at Freshmark, said retailers now have unprecedented insight into consumer behaviour and producers should use that data to better plan harvesting and logistics.

👀 More: https://buff.ly/PMgzFnF

#Agriculture #Transport #Logistics #Potatoes #SouthAfrica

👏 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘆𝗼𝘁𝗮’𝘀 𝗥𝟭𝟬.𝟰𝗯𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝘂𝘅 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻

👏 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘆𝗼𝘁𝗮’𝘀 𝗥𝟭𝟬.𝟰𝗯𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝘂𝘅 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

🛻 South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed Toyota South Africa Motors’ R10.4-billion investment in the production of the ninth-generation Hilux bakkie as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s economy, saying it demonstrates South Africa’s ability to convert investment commitments into jobs, industrial growth and exports.

🗣️ In a virtual address during the official Hilux line-off launch at the company’s Prospecton plant in eThekwini recently, the President said the milestone was less about a new vehicle launch and more about confidence and long-term investment in South Africa, as well as a “shared determination to build an economy that produces, innovates, exports and creates jobs”.

He added that the Hilux has become part of South Africa’s story over the past five decades, being “designed for our conditions, built by South African hands and exported from South African shores”.

🔬 As South Africa marks National Science month, the launch of Toyota’s new-generation hybrid vehicle highlights the growing role of science, technology and innovation in modern manufacturing in the country.

#Investment #Toyota #SouthAfrica #Bakkies #Hilux

🐅 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 A 12km

🐅 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀

A 12km stretch of road running through the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in India was shown to have been crossed over 40,000 times in 40 days by wild animals ranging from golden jackals, leopards and tigers to spotted deer, peacocks and elephants. 🐘

💥 The road, like many cutting through natural wildlife corridors, posed a growing threat to both animals and drivers because of the high risk of collisions.

Having already constructed 25 wildlife underpasses on the road, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and the National Highways Authority of India took a novel approach to encouraging drivers to slow down and remain vigilant – and it took the form of colour psychology.

🛑 On a critical stretch of the highway, the NHAI applied red, 5mm-thick thermoplastic surface layers to the roads, stating that “the bright red colour immediately alerts drivers that they are entering a speed-restricted, wildlife-sensitive corridor”.

🌧️ Because red has the longest wavelength of visible light, it’s highly visible in rainy or foggy weather. Studies also show that the human brain processes the colour red up to 10% faster than any other colour.

The slightly raised surface layer also has a subtle but recognisable impact on drivers, generating “mild tactile and audible feedback, naturally encouraging drivers to slow down, without causing discomfort or sudden braking”.

👀 More: https://buff.ly/RNhKOgw

#RoadSafety #Psychology #WildlifeCrossing #CollisionAvoidance

💵 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝟱𝗯𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝗮 𝗖𝗜𝗕 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽

💵 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝟱𝗯𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝗮 𝗖𝗜𝗕 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

Newlyn Group, the logistics property and infrastructure giant, has secured a R5-billion financing deal with Absa Corporate & Investment Banking. It’s touted as one of the largest single funding deals of its kind for a private property company in South Africa.

⚓️ The group, which has a 30-year history of investing in the country’s specialist port logistics sector, is tasked with developing the R3.4bn Newlyn PX Terminal near the Port of Durban. Its national portfolio of large-scale logistics parks and properties spans 32 assets and more than 1.3 million sqm of gross lettable area (GLA).

📷️ Pictured is Newlyn’s Bayhead Rail Terminal, near Durban Port.

#Financing #Logistics #DurbanPort #NewlynGroup #AbsaCIB

⛽️ 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 ~𝟲𝟬𝟬 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝘂

⛽️ 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 ~𝟲𝟬𝟬 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

In a deal worth about $1 billion (R16.3 billion), Abu Dhabi’s largest energy company would purchase 580 Shell-branded fuel stations in South Africa, with a 28% stake to be taken by a local empowerment partner.

🤝 Bloomberg reported that Shell and the retail arm of Adnoc, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, are expected to announce the agreement shortly.
Adnoc Distribution became the preferred bidder earlier this year after negotiations failed with commodity trader Gunvor Group.

Part of its global expansion strategy, the acquisition would give Adnoc Distribution ownership of roughly 10% of the country’s fuel retail market.

🛢️ Shell is disposing of non-core assets to focus on supporting long-term oil and gas production, including major projects in Canada.

