MORE than 162,000 light commercial vehicles were sold in SA last year, the majority of which — 146,000 — were bakkies, setting the stage for a battle among producers for this segment of the market.
These are just the figures for the companies that officially report their sales figures to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa). Thousands more were sold by companies that do not report.
by Mark Smyth, BDLIVE, 03 July 2015, 06:22
The first sketch of the 2017 Mercedes bakkie. Pictures: QUICKPIC and NEWSPRESS
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Several new offerings are due to enter the market in the next couple of years, including abakkie made by Mercedes-Benz. This will be good news for consumer choice but will present producers with something akin to cutthroat competition.The Toyota Hilux topped the sales charts with more than 37,000 derivatives sold last year, but its sales were down 1.4% compared with 2013. Its major challenger, the Ford Ranger, continued to eat into the perennial favourite’s success, with Ranger sales up 4.9% at more than 28,000. Chevrolet took the third-highest sales position with its half-ton Utility.It is in the one-ton bakkie market that competition is going to become even more intense over the next few years.
The modern-day bakkie provides traditional workhorse ability but many also pander to those with an active lifestyle. In recent years the interiors of bakkies have become more car-like, not just in terms of luxury, but in technology and infotainment.
Over the next year some of the major players are due to replace their models. Ford is likely to be first when its new Ranger arrives in SA towards the end of the year. The new Ranger has already been unveiled and continues the American-style truck design theme, which has found a major following among those who are looking for a tough image as well as a vehicle that is packed with comfort features comparable to family sedans.
Toyota recently unveiled its new Hilux, which adopts more of the family face apparent on other models in the stable. The Japanese company is promising new mechanicals, new suspension and new engines as well as upgrades to interior design and refinement.
Nissan will also launch its rival to the Hilux and Ranger in the form of the NP300 Navara.
Previously these were two models, but the company is merging the nameplates into one. It is already on sale in some Southern African markets but Nissan SA has not yet confirmed a date for its local introduction.
The big surprise for many will come in 2017, when Mercedes-Benz enters the one-ton bakkie market. So far the company has not released many details on the model, with only a design sketch out there to tease potential customers.
It will be built by Nissan on the same platform as the NP300 Navara as part of a collaboration between Mercedes and the Renault-Nissan alliance.
While beneath-the-skin mechanicals will come from Nissan, Mercedes-Benz says the design and cabin will be all Mercedes-Benz.
Renault could also be set to jump in. The firm has unveiled its Oroch bakkie, based on its popular Duster. The model will be built in Argentina for Latin American markets and will initially be manufactured only in left-hand drive.
That will be sad news for many in Africa who were looking forward to it after the company said it would build the vehicle for emerging markets. Renault has not ruled out right-hand drive production, though, and the French firm will look at the success of its new bakkie before making any decision.
Then there are Eastern marques from China and India. The threat to the major players of the Chinese manufacturers has not materialised and even the Indian vehicle makers are losing ground.
Mahindra was the biggest player last year, selling 2,481 models, with Tata second on 1,470.
Chinese vehicle maker JMC sold just 483 units.
The lack of any major impact by the vehicle makers in the East shows the oft-cited “flight to quality” remains a major buying influence. The arrival of Mercedes-Benz in the market will add another dimension to the segment while reflecting how important the once humble bakkie is to the global automotive industry.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Bakkie takes flight
by Mark Smyth, 23 April 2015, 06:37
The interior also gets some custom treatment. Picture: BRABUS
The body kit and 23-inch wheels give this Rangie some serious presence. Picture: BRABUS
The load box is designed with falconry and golf in mind. Picture: BRABUS
The interior also gets some custom treatment. Picture: BRABUS
The body kit and 23-inch wheels give this Rangie some serious presence. Picture: BRABUS
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OVER the decades, many companies around the world have taken the knife to the Land Rover and Range Rover and created some interesting new examples. Many of these are genuine custom projects to build off-road fire-fighting vehicles, ambulances or for other emergency services. Some have just been extreme, like six-wheeled Range Rover bakkies that can be used for transporting equipment across your Scottish farm.
We have not seen anything too bizarre for a while, but now Startech, a part of the Brabus styling and tuning operation, has showcased its Range Rover pick-up at the Shanghai Auto Show. Actually it is less of a pick-up and more of a Rangie with the back cut off and space for a large cooler box. Or perhaps it is for falconers in the Middle East to be able to stand in while on top of a huge dune waiting for their falcon to return.
