Supa Quick appoints new MD
Michael Humphreys has been appointed by Supa Quick as its new managing director. Humphreys will continue to lead the company in line with Bridgestone Southern Africa’s vision of delivering accelerated social and customer value as a sustainable solutions company. In order to achieve this, his appointment seeks to establish a new management structure that has […]
2023-09-13
SAMBRA opens up professional VDQ qualification to members
Motor body repairer estimators and insurance companies’ vehicle assessors play a crucial role in the daily lives of South Africans. They bridge the gap in the event of an accident between the insurer and the motor body repairer to quantify damage to, or loss of, a vehicle. There are currently more than 4 000 short-term […]
2023-09-12
RMI and TUT announce historic study opportunity for members
The Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Department of Marketing, Supply Chain and Sport Management and the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) have made history by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide stakeholders within the Automotive Retail Aftermarket with an opportunity to further their studies by enrolling for a customised Diploma in Retail Business […]
2023-09-11
RMI appoints new National Labour Director
Jeffrey Molefe has been appointed Labour Director of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), effective 1 April 2023. Molefe holds a Bachelor of Law Degree and a postgraduate qualification in Labour Law. Molefe joined the RMI in May 2013 and has served in various Regional and National structures of MIBCO. He is a member of […]
2023-09-10
SAAFF and NRCS support TEPA’s efforts to curb illicit trade in tyres
The South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) have added their support to the call by the Tyre, Equipment, Parts Association (TEPA), for stronger measures to curb the illicit trade in tyres, which is threatening the sustainability of the industry and putting consumers at risk. In March […]
2023-09-09
BASF’s Chinese operations announce 100 per cent renewable energy usage
On 11 July, BASF Shanghai Coatings Minhang and Caojing sites in Shanghai, as well as BASF Coatings’ resin plant in Caojing, Shanghai, announced the use of 100% renewable energy across its operations in 2023. This moves BASF’s Coatings division one step closer to its global sustainability targets – on carbon reduction, material efficiency and safe […]
2023-09-07
The nuts and bolts of Automechanika Johannesburg with Neil Piper
The nuts and bolts of Automechanika Johannesburg with Neil Piper Automechanika Johannesburg 2023 will be held from 5 to 7 September at the Johannesburg Expo Center (Nasrec). It is part of a network of automotive trade fairs that is held worldwide in 13 countries. It features manufacturers from across the automotive sector, including parts and […]
2023-09-04
Success despite disability
Many of us would battle if we were to spend a day in a wheelchair experiencing the world through the eyes of someone who relies on a wheelchair for mobility. Our eyes would be opened to just how challenging daily routines could be, let alone the prospect of finding employment. But one sector where […]
2023-09-02
3M Wear It Right App
3M says its new Wear it Right app allows convenient respirator qualitative fit testing. The app, which can be downloaded on a smartphone or tablet, supports multiple types of fit tests while featuring modes for beginner and experienced fit testers. 3M says the app directs users so that they follow consistent fit test protocols at […]
2023-08-31
Right to Repair clears up confusion over definition
Replacing parts can be a costly issue and since the new Guidelines for Competition in the South African Automotive Aftermarket (“the Guidelines”) have been implemented, a lot of positive progress has been made to facilitate consumer choice and create a more level and equitable trading environment. Kate Elliott, CEO of Right to Repair, says one […]
2023-07-25
Beating stereotypes in a male dominated repair industry
A 31-year-old single mom from the small Mulenzhe village in Limpopo, is slowly but surely busy busting stereotypes in the male dominated motor repair industry, fuelled by determination, talent and that typical DIY Mzanzi grit. Princess Mukhari is the proud owner of The Automotive Pros in Randfontein, a seven-person outfit that refuses to take no […]
2023-07-15
ONE’s dual-battery solution might alleviate consumers’ EV range fears
Although 99 per cent of trips motorists take falls in the less than 300km range, range remains a major factor when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) adoption hesitancy, as motorists want the peace of mind that a vehicle can do longer distances in the rare cases where it is needed. Michigan-based Our Next Energy […]
2023-06-22
Yet another good reason to join SAMBRA
In today’s highly competitive marketplace, everyone needs to have a basic online presence, irrespective of how small or large your business is. A web-based presence in 2023 is essential for authenticating your business as it is basically your shopfront. The SAMBRA website provides a unique and easy-to-use, value-added tool that can enable any of the […]
2023-06-20
SAMBRA welcomes new national director
Jacques Viljoen has been appointed National Director of the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (SAMBRA), effective 1 May 2023. A qualified attorney and labour practitioner, Viljoen is no stranger to the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), having first joined the RMI in 2016 as an Industrial Relations Specialist. In 2019, he was appointed Regional […]
2023-06-12
AAAM welcomes Lightstone to its fold
On 9 May, the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) announced that another key player in the industry, Lightstone, has been welcomed as an associate member. Lightstone is well known in the body repair industry as the South African Motor Body Repairers Association’s (SAMBRA) main partner and driving force behind its annual industry awards. Lightstone […]
2023-06-10
IATF2023 wheels set in motion with first Business Forum.
