April vehicle sales affected by public holidays

In amplification of the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of April, 2015 – released today for public consumption on the website of the Department of Trade & Industry – the Association commented that domestic new vehicle sales, particularly all categories of commercial vehicle sales, had been affected by the multiplicity and configuration of public holidays during the month. Supported by incentive packages, new car sales had held up relatively well. Continued strong growth in new vehicle exports had continued during the month.

In the event, April 2015 aggregate new vehicle sales at 44 503 units were slightly down from the 46 016 vehicles sold in April last year. Overall, out of the total reported Industry sales of 44 503 vehicles, an estimated 38 780 units or 87.2% represented dealer sales, 6.3% constituted sales to government, 4.2% to industry corporate fleets and 2.3% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry.

The April, 2015 new car market at 30 184 units reflected a decline of 594 units or a fall of 1.9% compared to the 30 778 new cars sold in April last year. Intense competition in a challenging, difficult tradingenvironment had resulted in incentive packages to promote new vehicle sales. Furthermore, a modestrecovery in the used vehicle market had also been noticed.

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses during April, 2015 at 12 077 units reflected a decline of 774 units or a fall of 6.0% compared to the 12 851 light commercial vehiclessold during the corresponding month last year.

Sales of vehicles in the investment-driven medium and heavy truck segments of the Industry had registered declines. Medium commercial vehicle sales at 777 units and heavy commercial vehicle sales at1 465 units, reflected a fall of 38 units or 4.7% in the case of medium commercials, and a decline of 107 vehicles or a fall of 6.8% in the case of heavy trucks and buses – compared to the corresponding month last year.

Vehicle exports had continued to contribute positively to South Africa’s current account of the balance of payments. Industry new vehicle exports at 23 615 units during April, 2015 had again registered exceptionally strong growth compared to the corresponding month last year rising by 6 813 vehicles or 40.5% relative to the 16 802 export sales in April, 2014.

Vehicle exports for 2015 were on target to improve by around 25% in volume terms to a record export number of about 325 000 for the year.

At this stage, NAAMSA continued to project marginal volume growth in domestic sales based on an assumption of a slight improvement in South Africa’s economic growth rate, relative stability in automotive industry industrial relations, stable interest rates and unchanged credit ratings.

New vehicle industry production would continue to benefit from projected higher export numbers.

[Media from NAAMSA]

Also view:

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Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer

April vehicle sales affected by public holidays

Watch out for these renovation blunders

Australians adore their properties and adore renovation – evidenced by the recognition of Tv shows such as The Block. Offered the expense involved even though, renovation is not one thing to jump into lightly. The biggest mistake renovators make is failing to think about the wants and desires of their prospective tenants or buyers, says Sydney-based buyer’s agent, Patrick Bright.

“It’s no surprise that The Block has now incorporated buyer’s agents into their judging and coaching panel of experts and the finish result speaks for itself,” mentioned Mr Bright. “When renovating for profit you should generate a home that tenants want to rent and buyers want to acquire. You have to commence with the end in thoughts.”

Some “ends” to hold in thoughts incorporate:

Avoiding structural defects

If you have a restricted price range (and let’s face it, most of us do) then it doesn’t make sense to invest that budget repairing structural defects that will be largely invisible to purchasers/tenants. “The most frequent defects are sinking footings or sinking piers (these are under houses), and water erosion below houses,” said Mr Vibrant. “Then there’s a sagging roof, sagging ceiling due to a wall getting removed with out an suitable size hanging beam put in to hold it up, plus pest issues.  These are all quite pricey issues to repair.”

Market place demand

It makes sense that a property that has the right attributes, in a location with the proper attributes, will be simpler to rent or sell. According to Mr Bright, that’s the golden rule of renovating. “Considerations such as public transport, proximity of shops and obtaining a great college in the location are very crucial when deciding on a place,” he said. “The far more of these you’re closer to the better as the property will appeal to a wider audience.  Keep in thoughts you want to be “close” to them not “on top” of them or have them on prime of you.”

Unique attributes

It does aid if your property stands out from the crowd – but bear in mind that there’s special and “unique. Which leads into…

Classic style

“Don’t get sucked in by what’s trendy this month,” stated Mr Bright. “You want the renovation to last for a excellent several years. So don’t go for a colour scheme, design or decor that will date swiftly. Pick neutral palettes and avoid undertaking something that is personal or what most would consider is a bit ‘out there’.”

Parking and floor program

Don’t forget the practicalities of living. A property requirements to have a floor strategy that works effectively – and somewhere to park! “A very good floor strategy is sensible and functional,” said Mr Bright. “It permits an efficient flow of site visitors by way of the property and it maximises all-natural light and takes benefit of the greatest outlooks.”

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Watch out for these renovation blunders

Why does driving make us so angry?

Ever had to deal with an irate motorist?

Exactly where I reside, the question should possibly be: “Ever come across a motorist who isn’t mouthing obscenities, flashing their lights, leaning on their horn and creating hand gestures that defy explanation to your kids sitting in the back?”

Or maybe that says more about my driving than something else.

Be that as it might, it seems road rage is endemic. A staggering 81% of drivers have been victims of road rage, according to a current survey by Carwow.co.uk.

