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FOCUS February 2016

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Focus on Transport March 2, 2016

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Focus on Transport

FOCUS on Transport and Logistics is the oldest and most respected transport and logistics publication in southern Africa.

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🏆️👏 𝗠𝗔𝗡’𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻’𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

🏆️👏 𝗠𝗔𝗡’𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻’𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀
MAN Truck & Bus won all three key categories for trucks, coaches and minibuses at the National Transport Awards in Spain in February.

🚚 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗚𝗫 𝗗𝟯𝟬 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗟𝗶𝗼𝗻 was named "Truck of the Year in Spain".
Its all-new D30 engine features a maximum efficiency of over 50%, making it one of the most advanced commercial vehicle engines in the world. With the MAN TipMatic 14 transmission and aerodynamic enhancements, the driveline enables fuel savings of ~5%.

🚌 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗟𝗶𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗘 was voted "Coach of the Year in Spain".
With a usable energy capacity ranging from 320-480kWh, the fully electric vehicle can achieve ranges of up to 650km under optimal conditions.

🚐 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗚𝗘 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 received the "Minibus of the Year in Spain" award.
The 2025 model year of the MAN TGE, known as Next Level, has undergone a comprehensive technical upgrade with new control units, sensors and cameras plus a more comfortable driver’s cockpit.

👀 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮?

#MAN #MANTruck #MANBus #Spain #NationalTransportAwards #TruckTest2026

💡 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀? 🪏

💡 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀? 🪏

Scientist and engineer Mark Miodownik describes a new class of materials — animate matter — with the potential to sense damage, self-heal and even biodegrade when the job is done.

👀 Watch the TED Talk here: https://buff.ly/qGNFiuB

#RoadMaintenance #Potholes #RoadSafety #Tyres #Transport

📢 𝗛𝘆𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗟𝗥 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿

📢 𝗛𝘆𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗟𝗥 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀

Hyundai Motor Group’s global open innovation hub, called CRADLE, is partnering with US-based Uncaged Innovations to develop sustainable, animal-free leather alternatives for vehicle interiors.

🚙 Similarly, Uncaged has developed a proof-of-concept interior for Jaguar Land Rover’s most iconic brands: Jaguar, Range Rover, Defender and Discovery.

🌾 At the heart of this project is Elevate: Uncaged’s high-performance, grain-based alternative to leather, crafted without animals, plastics or tanning chemicals. Elevate is engineered from structural plant proteins to mirror the durability, flexibility and aesthetics of traditional leather.

♻️ The grain-based biomaterial cuts greenhouse gases by 95%, water usage by 89% and energy consumption by 71% compared to traditional leather.

💡 These developments reflect the OEMs’ commitment to pioneering scalable, next-generation materials to shape the future of sustainable mobility – without compromising luxurious quality.

❓ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸? 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘀?

#VehicleInteriors #LeatherAlternatives #Sustainability #GreenTransport

𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤! 3 – 5 November 2026: South

🦜Teaser pics of VW's upcoming small bakkie show br

🦜Teaser pics of VW's upcoming small bakkie show bright “plumage” like Brazil’s iconic toucan bird (https://buff.ly/ZmHJpyd).

The Brazil-made Tukan is expected to be larger than the half-tonne Saveiro but smaller than the one-tonne Amarok.

👉 Should it come to SA? Yes or no.

#Volkswagen #Bakkie #VehicleManufacturing #Transport

♻️ 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗪 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 Volkswagen Group

♻️ 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗪 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁

Volkswagen Group’s Zwickau plant in Saxony, Germany, will start with the systematic disassembly of vehicles to recover valuable raw materials and reuse components, in addition to its central function.

A gradual increase in capacity to 𝟭𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝘃𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 is planned by 2030.

🪙 The Free State of Saxony is funding the overall project with up to 10.7 million euros. Volkswagen plans to invest up to 90 million euros in the site over the next few years.

🌱 The Group's circular economy strategy follows the principle of ‘REDUCE & GROW’: the use of primary raw materials and emissions are consistently reduced, while at the same time new value creation, resilience and innovative business models are established.

#VW #Volkswagen #CircularEconomy #Recycling #Reduce #Reuse

🌞 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 installs its 100th solar PV system, ten

🌞 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 installs its 100th solar PV system, ten years after its first PV project.

The retailer’s solar portfolio ranks among the largest of any South African private company.

🚚 Its fleet has 𝟭,𝟯𝟵𝟳 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 with solar panels, saving 3.2L diesel/trailer/day & reducing emissions by 6,000 tCO₂e.

#Shoprite #SolarTrucks #PV #GreenTransport

📢 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴! You’

📢 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴!

You’re still mistaking visibility for understanding.

And it undermines safety, efficiency & risk management.

👀 Find out more in our article: https://buff.ly/LI1e0Cj

#FleetManagement #Transport #Logistics #Telematics

🏆️ Celebrating 130 years of transport as Mercedes-

🏆️ Celebrating 130 years of transport as Mercedes-Benz commemorates the unveiling of the world’s first truck and van in 1896.

Today we have e-vans like the eSprinter and EQV, and the promise of the next-gen VLE architecture.

👏 Congrats to MB on these significant milestones!

#MercedesBenz #TransportHistory

🚛 FUEL PRICES ARE DROPPING TOMORROW! From Wednesd

🚛 FUEL PRICES ARE DROPPING TOMORROW!

