Following the successful roadshow to Botswana, the team from Automechanika Johannesburg will be in Kenya on the 28th of May at the Sarova Stanely Nairobi Hotel. You are welcome to join them for an exclusive information session.

Ford South Africa appoints Tarryn Knight as Head of Marketing. With nearly 20 years of experience in German automotive brands, she will lead strategic marketing efforts. Knight aims to enhance Ford’s legacy, strengthen customer experiences, and drive continued growth in 2025 alongside her team, following strong 2024 market performance.

Registration is now open for the IBIS Global Summit 2025, happening from June 24-26 at the Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul. The event, themed “Shaping The Future: Leadership Through Collaboration,” will focus on industry progress, showcasing the latest technologies and market trends through presentations, discussions, and networking.

A century before the Toyota Prius’ 1997 debut, Ferdinand Porsche developed a hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle and marketed it. At the turn of the 20th century, gasoline engines weren’t standard, and one-third of all cars on the road were electric.

BMW Group South Africa hosted the national launch of the new BMW X3 at Plant Rosslyn, with strong local demand. The plug-in hybrid BMW X3 30e xDrive makes up 10% of sales, contributing to a 45% increase in PHEV retail rates. To meet demand, the plant reintroduced a third shift.

Automechanika Johannesburg’s tenth edition, October 28-30 at Gallagher Convention Centre, aligns with Transport Month, showcasing automotive technologies, sustainability, and market growth through the sub-Saharan Roadshow, Gas Conversion Exhibition, E-Hailing Conference, and CEO Breakfast.

Having launched a raft of exciting new models over the past two years, Ford reinforced its commitment to delivering an even more compelling and competitive range of vehicles. This has resulted in both its domestic sales and its export volumes growing.

Axalta’s Fast Cure Low Energy (FCLE) technology reduces energy consumption, cuts costs, and supports sustainability, benefiting body shops and the environment. This innovation supports South Africa’s body shops who are grappling with high energy costs, making efficient solutions essential.

Autoboys has opened a new warehouse in Pomona, Gauteng, offering 25 000 line items across automotive parts, auto glass, and refinish supplies. This proactive move supports their customer-focused approach, with fast deliveries to meet demand. Autoboys aims to provide agile solutions and excellent service in the collision repair market.

In yet another drive to reduce sustainability, a new proposed directive from a large insurance company, is seeking to cap a number of parts costings that will effectively reduce repair profitability across the board once again. With unreasonable and unachievable levels of success, the company is targeting repairer margins once again.

MAB Autobody, led by the Marsberg family, excels in parts, paint, and glass supply across the Vaal region. Their commitment to quality, strong supplier relationships, and rapid delivery service set them apart. Expanding services with Octoral refinishing products and cost-effective solutions, they cater to body shops and DIY customers alike.

The Celette Vortex spray booth offers exceptional performance with thermal ventilating units ensuring uniform airflow. Its advanced design includes energy-efficient insulation, LED lighting, and EU5 filtration. With fast heating times and low running costs, the Vortex is perfect for water-based and solvent-based paints, providing both durability and energy savings.

A recurring issue in panel shops is hissing airline joints due to poor compressed air systems, leading to higher energy costs and tool inefficiency. Upgrading piping, such as large-diameter aluminium or plastic systems, can reduce leaks, improve efficiency, and ensure stable pressure, lowering costs and enhancing overall performance.

PaintWizz revolutionises vehicle-specific paint repair quotations by offering accurate, colour-specific calculations for professional body shops. Developed by industry experts, it provides precise cost estimations, factoring in labour, preparation, and materials like basecoat and toners.

Despite the growing presence of women in the auto body repair industry, they still face harmful stereotypes and sexual harassment. Addressing these issues requires clear policies, training, and safe reporting channels. A respectful, inclusive culture fosters professionalism and dignity.

Hurricane Equipment and Autorobot Finland partnered to enhance automotive repair in South Africa with the EzCalipre3D system. Training sessions focused on local models, boosting support, efficiency, and repair quality while expanding Autorobot’s global database.

ADAS repairs require proper identification and manufacturer guidelines. Careful handling of radar and camera sensors is crucial, as incorrect bumper repairs impact safety. Recalibration is essential, and collision repairers must follow strict procedures to ensure system functionality and vehicle safety.