The Intra-African Trade Fair 2023 will be held in Cairo in November. The fair aims to provide a unique platform to share trade, market and investment information and to connect buyers and sellers from across the continent in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free […]
2023-06-05
SAMBRA welcomes new national director
Jacques Viljoen has been appointed National Director of the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (SAMBRA), effective 1 May 2023. A qualified attorney and labour practitioner, Viljoen is no stranger to the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), having first joined the RMI in 2016 as an Industrial Relations Specialist. In 2019, he was appointed Regional […]
2023-05-04
RMI raises concerns about transition to Occupational Qualifications for Apprentice training
The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), representing over 8 500 employer businesses in the retail automotive aftermarket sector, has expressed concern over the transition to occupational qualifications for apprentice training in the retail motor industry sector in South Africa. The RMI has been involved in the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Centres of Specialisation […]
2023-05-03
WERC joins the global Right to Repair movement
The World Engine Remanufacturers’ Council (WERC), of which the Automotive Remanufacturers’ Association (ARA) is the residing President, is one of the newest organisations to join other global association leaders to support the critical global right to repair movement by signing the new right to repair position statement which was released in March. The statement outlines […]
2023-04-11
A Next-Gen plant, for a Next-Gen Ranger
2022 saw Ford Motor Company wrapping up its upgrades of its Silverton Assembly Plant following a R15.8 billion ($1.05 billion) investment in its local operations and supplier tooling. The announcement was made in February 2021 and then in an effort becoming a modern automotive giant such as Ford, upgrades took shape with lightning speed over […]
2023-03-28
SAMBRA clear on their intent for 2023
The South African Motor Body Repair Association (SAMBRA) has kicked off the new year with a statement in which they made no bones about their intentions for 2023. In it they covered the various areas on which they will focus in order to serve the industry by, in what they have termed, “Driving a safer, […]
2023-03-18
3M RepairStack Performance Solutions Helps Optimise Body Shop Performance
3M has released RepairStack Performance Solutions, a connected platform to help shop owners and collision repair managers with critical information relating to shop performance, invoicing, and materials usage. The platform, combining hardware and software, was launched at the 2022 SEMA Show following an initial beta testing period. It is currently available in the United States […]
2023-03-11
Axalta Appoints Chris Villavarayan As CEO And President
Axalta Coating Systems has appointed Chris Villavarayan as Chief Executive Officer and President, as well as a member of the company’s Board of Directors, effective 1 January 2023. Rakesh Sachdev, who served as interim CEO and President, will succeed Bill Cook as non-executive Board Chair. Cook will continue to serve as an independent director and […]
2023-03-10
FCW And AEB Reduce Front-To-Rear Crashes By 50 Per Cent: US Survey
A survey by US-based Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety (PARTS) has revealed that vehicles equipped with forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) reduced front-to-rear crashes by around 50 per cent. Additionally, AEB performed well in all weather and lighting conditions. The study also showed vehicles equipped with active intervention technologies […]
2023-03-09