It is your shout…

Shouting would look to be the most typical expression of anger. But aggressive or harmful driving and verbal abuse are also regular occurrences.

And 1 in 5 drivers has been threatened in a road rage incident.

But if road rage is so frequent, how come 51% of us claim we never ever give in to our aggression? Is it genuinely the case that only 30% of us permit anger to get the far better of us when or twice a month, as the survey suggests – or are we too ashamed to ’fess up and admit we do our fair share of yelling and gesticulating?

Authority figures

The authorities have tried to crack down on road rage by introducing £100 penalties for poor driving habits, such as tailgating and lane hogging.

Very whether or not this will have the desired impact remains to be noticed. Following all, if you are prone to tantrums that make your veins stand out on your temples, are you genuinely going to be capable to modify your behaviour at will?

The root of the issue is certainly woven into how vehicles and driving impact our psychology.

Most of us behave differently when we’re driving. We shed our inhibitions simply because we feel anonymous and immune.

In other words, we make rude gestures at other motorists behind the wheel that we would never dream of making face to face.

Fighting the fury

So although it is tempting to blame road rage on a distinct group of issue drivers, we must all acknowledge our possible to drop our rags and consider about how we can avoid confrontation, stress and accidents.

Here’s a few ideas:

• let plenty of time for your journey. If you are late, you are significantly a lot more probably to be aggressive


• don’t get behind the wheel if you are upset, angry or unwell (or hungover – a disastrous thought for all manner of reasons, not least the reality that you are possibly nonetheless over the limit)


• don’t allow your self to be distracted by music, phones, maps or passengers


• do your very best not to antagonize other drivers. So, no lane hogging, inappropriate use of the horn, flashing your headlights, tailgating or cutting-up


• wave an apology if you make a error as the acknowledgement can defuse a potentially explosive predicament


• do not competing with other drivers. It is a public highway, not a racetrack


• if somebody else is driving aggressively, don’t make eye speak to, shout or gesticulate.

What if you’re the victim?

It is probably happened to all of us. You all of a sudden find your self on the receiving end of a barrage of abuse and aggressive behaviour.

So what’s the ideal strategy?

Tailgaters can be particularly intimidating, but you need to in no way compromise your own security. So, do not speed up or brake all of a sudden.

As an alternative, try and discover a protected way to let the tailgater pass. For example, you may well drive twice round a roundabout.

If a driver is persistently aggressive, you may possibly want to head to a secure, public location and get in touch with the police. By no means allow an angry driver to follow you house.

And if the motorist gets out of the vehicle to strategy you, lock the doors and do not open the window. It can also support to make a note of the registration number and a description of the driver and the vehicle.

Temper your temper

It is not often straightforward to stay calm on the roads, specially if you are stuck in heavy site visitors or reduce up by an inconsiderate motorist. But losing your temper is not going to help.

In truth, it is far more probably to make things worse.

So next time you feel the anger rising, take a deep breath, smile and count to 8.

Why does driving make us so angry?

First Car Rental adds 165 New Cars to Car Hire Fleet

First Car Rental is excited to announce that this month it is adding an additional 165 new cars to its car hire fleet.

There will be 100 new Toyota Etios 1.5 XS sedans added to Group C; 50 new Honda Brio 1.2 auto sedans in Group D; and 15 new Honda Mobilio 1.5 Comfort 7-seaters in Group I.

Says Melissa Storey, Executive Head of Strategy, Development and Marketing at First Car Rental, “The addition of 165 new cars allows First Car Rental to cater to our growing car rental demands and provide customers with the right vehicle for their travel needs.

The Toyota Etios and Honda Brio sedans offer comfort and style while the Honda Mobilio 7-seater is a great choice for group travel.”

New vehicle specs:

The lively Toyota Etios 1.5 XS sedan comes with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, air con, power steering, electric windows and an audio system. The car’s safety features include dual front airbags, central locking and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution).

The all-new Honda Brio 1.2 auto sedan is a stylish car boasting a 1.2 i-VTEC engine that delivers 65kW of peak power and 109Nm torque. The Brio comes with electric windows all round, air con, power steering, USB/aux connectivity for the audio system and steering wheel radio controls. Safety features include dual front airbags and ABS (with EBD).

Honda-Brio-Sedan

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The Mobilio is powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine and comes with a built-in audio system (radio/CD/MP3/USB/Aux), power steering, steering wheel radio controls, air con (with separate vents for rear passengers), electric windows all round, adjustable side mirrors and a 12V accessory socket in the centre console.

Safety features include remote central locking, dual front airbags, head restraints and ABS (with EBD).

All 3 models will be available to hire by the end of April 2015.

Also view:

Car Rental and Road Safety

TOYOTA-ETIOS-SEDAN

First Car Rental adds 165 New Cars to Car Hire Fleet

Credit Cards – Star Ratings

With more than 15 million credit cards in circulation, they are surely an entrenched part of our daily financial armoury. Credit cards continue to evolve with far more eye-catching offers appearing on the market place nearly every day. Bonus points for the rewards lover, interest-cost-free deals and all manner of offers are vying for your business.