Whatever the reason, it is definitely something a bit different. It has a 5l eight-cylinder supercharged engine offering 387kW that the company claims can get it to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds.
The company says that it has added or changed more than 100 components, including the addition of a number of carbon fibre pieces as well as those massive 23-inch forged alloy wheels.
It has a full body kit, which would probably make any off-roading a little tricky, although it does have a Starch suspension system for the air suspension that allows the ride height to be dropped by an additional 30mm. There are integrated LED daytime running lights up front as well as LED front fog lights. It has an integrated front spoiler to improve downforce and a unique radiator grille as well as carbon fibre pieces on the bonnet. The side profile is dominated by those wheels and 80mm wider flared wheel arches, and carbon fibre trim on the gills and side mirrors.
The interior gets Alcantara and leather bespoke upholstery as well as a heated tinted rear window. Despite the inclusion of the load box, the interior retains seating for four and the panoramic sunroof is still in place.
That plastic-lined load box is almost square and offers a load length of 110cm. The electrically operated tailgate can be dropped to add 60cm to the load length, perfect if you need to fit in a falcon’s cage. However, Startech says you can also put golf bags or other leisure equipment in the load box.
Many components are as much about practicality as style. The roof spoiler has been specially designed to reduce turbulence and the billet aluminium parts in the tailgate can be used to tie down any load.
The company says that the vehicle qualifies for reduced taxation in some countries where it can be classed as a commercial vehicle.
We think it is unlikely we will see any of these on our roads, but for those looking for the ultimate bakkie, this may be the answer.
FUTURE MODELS: Bakkie market done and dusted
by Motor News Reporter, June 25 2015, 08:12
Designers have tried to combine practicality with lifestyle.
The designers have given the Duster Oroch a sporty look.
The interior is designed to be even more car like than traditional bakkies.
Designers have tried to combine practicality with lifestyle.
The designers have given the Duster Oroch a sporty look.
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THE bakkie market is hotting up. Next year will see the arrival of the new Toyota Hilux and the new Nissan NP300 Navara while in 2017 even Mercedes-Benz will get in on the bakkie action with its offering.
One of the vehicles that has been eagerly anticipated by many is the Renault Duster Oroch, which has just been unveiled in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Based on the popular Duster, it marks a new milestone in the brand’s globalisation strategy, aiming to be a modern, sporty and bold utility vehicle that defines a new era in the world of pick-ups.
While the Oroch has been designed primarily with emerging markets in mind, sadly the company will only be making it in left-hand drive for now, so there is no immediate plan for it to come to SA. However, right-hand drive markets such as ours are calling loudly for it to be offered and the company is considering it.
The company says that from the very beginning, its team of technicians and engineers responsible for the project set out to study the new possibilities that could be alternative and unprecedented in the world of pick-ups. They wanted to create a radically different product which puts unexplored attributes within the reach of a new client, and at the same time reflect the vital process of change experienced at all levels of the company’s new brand identity.
In the Latin American market, light pick-ups are experiencing high growth and form a significant portion of total sales, with about 900,000 units per year. The characteristics recognised by the most loyal customers are robustness, low cost and durability, elements that have allowed the company to achieve 75% of the sales of light commercial vehicles.
In this category, there are models based on B-segment car platforms, which provide a large bed at the expense of the comfort of the cabin, or a large cabin at the expense of the bed space. Beyond this segment are the one tonne bakkies that meet much higher expectations but their higher price puts them out of the reach of many customers.
Renault says that it is seeking to bridge that gap for those who are looking for a compact yet generous van derived from a B-segment platform which represents a modern offering, with a bold and attractive style, four doors and five proper seats and that is reliable, robust and with high ground clearance.
The design is definitely unique with the designers aiming to give it a sporty look. Details such as the vertical bars, the door sills and the roll bar are painted a distinctive metallic grey colour. The 16-inch wheels give the vehicle a more dynamic profile that the company says hint at adventure and big challenges.
