This past Thursday (6 October), Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla will be delivering their first electric trucks to food and beverage giant Pepsi on 1 December.
It came amidst the usual “oohs” and “aahs” that accompany any announcement by Musk, who seems to be revered as a demi-god by some. The only problem is that five years have elapsed since he initially announced that Tesla would be introducing electric trucks to the market and in this period other manufacturers seem to have been quietly getting on with introducing their own electric models in the same category.
Most notably was Amazon who started rolling out electric Rivian delivery vehicles as far back as June. Amazon’s aim is to have thousands of these vehicles in hundreds of US cities by the end of the year, which, when considered, casts considerable shade on Musk’s announcement last Thursday.
In Germany, Amazon is also in the forefront, in this case acquiring 20 Volvo FH Electric trucks that they hope will be fully operational by the end of the year. Again, this has been in the pipeline long before Musk’s recent Tweet.
Even South Africa is not lagging. KDG Logistics recently signed a Letter of Intent to purchase two Volvo FM 4x2 Electric Truck Tractors and these are expected to arrive during the second quarter of 2023.
The race for a share in this market is well advanced, and the South African-born innovator’s company does not have a runaway lead, despite what he might want his social media followers to believe.
General Motors (GM) has renewed its joint venture with China's SAIC Motor Corp for another 20 years, enabling the United States (US) automaker to use China as an export hub amid rising competition from Chinese brands in and outside their home market.
Audi South Africa has expanded its compact SUV line-up with the introduction of the new Q2 S line derivative.
LDV South Africa has added a new entry model to its line‑up with the launch of the T60 Utility Single Cab. Priced from R299 900, it is positioned as one of the most affordable single‑cab bakkies in the country, aimed at businesses and fleet operators who require a dependable workhorse with modern equipment.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
General Motors (GM) has renewed its joint venture with China's SAIC Motor Corp for another 20 years, enabling the United States (US) automaker to use China as an export hub amid rising competition from Chinese brands in and outside their home market.
Young South African motorists are increasingly opting for more affordable and practical vehicles as the cost of living puts pressure on household budgets, while still maintaining comprehensive insurance cover.
The row over BMW’s Spider-Man promotion is not really about superheroes. It is about trust, control and the creeping feeling that modern cars are becoming digital platforms first and private possessions second.