From Wednesday, 4 February, fuel prices are dropping in South Africa:
⬇️ Diesel down by up to 57c/l
⬇️ Petrol down 65c/l

This is part of a sustained downward trend, with fuel now at levels last seen in early 2022 (cue the trumpets!)

What does this mean for operating margins? It is GREAT news! As Nick Porée reveals in the 2026 Transport Mananger’s Handbook, fuel costs are responsible for up to 40% of total road freight operating costs. Read more here: https://focusontransport.co.za/freight-operations-management-demystified-3/

#Diesel #FleetManagement #CommercialVehicles #Logistics #Transport #FuelPrices #SouthAfrica

🚚 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲? 𝗨𝗗𝗧

🚚 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲? 𝗨𝗗𝗧𝗦𝗔 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝘀!

Starting from vehicle handover, structured training and real-time coaching are central to long-term fleet performance.

UD Trucks Southern Africa has a simple philosophy: give drivers the knowledge, tools and confidence they need to unlock the full capability of their vehicles. That includes everything from safe cab-entry and -exit to interpreting gauges, operating controls correctly, conducting daily inspections, safely coupling or disconnecting trailers and safely operating and driving the vehicle.

👀 Read all about it in our February issue of FOCUS: https://buff.ly/cwhevik

#UDTrucks #DriverTraining #Productivity #Transport #FleetManagement #Skills

🚛 The 2026 Transport Manager’s Handbook is LIVE A

🚛 The 2026 Transport Manager’s Handbook is LIVE

Africa’s most comprehensive guide for transport managers — now updated for 2026.

✔️ 200+ pages
✔️ Compliance, safety & fleet ops

👉 Read here:
https://indd.adobe.com/view/2ab09606-ee87-4239-92cc-95ae4bda59bc

🚌⚡️𝗲𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 Electric buses accou

🚌⚡️𝗲𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨

Electric buses accounted for nearly one quarter of all new bus and coach registrations in the European Union in 2025, according to data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

New bus registrations in the EU increased by 7.5% year on year in 2025, reaching around 38,000 units, at a time when van and truck markets recorded declines.

More: https://buff.ly/dM7hZQx

#eBuses #EV #ElectricBuses #CommuterTransport #EU #Electrification #ACEA

🛻𝗡𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁, 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘆’𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 It's a growth oppo

🛻𝗡𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁, 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘆’𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆

It's a growth opportunity.

After nearly 60yrs making bakkies in SA, Nissan plans to sell its Rosslyn assembly plant to Chinese automaker Chery SA.

The new ownership would preserve jobs, skills & industrial capacity that SA has built over decades, and support a competitive automotive industry.

#Localisation #Nissan #Chery #Jobs #Bakkies #CommercialVehicles #Transportation

Instagram post 18094082233770739

Instagram post 18094082233770739

🐪🚙 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆

🐪🚙 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆

Tumbling down a sand dune and getting a puncture 15km from the finish did not stop the only Asian truck from completing the gruelling 14-day Dakar Rally.

🏅 Coming 15th out of 16 official finishers was celebrated by the Hino team, which has now notched up an amazing record of 34 consecutive finishes in the toughest motorsport event in the world.

💪 One of few medium-sized trucks entered in the event, the Hino was still able to run in the top 10 for much of the event. The four-wheel drive racing truck is based on the bonneted Hino 600 Series truck made for the US market, but very similar mechanically to the 500 Series models sold in SA.

😮 🏆️ The OEM’s most successful Dakar was in 1997 when it had three starters and finished first, second and third overall.

#DakarRally #HinoTrucks #HinoSouthAfrica #MotorSport

SCOOP! Will Shiers and the Commercial Motor team h

SCOOP! Will Shiers and the Commercial Motor team have revealed a facelifted version of Scania's R-Series ahead of its 2027 launch! Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/rn6hy6f4

@commercial_motor
@scaniagroup
@scania_africa
@scaniasouthernafrica

📢 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗷𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: “We remain commit

📢 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗷𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

“We remain committed to electrifying all forms of transport – aviation is the last frontier and the hardest. It’s taking longer than we hoped to get the technology and regulatory pieces of the puzzle in alignment, and so we’re pausing work at this time.”

🗣️ These are the words of UK-based green entrepreneur Dale Vince, as provisional liquidators are appointed to the planned zero-emission regional carrier.

🛩️ The fleet was to include ATR 72-600s and DHC-6 twin-turboprops that were later to be converted to hydrogen power.

🔋 Vince runs green energy firm Ecotricity and had bankrolled the business since its inception but says he has paused his investment in Ecojet.

Full story here: https://buff.ly/8QMPhRT

#ZeroEmissions #AirTransport #Airlines #GreenTransport

🤖🛠️At CES 2026 the latest buzzword was 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗜

🤖🛠️At CES 2026 the latest buzzword was 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗜 – a shift transforming how vehicles & mobility systems are made, maintained & operated.

Hyundai with Boston Dynamics debuted the next-gen Atlas humanoid robot, to deploy in vehicle factories by 2028.

👀What do YOU think - is physical AI exciting or threatening, or both?

#AI #PhysicalAI #CommercialTransport

🛻 In Struandale, Gqeberha, components producer VSL

🛻 In Struandale, Gqeberha, components producer VSL Manufacturing runs a new R750m plant next door to Isuzu Motors SA assembly plant.

It currently makes skin panels for the Isuzu D-Max bakkie line, boosting localisation & jobs in SA's automotive value chain.

#SupportLocal #Localisation #Isuzu #Isuzudmax #SouthAfrican

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