The engines are based on the 1.6l and 2.0l, four-cylinder injection engines adapted to the needs of the new model. It even offers a decent infotainment system in the form of the new Media NAV Evolution which combines in a single system and includes an intuitive, seven-inch touchscreen, GPS navigation, music playback through USB ports and auxiliary, remote controls on the steering wheel, Bluetooth telephony and media streaming and vehicle information.
The driver’s view on the inside is designed to match the external styling with intuitive and ergonomic design that defines the principle functions and a modern instrument cluster combining digital as well as analogue information.
Following the launch of the vehicle in Latin America, the company will undoubtedly be looking at how well it is received. SA, and indeed Africa, is a strong bakkie market and the possibility of the Oroch being introduced here will hopefully be given proper consideration by the powers that be at Renault.
More in this section
Rivalry in one-tonner vehicle market intensifies
FUTURE MODELS: Comfort, dynamism align
FUTURE MODELS: Cool just got a bit bigger
ROAD TEST: A touch more cosmopolitan
ROAD SAFETY: Council tasked with driving road safety
NEW MODELS: Luxury comes in a lighter package
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NEW MODELS: Pick-up is the business
by Motor News Reporter, April 23 2015, 06:37
The interior is about functionality. Picture: QUICKPIC
Mahindra has expanded its Bolero range. Picture: QUICKPIC
The extended wheelbase provides for a larger load box. Picture: QUICKPIC
The interior is about functionality. Picture: QUICKPIC
Mahindra has expanded its Bolero range. Picture: QUICKPIC
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MAHINDRA has extended its range of Bolero pick-ups with the launch of the Bolero Maxitruck Plus — a single-cab workhorse bakkie that the company says is specifically focused on providing a maximised payload, low running costs and rugged reliability at an affordable price point.
There is no arguing the low price, with the model costing R127,995 even with a two-year/50,000km warranty.
The new model gets the same design features of its other family members with its vertically slotted grille, square headlights, extended bonnet and pronounced wheel arches.
However, it gets its Maxitruck Plus designation by offering an extended wheelbase of 3,150mm, compared to the normal Bolero’s 3,014,mm.
At 2,500mm long, 1,540mm wide and 295mm high, the cargo box offers 1.13m3 of cargo space, while the extended payload of 1,150kg means the cargo space can be used to the full.
Powering the new model is Mahindra’s M2DICR 2.5l turbodiesel engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox which the brand claims can return an average fuel consumption figure of 7l/100km. The company says this engine is designed for rugged reliability, extended service life and low-down torque, while being tough enough to cope with heavy loads, and the hot and high operating conditions typical of the high reef altitude. Its power output might not get many excited with 46kW at 3,200r/min, combined with a torque peak of 195Nm between 1,400r/min and 2,200r/min, but this is a workhorse rather than a bakkie designed with freeways uppermost in mind. According to the company, it has been designed to cope with steep inclines and compromised road surfaces as well as long distances and extreme temperature variations.
It features a stout suspension system, while both front and rear axles are rigid designs and make use of a tried and trusted progressive leaf spring suspension, combined with hydraulic dampers. Hydraulic power steering eases steering effort. A revised steering geometry has allowed a significant reduction in turning circle to just 11 metres, enhancing manoeuvrability while benefiting overall ease of use and convenience.
The new pick-up runs on 15-inch steel wheels shod with 195/80 R15 tyres. The added flexibility of the taller tyre profile aims to benefit both load carrying capacity and overall ride comfort. It has a 170mm ground clearance and is available with rear-wheel drive only.
The company has improved the braking system with front disc brakes and rear drums. A load-sensing proportionate valve (LSPV) enhances retardation when braking hard, especially when the bakkie is fully laden.
There are wide-opening doors and a side step to provide easy access to the cabin. A transponder immobiliser is standard. The interior has cloth upholstery, two-tone instrument panel and an auxiliary power point, allowing smartphones to be charged on the move.
“The addition of the Maxitruck Plus to our Bolero pick-up range confirms Mahindra’s commitment to providing South African buyers with authentic, robust and functional vehicles that are tough, reliable and affordable,” says Ashok Thakur, CEO of Mahindra SA.
“With its large load box, extended wheelbase and high payload, the Maxitruck Plus is set to become the workhorse bakkie of choice for many South African small and medium enterprises. Affordable pricing and low fuel consumption reduce overall operating costs, while Mahindra’s reputation for reliability promises a long service life.”
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