The Fast Cure Low Energy (FCLE) system optimises speed and energy efficiency, reducing spray booth energy costs by 75% in a 30-minute, 60°C cycle. It enables drying at lower temperatures (20°C) while maintaining productivity. Ideal for body shops, it also supports repairs on temperature-sensitive electric vehicles.

The professional SG AC2000 HVLP spray gun comes in three models with stainless-steel nozzles (1.3mm–1.7mm) for a flawless finish. Its adjustable fan width (260mm–290mm) ensures precise coverage. The removable nozzles allow easy cleaning, making it ideal for professional use, delivering consistent, high-quality results with efficiency and convenience.

The Vortex RG1 full-size spraybooth (7110 x 3600m) features galvanised floor grates, 50mm insulated panels, bi-folding front doors, and an operator’s side door. It has clear-view LED lighting (800 Lux), EU5 ceiling filtration, and LPG gas direct-drive motors for cost efficiency, ensuring top-tier performance and energy savings.

The Telwin Glue Repair Deluxe is a professional PDR system for dent repair without paint removal. It comes in a durable, recycled plastic case for easy organisation and transport. Equipped with various tools for different repair stages, it’s ideal for body shops.

The Carla Legend HVLP air spray gun offers high paint transfer efficiency and excellent atomisation, ensuring superior spraying results while reducing paint waste. Its ergonomic die-cast aluminium body provides durability and stability. Ideal for medium to high adhesive spray painting.

Hurricane Equipment’s three-compartment inflatable spray booth features two transparent windows for brightness, inflates in 5-8 minutes, and is made of silver-grey Oxford cloth. Equipped with carbon cotton air filters to remove harmful chemicals, it ensures safe, contamination-free painting. It’s designed for conventional cars up to 2 meters wide.

Concept 23 introduces the MAXXT-TECH range, featuring the professional Orbital Polisher MOP71015. It offers low vibration and noise, with a soft start and continuous speed. The 15mm orbit ensures efficient, high-quality finishes. A speed-adjustment switch locks for continuous use, and carbon brushes are easily replaceable for extended lifespan.

The auto-retract air hose reel stores and dispenses compressed air hoses efficiently and safely. With a 20m length, it delivers air from the compressor to tools and retracts for easy storage. This reel offers a safer, more efficient solution for pneumatic applications in workshops, DIY projects, or manufacturing settings.

Luxor Paints introduces a new Automotive Twin Pack featuring 2K Fast Hardener and 2K 2:1 Matt Clear UNI. Formulated for excellent flow and scratch resistance, it offers high mechanical durability. Ideal for plastic hang-on parts, this product comes with a lifetime warranty, ensuring long-lasting performance and protection.

RAPTOR High Heat protective coating offers ground breaking durability and heat resistance, withstanding temperatures up to 1 000°C. Using advanced ceramic technology, it’s five times tougher than standard automotive paints, ensuring no blistering, cracking, or peeling. It’s perfect for exhaust manifolds, engine parts, and brake callipers, with more products coming soon.

ADAS repairs require proper identification and manufacturer guidelines. Careful handling of radar and camera sensors is crucial, as incorrect bumper repairs impact safety. Recalibration is essential, and collision repairers must follow strict procedures to ensure system functionality and vehicle safety.

European vehicle manufacturers face challenges with excess capacity, high labour costs, and the shift to electric vehicles. Despite efforts to cut costs, they struggle with profit margins and rising job losses. For collision repairers, the end of mass production could increase parts scarcity, but a shift toward repair and refurbishment may help.

Vehicle design involves balancing vision, engineering constraints, and production simplicity. Tesla’s use of large-scale die casting, like the rear module on Model Y, reduces complexity and weight. However, these innovations require strict repair protocols, with specific limits on welding and straightening to preserve the structural integrity of advanced castings.

As ADAS systems become mandatory, collision repairers must ensure proper calibration of cameras, RADAR, and sensors. Systems like autonomous braking, lane-keeping, and road sign recognition require dynamic or static calibration processes, often using diagnostic tools. With growing system complexity, repairers need training and accurate information to stay competitive in vehicle repairs.

