WeeklySA_AdminFUEL PRICE DISASTER
Despite recent reprieves, South Africa’s fuel taxes have increased significantly over the past 16 years, making fuel increasingly expensive for motorists in the country. MyBroadband compared the crude oil price per litre to the inland unleaded 95 price per litre in South Africa from January 2008 to July 2024.
This revealed that while South Africa’s fuel prices were still correlated with oil, they have diverged significantly, largely due to tax and margin increases.
Over this period, South Africa’s fuel price addons have skyrocketed, with the total tax per litre growing from R1.74 per litre in 2008/09 to R6.04 per litre in 2024/25, representing more than three-fold growth. This includes just the Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy and the general fuel levy (GFL).
According to data from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, South Africa’s RAF Levy and GFL were R0.47 and R1.27, respectively, in 2008/09. However, they have since grown to R2.18 and R3.86.
MOTOR THREAT
A TRIO of beloved car brands are reportedly “under threat” after their parent company warned that “underperforming” manufacturers could be “shut down”.
The companies, owned by the world’s third-largest carmaker, have struggled for profitability in recent years despite their iconic status. Stellantis owns some of the most famous car firms in the world, including Alfa Romeo, Citroen and Fiat.
It’s the second-largest automotive group in Europe behind VW and third in the world just under Toyota, with a raw revenue of over £141 billion.
However, some of the more niche members of the family have found it hard to achieve profitability in an increasingly competitive market.
Now, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has indicated that “underperforming” brands could be spun off or “shut down”.
C-CLASS GOES ELECTRIC
An electric Mercedes-Benz C-Class will arrive in two years, company CEO Ola Källenius has said. Speaking on Mercedes’ earnings call for the second quarter of 2024, he confirmed the new EV will arrive alongside a new electric GLC SUV, with both models pushing further upmarket.
The siblings, based on the new MB.EA platform, will be placed in what Mercedes dubs the ‘core luxury’ segment, currently occupied by the likes of the CLE and E-Class.
Meanwhile, the brand’s range of ‘entry-level’ cars will be shrunk to comprise the CLA, GLA and GLB, with these three models moving to the new MMA platform.-AUTOCAR UK
VOLVO EX30 BARGAIN
A BEST-selling car brand has slashed the cost of its new SUV by £1,000s… taking it under the price of the rival Kia motor.
The model has only been on the market for a year but has already introduced a new base spec, putting it among the cheapest EVs in the UK. The model uses recycled materials and is the brand’s most eco-friendly ever
The Volvo EX30 was introduced back in 2023 and began European sales in earnest earlier this year.
Now, Volvo has taken £2,000 off its starting price with its latest refresh. The new “Core” variant slots in at the bottom of the model lineup.-The Sun UK
NEW CHERY IN AUSSIE
A new premium SUV from Chinese brand Chery has been spotted in Australia for the first time, albeit without any of the brand’s badging.
Expected to be sold as the Chery Omoda C9 in Australia, the five-seat SUV was spied in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) form at the Heartland Chery dealership in Chullora, Sydney… and with the steering on the right side.
Total system outputs are 270kW of power and 605Nm of torque with the dual-motor configuration, or 445kW and 915Nm with the tri-motor plug-in powertrain.
