7 Jan 2014Contact usSubmit newsAdvertise on bizList your company
  My account

Automotive

Here's to a great 2014

2013 ended sadly, with Madiba's passing, but that means that we can now go into 2014 with the hope that this year will be better than the last.

We in the media have the Protection of State Information Bill hanging over us; Jacob Zuma has only to sign it into law, but that in itself will, we're sure, provide for some very interesting times this year and possibly into the future, because it is almost certain that the law will be challenged, right up to the Constitutional Court.

South Africa is fortunate in having a vibrant and independent media (apart from some notable exceptions) and that should ensure that any government hoping to hide the truth will face a long, hard battle.

So let's head into 2014 in a positive frame of mind - even if in years to come, some may look back on them as "the bad old days".

Today sees the first of our newsletters for 2014 and we'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all... for your past and, we hope, on-going support, and for your selection of this company - Bizcommunity.com - as your media vehicle of choice to get your news and opinions to your target audience.

To you all, all the very best for a prosperous and successful 2014.

Rod Baker, Content Director

Comment online in our ed's column archive. Go mobile with apps and m.bizcommunity.com. Engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Subscribe to YouTube and via RSS. Send all your industry-specific news and event invitations to automotivenews@bizcommunity.com, exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-automotive@bizcommunity.com and international news to internationalnews@bizcommunity.com. Read "How to contribute to Biz, from op-ed pieces to news".



Weekly top stories
More pain at pumps for motorists in 2014
Early indications are that consumers are in for more pain at the pumps this year. Read more >>


Fleet Management
New Year brings renewed opposition to e-tolling

Nicky Smith

The scene is set for a major battle between civil society groups‚ private citizens and the state in the coming months‚ with temperatures already running hot during the normally sleepy holiday season over unpopular e-tolls. Read more >>

Manufacturing
Ford's solar-powered concept hybrid car
NEW YORK, USA: Ford announced plans for a prototype hybrid car that uses solar energy from a rooftop charger, to reduce petrol consumption without drawing electricity from the national electricity grid. Read more >>

Fiat shares surge on Chrysler merger
ROME, ITALY: Shares in Italian car giant Fiat rose sharply after it announced it would take full control of Chrysler in an historic US$3.65bn deal. Read more >>

Europe's manufacturing sector posts highest growth in 31 months
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Business activity in the eurozone posted its strongest growth in 31 months in a fresh sign of recovery although France remained subdued, a key survey showed. Read more >>

Repair, Maintenance & Safety
Booze major killer on South African roads

Pearlie Joubert

The latest research from the Medical Research Council's survey shows that drunk drivers remain a leading cause of death on South Africa's roads. Read more >>

Blackest festive season in SA history

Henrie Geyser: motoring editor

The Festive Season death toll could be as high as 1,736 with the daily death toll for the period 1 to 30 December 2013 already the highest in history according to driving skills specialist, Rob Handfield-Jones, who has monitored Christmas and Easter death tolls since 2007. Read more >>

Retail
French car sales hit 15-year low in 2013
PARIS, FRANCE: The French car market sank to its lowest level in 15 years with 1.79m new cars being sold last year and projections are that there will be a slow improvement this year. Read more >>

Africa a booming market for stolen cars
ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE: If luxury cars have become a more common sight on African roads that is in part because it is a primary destination for cars stolen from Europe's streets. Read more >>

Audi to invest €22bn in new models and technology
BERLIN, GERMANY: Audi, the top-of-the-range car manufacturer owned by Volkswagen, announced a massive investment programme in new models and technology over the next five years. Read more >>


International

Chevrolet to roll out 4G-connected cars
LAS VEGAS, USA: The new Chevrolets coming out this year will be faster - at least when it comes to gleaning information from the superhighway. Read more >>


More International


Jobs offered




All industry news


Marketing & Media
Countdown begins to Cape Town... World Design Capital 2014
Mxit Brand Index: 31 December 2013

