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OMODA C4 will be the first Chery Group model to enter production in South Africa. Local production will take place at the group’s Rosslyn facility in Gauteng. Petrol, hybrid and fully electric derivatives confirmed for sale in South Africa in 2027. The new OMODA C4 will be the first Chery Group model built in South …
The interconnector’s 500kV High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) line spans 1,045km with a 2,000MW capacity. It runs from the Wolayta-Sodo converter station in Ethiopia crossing into Kenya to end at the Suswa Substation. Completed in November 2022 and inaugurated in 2023, it is one of only a handful of HVDC links on the continent, alongside …
From external economic pressures to industry challenges, protecting margin is becoming even more crucial for independent home improvement retailers and even more difficult. During a recent webinar hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA), ECI Software Solutions business unit leader Kevin Ehinger shared areas where independent dealers may be losing margins and …
Akzo Nobel N.V. and Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. recently received conditional approval from the European Commission for their proposed all-stock merger of equals, which will create a premier global coatings company. The transaction is expected to close in early 2027 subject to pending regulatory approvals. Following constructive discussions with the European Commission, AkzoNobel and Axalta …
The question isn’t whether retailers should use AI, the questions now are how should they use it and why. AI can assist with everything from improving online product visibility and testing customer service tools to empowering associates and improving inventory accuracy, and during a recent webinar hosted by the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA), …
Rather than limiting its Black Friday deals to a single frantic weekend, AutoTrader is extending the event across the entire month of November. The Black November promotion runs from 1 to 30 November, with 439 deals currently available across cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and leisure rides, representing more than R8.8 million in total savings. For …
Coverings, North America’s largest ceramic tile and natural stone trade show and conference, has opened Coverings 2027 early-bird attendee registration, special hotel rates and the impactful Coverings Cares program. The event, which will take place April 6-9, 2027, at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida, is part of Coverings’ three-year Orlando schedule, …
Table of Contents South Africa’s changing international trade environment has reinforced the importance of building a more resilient domestic automotive manufacturing base, with greater local content and stronger support for existing manufacturing capability across the full vehicle lifecycle, according to the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI). The recent announcement by the United States government of …
ESI Africa Editor-in-Chief Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl talks about three noteworthy points she learned about energy efficiency at the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Africa conference. Firstly, that the cheapest kilowatt hour is the one you never use, Secondly, we have to stop working in silos, and Thirdly, the greatest route to sustainability and accountability is …
ESI Africa spoke with Oghosa Erhahon, the Policy and Markets Manager at the Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Council, to capture exactly how this technology addresses the intermittency of renewable energy. To start our conversation, what is the basic definition of LDES? It is anything with an eight hour- plus storage duration. LDES unlocks major cost …
The Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) released the October 2026 HIRI Economic & Industry Update, a monthly report covering general economic data, housing market data and home improvement market data and evaluations of key economic indicators and their influence on the home improvement market. See five fast facts from the report and discover how the …
The recent blow to consumer pockets from ever increasing fuel prices was just the push that the local EV Industry needed. The talk around the braai fires has shifted to how to save money on transport costs. Listen carefully the next time that you are in such a conversation and notice that the prime drivers …
Two years of efficiency savings at ArcelorMittal South Africa equal a 100MW plant running for a year. The team behind this achievement credits alignment, not the technology implemented. That case study anchored a panel on energy performance contracting at the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Africa conference in Cape Town on 28 October 2026. Moderator …
A roundup of top news, capacity milestones, policy shifts, and corporate developments across the solar energy sector reported during October 2026. Brought to you by Straton Solar. 1. Germany Reports 40% Surge in October Solar Generation Overview: Data released by the Internationales Wirtschaftsforum Regenerative Energien (IWR) showed that solar power generation in Germany jumped by …
A comprehensive roundup of top news stories, regulatory shifts, technical standards, safety alerts, and business trends reported across the electrical contracting sector during October 2026. Brought top you by Straton Electrical, Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. 1. NECA 2026 Convention Highlights Smart Grid Integration and Workforce Expansion Overview: The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) concluded …
PPG announced the appointment of Anthony DeGram as the vice president of global supply chain. DeGram will report to Kevin Braun, PPG senior vice president, and will be responsible for leading PPG’s global supply chain team, processes and strategy. “Anthony is an established leader who brings deep supply chain expertise and a strong track record …
George, Western Cape: Impi Wire, the fencing, building, agricultural and packaging materials supplier based in George, has closed the contracting and installation division of MP Fencing, its 43-year-old sister business, so it no longer competes with the same contractors it supplies. Customers across the Garden Route and Klein Karoo will be served exclusively through Impi …
The latest Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report 2026 shows that the number of people using solar home systems, water pumps, generators, lanterns and other off-grid solar products rose 26% from 118 million to 149 million between 2023 and 2025. [embedded content] GOGLA Executive Director Sarah Malm talks about the off-grid solar sector’s record sales year …
For decades, grid operators took inertia for granted. Coal-fired, nuclear and hydro plants supplied it in abundance, their heavy generators rotating in step with grid frequency. Inverter-based resources (IBRs) put that stability at risk. Solar panels and batteries produce DC, which inverters convert to AC, and while wind turbines do spin, their electronic converters decouple …
Gqeberha, October 31, 2026 – Ants in a garden do not automatically mean a home needs pest treatment. True Clean owner Diederik Visser favours treating an actual problem and leaving outdoor ants alone when they are not bothering the household. The distinction matters as residents decide what to do about activity around their homes. Ants …
Q3 2026 sales reached 4,310 units, up 24.4% year-on-year and more than triple Q3 2024 volumes. OMODA & JAECOO has now surpassed 30,000 cumulative South African sales, with 31,990 units sold by the end of September 2026. September was the group’s best sales month yet at 1,503 units, with record monthly sales for the OMODA …
Gqeberha – A rug-cleaning quote can lead to a conversation about whether the work is worth doing at all. True Clean’s guidance for urine-affected shaggy rugs encourages owners to compare the treatment cost with what the rug is worth to them before agreeing to the work. The Gqeberha cleaning business has advised owners to replace …
Gqeberha – Reaching for a spray after cockroach bait has been placed can work against the treatment the household is trying to support. True Clean is advising residents to check their treatment instructions before adding another product around baited areas. The issue is compatibility. Certain repellent products can contaminate bait or make its placement unattractive …
Table of Contents CAPE TOWN, South Africa – A new battery fixes a flat battery for about a week, if the real fault is an alternator that has stopped charging properly or a module that never goes to sleep. V-Auto, an auto electrical and diagnostics workshop in Montague Gardens, Cape Town, has set out its …