Credit cards are not a a single-size-fits-all monetary accessory. Their good effect on your economic life-style depends on matching the appropriate card to your spending patterns. Get it proper and life is good (or a bit much less costly, at any price). Get it incorrect and you could end up digging yourself into a lot more debt. Here at CANSTAR, we can aid by comparing cards at the various commit level, according to our 5 common profiles – Constant Credit, Occasional Spender, Every day Spender, Large Spender and Significant Spender.

In this Star Ratings Report we look at 171 credit cards from 58 providers. The sheer quantity of credit card merchandise offered shows how competitive the sector is. That’s why it is so critical to hook up with a card that is tailored to you. Even if you consider you have got a credit card that offers the best deal, you ought to regularly overview that, as items are continually changing.

In addition, we look at how lengthy it will take you to pay off that Easter spending blowout. And we detail Balance Transfer provides from 12 to 20 months, as nicely as some bumper bonus points offered for the lovers of Rewards cards.

Credit Cards – Star Ratings

Credit Cards – Star Ratings

With more than 15 million credit cards in circulation, they are definitely an entrenched component of our everyday economic armoury. Credit cards continue to evolve with a lot more appealing provides appearing on the marketplace nearly each day. Bonus points for the rewards lover, interest-free deals and all manner of provides are vying for your company.

Credit cards are not a 1-size-fits-all financial accessory. Their positive effect on your economic life-style depends on matching the proper card to your spending patterns. Get it proper and life is excellent (or a bit less costly, at any price). Get it incorrect and you could finish up digging oneself into much more debt. Right here at CANSTAR, we can aid by comparing cards at the diverse commit level, according to our 5 frequent profiles – Constant Credit, Occasional Spender, Daily Spender, Big Spender and Significant Spender.

In this Star Ratings Report we look at 171 credit cards from 58 providers. The sheer number of credit card merchandise obtainable shows how competitive the sector is. That is why it’s so critical to hook up with a card that’s tailored to you. Even if you consider you’ve got a credit card that offers the greatest deal, you need to often evaluation that, as products are continually changing.

In addition, we appear at how long it will take you to spend off that Easter spending blowout. And we detail Balance Transfer offers from 12 to 20 months, as nicely as some bumper bonus points available for the lovers of Rewards cards.

Credit Cards – Star Ratings

Matrix gives you the option of buying your tracking product online

South African’s looking to purchase and install a vehicle tracking device, can now do so online, from the comfort of their home or desk, through Matrix. This is the second brand within the MiX Telematics Africa Group to offer this market first.

“As a company focused on delivering innovative offerings to our customers and the market, we are pleased to launch our fully enabled e-commerce site,” says Grant Fraser, director of products and marketing at Mix Telematics Africa. “By simply visiting www.matrix.co.za; and following the 5 easy steps¹, consumers can securely purchase the product of their choice, directly online, as well as choose the fitment centre and date that suits them best for the installation, all through the click of a button.”

“We have also launched a budget payment programme via the online site, giving you a payment programme that is more suited to your monthly budget,” adds Fraser.

E-commerce is growing exponentially, with a recent report by McKinsey & Company stating that e-commerce could account for 10% of retail sales in Africa’s largest economies by 2025². “South Africa is certainly part of this growth, and many of our own customers have indicated that they would prefer to undertake purchases online via a secure site, which we are pleased to give them,” says Fraser.

Matrix has increased its technology innovation for customers over the last few months. The e-commerce site launch follows the recent announcement of the availability of its Mobile App.

Continues Fraser; “Our app is a great extension for customers. Through a Smartphone or Tablet that support IOS or Android, customers  can now receive “harsh” driving alerts, but more importantly, they can instantaneously report if their vehicle has been stolen or if roadside and medical assistance is needed at any time of the day or night, directly from their mobile device. We have also enhanced personal security features within the app, and now users get ‘early warnings’ of vehicle movement. Once ‘early warning’ is enabled, and a customer has parked their vehicle, they able to lock the car position from the app. Any unauthorised movement will result in an alarm being generated to our 24/7 national operation centre and the owner notified immediately.

“From start to finish, the app guarantees peace of mind through real-time feedback on vehicle location, as well as an immediate response in an emergency, in a time where every second counts with regards to your safety. This app, together with our fully enabled ecommerce site, ensures customers can interact with Matrix at their own convenience and time – with ease,” Concludes Fraser.

Notes:

¹ Step 1: select package, Step 2: supply personal details, Step 3: set up direct debit order with banking details, Step 4: Select fitment centre, Step 5: Processing of an upfront account initiation fee*

²http://www.africa-ontherise.com/category/editorials/page/3/

About MiX Telematics

MiX Telematics is a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions delivered as SaaS to customers in over 120 countries. The company’s products and services provide enterprise fleets, small fleets and consumers with solutions for safety, efficiency, compliance and security. MiX Telematics was founded in 1996 and has offices in South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uganda, Brazil, Australia and the United Arab Emirates as well as a ne2rk of more than 130 fleet partners world-wide. MiX Telematics shares are publicly traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: MIX) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MIXT).

Matrix gives you the option of buying your tracking product online