The European automotive industry faces ongoing challenges from emissions regulations, especially with Euro V, VI, and VII, leading to complex and costly systems. The shift to electric vehicles (EVs) has created a conflict, with manufacturers pressured by quotas and fines. Lobby groups like T&E influence policy, complicating the industry’s future and economic health.

Jaguar built its iconic brand through stunning cars, wartime vision, five Le Mans wins, and daring high-speed European journeys. Achieving this over fifty years with a fraction of Mercedes-Benz’s resources, Jaguar’s success relied on a small team and a modest budget, yet left a lasting legacy.

On 10th December 1997 Toyota introduced the first generation of Prius that went on sale in Japan. The primary objective was to build a vehicle with improved fuel economy, like Honda did.

Globally the vehicle manufacturing industry has undergone a revolution – hybrids during the early part of this century, and then in the past decade, full electric drive. The upshot is while some markets are driven towards a political electric only “Utopia”, others are dealing with far more practical matters.

The wonderful world of vehicle manufacturers is under massive pressure to change, driven by legislation, consumer choices and international trading. The collision repairers are down stream of this, and the increasing chaos will have quite an effect, eventually.

Andrew Marsh delves into the evolution of ADAS to full autonomy The engineering that is going on across the autonomous vehicle community is astounding, but all of the systems are prototypes.
He also questions how the manufacturers and repairers feature in this, as well as the flow of data needed for these vehicles.

The Ford Territory Titanium returns to South Africa as a tech-filled, premium mid-size SUV. Powered by a 1.8L turbo EcoBoost engine (138kW, 318Nm), it delivers smooth performance with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Spacious, feature-packed, and efficient, it offers advanced safety, high-end comfort, and a refined driving experience.

At the core of the X2 M35i is BMW’s most powerful M Performance 4-cylinder engine, a 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol unit that delivers 233 kW and 400 Nm. This power propels the X2 from 0 to 100 kph in just 5.4 seconds. Paired with an 8-speed Steptronic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system, it ensures excellent traction and quick gear shifts for a dynamic driving experience.

After 18 months of negotiations, the Hyundai Exter has been launched in South Africa. Originally designed for India, this 1.2 compact crossover SUV offers a stylish, sporty design with features like an 8-inch infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Exter is priced from R269 900 and offers excellent value.

The Ford Ranger Tremor combines the XLT’s comfort with Wildtrak X’s off-road capabilities, featuring a 154kW Bi-Turbo engine, full-time 4WD, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. Its rugged design includes steel protection and off-road features like a 360-degree camera. Priced from R978 600, it offers superior performance and comfort for off-road enthusiasts.

Mahindra marks 20 years in South Africa with the launch of the XUV 3X0, a sporty, well-equipped sub-compact SUV. With a refined 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine and features like a 360-degree camera, six airbags, and ADAS level 2, the vehicle offers great performance and value, priced from R254 949.

Hyundai’s new i20 has hit the road in South Africa with a refreshed, stylish design that is part of a well-rounded motoring package in the segment for hatchback cars, where it occupies a sizeable 10% share of this competitive part of the local car market.

Ford has introduced their new Transit Custom starting with the long wheelbase Van and promising more models later this year. Having claimed Europe’s best-selling one-ton award, the new model promises even more, thanks to consumer feedback which was incorporated into ergonomic design.

The BMW X2 marks a significant stride forward in the evolution of the Sports Activity Coupé (SAC) concept. Its distinct design, characterised by a daring coupé silhouette and dynamic lines, ensures that the X2 captures attention with its charismatic presence. This second generation establishes a new standard in the premium compact segment.

In the latest rendition of the Range Rover Sport, the optional Stealth Pack catapults the vehicle’s performance to unprecedented levels, boasting a dark and dramatic theme that radiates sophistication and power. Every detail of the exterior is meticulously crafted to perfection, establishing a new realm of automotive excellence

The latest BMW 5 series has been launched in South Africa. There are two variants: an all-wheel drive electrified BMW i5 M60, embodying the premium brand’s commitment to future-forward mobility, complemented by a BMW 520d with 48-volt mild hybrid technology. Performance and good looks never disappoint with this manufacturer.