👀 More: https://buff.ly/nFAFqnY

#Fuel #Diesel #Shell #Adnoc #Energy

🐫 𝗧𝗼𝘆𝗼𝘁𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 🚙

🤖 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 What in

🤖 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀
What innovations can truck drivers expect when travelling this country’s roads?

📷️ Firstly, they need to be aware that some provincial law enforcers, with the backing of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, have been using drones equipped with thermal imaging to help identify commercial vehicles with potential brake defects.

🚚 The initiative took place at commercial vehicle inspection stations during a Canada Day programme in which 183 trucks were inspected.

⛽️ Then, in Greater Vancouver, Canada’s first commercial heavy-duty hydrogen fuelling station has been opened, capable of fuelling Classes 7 and 8 trucks (11,794kg to 14,969kg and above) as well as other hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles.

🗣️ “Today we open what we believe to be the first 700-bar commercial heavy-duty clean hydrogen station… in the entirety of Canada,” said Marnie Wu, a director at HTEC, the company delivering fuel supply, stations, leasing and support for zero-emission trucking.

#Canada #Drones #Trucking #GreenTransport #HydrogenFuels

🔋 𝗕𝗬𝗗’𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱

🔋 𝗕𝗬𝗗’𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀

China-headquartered new energy vehicle maker BYD is exploring local production of batteries and components, with a particular focus on its lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery technology for passenger EVs.

👉 This signals a localisation strategy built around NEV technology rather than traditional vehicle assembly, and could support South Africa’s industrial ambitions, especially as policy incentives begin to favour battery component manufacturing and regional mineral sourcing.

❓ Will truck battery production be next for SA?

🛻 At the same time, the newly launched BYD Finance joint venture with Absa is designed to make NEVs more accessible through dealer funding, flexible consumer finance and guaranteed future value options.

With BYD already one of SA’s leading NEV brands and expanding its dealership network, the combination of potential local component production and stronger finance solutions could play a meaningful role in accelerating the country’s transition to cleaner mobility.

#BYD #NEVs #GreenTransport #Localisation

✈️ 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Harith Avi

✈️ 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Harith Aviation has secured clearance from the Competition Commission to acquire Safair Holdings, the parent company of FlySafair. This marks a pivotal step in strengthening FlySafair’s long-term future and ensuring compliance with South Africa’s 75% local ownership mandate.

The deal not only stabilises FlySafair’s licensing position but also positions Harith to leverage its stake in Lanseria International Airport, potentially transforming the hub into a regional aviation powerhouse.

💵 With Harith’s assets under management exceeding $3 billion, this acquisition – estimated at over R8 billion – represents a significant investment in the country’s aviation infrastructure. Importantly, much of the capital originates from the Government Employees Pension Fund via the PIC, meaning South Africans indirectly hold exposure to a large share of the domestic aviation market.

🏆️ This move could reshape competition, bolster FlySafair’s dominance, and accelerate expansion into regional African routes.

👀 Read the full story here: https://buff.ly/TTkejUT

#Aviation #FlySafair #CompetitionCommission #SouthAfrica #Airports

🏋𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀? A novel way of getting cit

🏋𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀?

A novel way of getting citizens to live healthier was introduced in a city in western Romania as part of a 2021 sports festival campaign.

Residents of Cluj-Napoca could get a free bus ride by doing squats as part of a “health ticket” that was valid for a single trip on the city’s public transport network.

🚌 Instead of paying around 0.5 Euro, participants could earn their pass by doing 20 squats in two minutes in front of a camera in a booth at a bus station.

Run with the support of local council and private partners that covered the ticket cost, the project aimed to encourage the general public to find ways to introduce sport/movement into their daily routine.

Originally a two-week pilot, it proved so successful, with 14,500 health tickets issued, that the project continued until the end of the year. By this time residents had done over a million squats.

💡Given that almost half of adult South Africans are overweight or obese, according to an HSRC study, could this inspire the Rainbow Nation to follow suit?

#PublicTransport #Bus #Commute #HealthyLifestyles #Exercise

⚓️ 𝗦𝘂𝗲𝘇-𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻

⚓️ 𝗦𝘂𝗲𝘇-𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are cautiously returning one Gemini service to the Suez Canal-Red Sea corridor, signalling a possible shift for Asia-Europe container flows after years of disruption and Cape of Good Hope diversions.