Medical
Want to give up smoking? Here are five ways to do just that

Rod Baker

Adult stem cells found to suppress cancer while dormant
Laboratory study confirms target of potent chronic leukaemia drug

Retail
Slow profit growth cools appetite for retail stocks
Retail's stellar climb runs out of steam in 2013

Zeenat Moorad

Sony Mobile's Xperia Z1 Compact enters market

Government
City staff blamed for bad books

Olebogeng Molatlhwa

SGBs: 'Quality of education system has stabilised'
Sisulu declares 2014 year of excellence in public service

Mining
Miners work overtime to raise funding over festive season

Brendan Ryan

Kumba, Anglo 'looking to build organically' in Gabon

Allan Seccombe


CSI
Vodacom lends a hand to St Clement's Home Based Care Project
Nordex focuses on wellbeing, education

Finance
Slow profit growth cools appetite for retail stocks

Zeenat Moorad


Agriculture
General Mills pledges GMO-free Cheerios
Local grains rise on weaker rand
Zimbabwe imports maize to stave off hunger

Arts
SA Creatives wins 2013 blog of the year award
Popular street soirees returns to Stellenbosch

Building
Rehabilitation of major Mpuma road on the cards

Adele du Toit


Environment
Pollution affects the Olifants River in KNP
China city caps car-buying to curb pollution
'Live animals horns hacked'

Lucas Ledwaba


HR & Recruitment
Zuma rejects salary sliding scale recommendation

Linda Ensor

Zimbabwe to introduce New Year ban on foreign owners

Legal
ConCourt judgment: Competition Commission v Pioneer and Others

Lerisha Naidu and Samantha Brener

Thuli gives 'pilgrims' a lifeline

Manufacturing
Eskom building programme builds skills

Property
Increasing demand for industrial space
Flurry of property listings sets up consolidation in 2014

Alistair Anderson


Security
We will honour military veterans - Zuma
Violence grows in Central African Republic - UN

Education
Wits launches Equality Scholarships

Tourism
Over 4m travellers for SA in December
Clico... a rose by any other name...

Brian Berkman

Beit Bridge border traffic swells

Ray Ndlovu


ICT
2014 predictions for the broadcast industry

David Hochner

Critical tools for supporting the mobile enterprise of the future

Russel Brand


Maritime
Intl exchange programme for the maritime industry

Sport
Capetonians join 2014 CHAN volunteer programme
Kenya misses out on CHAN 2014
VfB Stuttgart holds 2014 training camp in Cape Town

Logistics
New low-cost carriers portend a busy year for SA aviation

Nicky Smith


Lifestyle
Best Dressed Man added to L'Ormarins fashion list
PrintPrint any item in this newsletter. EmailEmail any item in this newsletter. CommentComment on any item in this newsletter.


Today's weather
Cpt

23°C
18°C
Jhb

29°C
18°C
PE

25°C
21°C
Dur

31°C
23°C
Bloem

30°C
16°C

Customise weather

Follow us

Browse other industries



Press releases: Distribute your news professionally to over 170 000 subscribers across various industries. Read more about our press offices.

Editorial: We welcome your news, views and comments! Email press releases, invitations, interview requests, and proposals to automotivenews@bizcommunity.com and exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-automotive@bizcommunity.com.

Advertising: We welcome your sales enquiries! Email sales@bizcommunity.com and read more about our advertising rates.

Location: Cape Town (head office): tel +27 (0)21 680 3500 | 24 On Main, Main Street, Rosebank, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa. Johannesburg: tel +27 (0)11 513 4172 | Nicol Grove Office Park, Design Quarter, Leslie Avenue, Fourways, Gauteng, 2055.

Subscribe/unsubscribe: Invite your friends, colleagues, suppliers, customers and partners to subscribe!


© 2014 Bizcommunity.com. All rights reserved.
Bizcommunity.com, its sponsors, contributors and advertisers disclaim all liability for any loss, damage, injury or expense that might arise from the use of, or reliance upon, the services contained herein.

Unsubscribe, Manage subscriptions. Subscribe. Change email address. Change frequency to DAILY.