🚢 The AE15 service, connecting Asia with the Mediterranean and Europe, will move back to the trans-Suez route following fresh security assessments. The first sailing is expected to be the 19,000 TEU Majestic Maersk, with transit around 24 July.

⌛️ For the global transport industry, the implications are significant: shorter Asia-Europe transit times, improved schedule efficiency, lower fuel exposure and potential pressure on freight rates as capacity normalises. But the move remains conditional on Red Sea stability, with contingency plans to revert to the Cape route if risks escalate.

This is not yet a full-scale return – but it is an important signal that major carriers are testing how quickly the Suez corridor can regain its role as a critical artery for global trade.

👀 More: https://buff.ly/MLSyFKf

#Shipping #SuezCanal #RedSea #Maritime #GlobalTrade

⛽️ 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱

⛽️ 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱

🗣️ “We are operating in an environment where efficiency is no longer simply a technical benchmark. It has become central to profitability and sustainability,” says Erik Bergvall, MD of Scania Southern Africa.

“Customers are increasingly evaluating what efficiency delivers per kilometre, per load and over the full lifecycle of the vehicle.”

🚚 Bergvall is highlighting the relevance of the Scania Super, which features a new 13-litre engine platform designed to improve fuel efficiency and overall operating economy.

📊 The engine achieves up to 50% brake thermal efficiency and can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 8% compared with the previous generation.

This is significant, considering that fuel can account for 30-50% of total operating costs in heavy-duty transport operations.

👀 Read more in FOCUS June: https://buff.ly/Vm8ndpL

#Scania #FuelEfficiency #Uptime #Transport #SouthAfrica

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀! 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗹𝗼

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀! 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲

MAN Truck & Bus South Africa has introduced a unique loyalty programme for all used MAN vehicles sold through MAN TopUsed South Africa and its dealer network.

The programme offers preferential labour rates, discounts on parts and access to refurbished components – helping operators manage total cost of ownership through the second and third economic life of their trucks. These vehicles automatically qualify for the programme regardless of age or kilometres.

Find out more here: https://focusontransport.co.za/man-targets-lower-tco-with-topused-loyalty-programme/

#MANTruckAndBus #MANTopUsed #UsedTrucks #TruckSupport #TransportIndustry #FleetManagement #TotalCostOfOwnership

@man_southafrica
@mantruckandbus

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has introduced the new Actros

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has introduced the new Actros range, a truck designed around the realities of modern transport operations.

Rather than focusing on adding more features, the new Actros range has been refined to deliver the qualities that matter most to operators: proven performance, trusted reliability, and the engineering excellence synonymous with the Mercedes-Benz name.

Built to handle the demands of the road and backed by decades of experience, the new range demonstrates that confidence comes from what a truck can do, not how much it comes with.

The new Actros range.

Refined to its essentials. Simplified by design. Proven by performance.
#MercedesBenzTrucks #NewActros #BuiltWithWhatMattersMost #Actros

🔋 𝗙𝗔𝗪 𝗝𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄-𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺-𝗶

🔋 𝗙𝗔𝗪 𝗝𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄-𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺-𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆

FAW Group’s truck-making operation, FAW Jiefang, has finished systematic testing of a sodium battery heavy-duty truck in cooperation with Chinese sodium-ion battery maker Hina Battery.

🚚 A breakthrough for new battery technology, the development could offer an alternative to lithium batteries, solving industry challenges such as cold-weather degradation and slow charging for new-energy heavy trucks.

💡 The Jiefang J6P battery-electric tractor was the test model over the nearly seven-month period, fitted with a high-capacity 339-kWh sodium-ion battery. Its cumulative road-test mileage exceeded 15,000km and involved real-world operating conditions.

❄️ In a -40°C environment, the battery retains +90% of usable capacity, accommodating freight needs in the cold regions of northeast and northwest China. The truck is fully charged in only 20 to 25 minutes, and the battery has a cycle life of more than 8,000 cycles under fast-charging conditions, far exceeding conventional industry standards, according to FAW Jiefang.

🗣️ The GM of Hina Battery previously predicted that sodium battery prices could catch up with lithium batteries in 2027 or 2028, noting that sodium battery costs are falling rapidly while lithium prices are rising.

👀 More: https://buff.ly/Oa0i6kY

#SodiumIonBattery #GreenTransport #FAW #NECV

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