Jaecoo J7 SHS plug-in hybrid confirmed for South Africa
Jaecoo has confirmed its J7 SHS plug-in hybrid will go on sale in South Africa in June.
The J7 SHS is powered by a 1.5 l turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor and a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission. According to the Chinese manufacturer, the system — dubbed 'Super Hybrid System' — delivers fuel consumption of under 5 l /100km, placing it among the more efficient vehicles in its segment. An 18.3kWh battery enables up to 90km of electric-only range and when connected to a 40kW DC charger the battery can be charged from 30% to 80% in about 20 minutes.
Standard equipment includes leather upholstery, ambient interior lighting, 19" alloy wheels, wireless charging, a 10.25" digital instrument cluster, 360° camera system, an electric tailgate, an eight-speaker Sony sound system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
A comprehensive suite of driver assistance features is also included, such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic assist with automatic braking.
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Daily Maverick
2 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Taiwan deploys a ‘silicon shield' to protect itself from China
Taiwan's semiconductor prowess serves, in different ways, to provide a 'silicon shield', protecting the country from the threat of China. The tiny island nation's superiority in advanced electronics – particularly semiconductors where it is a world leader – help Taiwan's defence in several ways – in making smarter weapons; in building stronger alliances with its allies; in making itself increasingly indispensable to the world economy; and also in greatly boosting its wider economy, providing the revenue to buy better weapons and generally strengthen its resilience. The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), based at Hsinchu, about 50km southwest of the capital Taipei, is perhaps the country's greatest strategic asset. It is the world's largest semiconductor foundry, manufacturing chips on behalf of many customers. It is also one of the top three global companies in any aspect of producing semiconductors. The modern global economy is largely powered by semiconductors, in the form of microprocessors, memory chips, commodity integrated circuits and complex systems on a chip (SoCs). The tiny electronic circuits are the brains for millions of devices, ranging from coffee machines and smartphones to cars, space vehicles and missile guidance systems. Last year, TSMC contributed 7.3% of Taiwan's GDP of $814.44-billion, 13.4% of exports and 12.3% of national income tax. The competition in semiconductor manufacturing is for greater miniaturisation, to be able to pack ever more circuitry and functionality into ever smaller spaces. Scott Huang, associate researcher of the bureau of the Hsinchu Science Park – where TSMC was founded in 1987 and where it is still headquartered – says billions of transistors are now being squeezed into some chips. He notes that the smallest commercially available chips have now shrunk to just three nanometres, which is about one 30,000th of the diameter of a human hair. Even tinier chips have been developed in the laboratory. 'Silicon shield' Taiwan's semiconductor prowess serves, in different ways, to provide a 'silicon shield', protecting the country from the threat of China, he said. 'If not for the semiconductor, I guess China would attack Taiwan much earlier,' he said. Huang noted that the miniaturisation of chips was critical for developing the kind of smart weapons Taiwan needs to fend off a possible attack from China. He noted that, for example, more sophisticated chips enabled the manufacture of missiles which could take into account more parameters to improve the chances of hitting their targets. He says Taiwan's advanced semiconductor industry is an indispensable asset not only for itself, but for the world. 'If there was an attack on TSMC, people around the world would not be able to use the smartphone or new model of the iPhone for three years.' Last week, US Republican Congressman Zach Nunn posted on X that since some 90% of the world's advanced semiconductors were produced in Taiwan, a Chinese blockade or invasion of the island could result in 'economic destruction' across the world on a scale not seen since World War 2, including many 'economic GDP collapses'. He called for a worldwide assessment of the implications of such a Chinese attack, suggesting that the world was collectively neglecting the threat. Although the TSMC had now built manufacturing plants in the US, Japan and Germany, its greatest technological expertise was still concentrated in Taiwan. 'So we need the US, Japan and other countries to deter China,' Huang said. He noted that Beijing was 'always trying its best to steal technology from us', but so far Taiwan had kept it at bay. He said that in 2017 or 2018, China boasted that it would catch up with Taiwan's semiconductor prowess in three years. But then the Trump administration launched a trade war against China, including sanctions on exports of US chips, which undermined its ambitions 'so that it still cannot compete'. Taiwan's semiconductor prowess is also a platform for strengthening its ties with other democratic allies, helping it to overcome the isolation which it suffers from its inability to join the United Nations – and China's aggressive diplomacy to prevent it joining even functional UN agencies like the World Health Organization – which Beijing rejects as de facto recognition of Taiwan as an independent state. Taiwan therefore achieves a kind of de facto global recognition by forging ever closer links in the semiconductor field, as was evident when it organised the Global Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership Forum in Taipei. Edwin Liu, president of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which hosted the meeting, said, 'Semiconductors are now a core strategic asset in global economic and technological competition, requiring deeply interdependent supply chains.' He stressed that Taiwan wanted 'supply chain independence from China'. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te said that 'global democracies must work together … to ensure a resilient semiconductor supply chain'. Semiconductor, AI and other advanced electronic supply chains are already deeply integrated globally. For instance, the Dutch company ASML Holding has been a key partner of TSMC from the beginning, supplying sophisticated lithography machines used to add circuitry to silicon wafers. From toys to semiconductors The extraordinary success of TSMC and other Taiwanese hi-tech companies has not been spontaneous. As with other successful Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, the Taiwanese government directed the foundation of a hi-tech industry. In 1975, Taiwanese industry still largely manufactured low-end products such as clothes and toys. Then Premier Chiang Ching-kuo sent National Science Council chairperson Shu Shien-siu to Japan at the head of a delegation of officials and scientists to study that country's remarkable economic success story. On his return, Shu proposed the establishment of a science-based industrial park to incubate a hi-tech industrial base that would also foster Taiwan's defence industry. It would hopefully inspire the considerable cohort of technological talent, which had moved abroad, to come home. In 1980, Hsinchu Science Park was born with the ambitious goal of attracting or inspiring the launch of enough successful companies to collectively contribute at least 10% of Taiwan's GDP. In 1987, Morris Chang, who had moved to the US and became vice-president of Texas Instruments, specialising in semiconductors, was persuaded by the Taiwanese government to come home and establish TSMC. His inspiration was to found a company which made semiconductor chips on contract for other companies which designed them. It was a brilliant formula, creating a unique market niche which soon made TSMC the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the world. Comprehensive ecosystem Today, the park hosts more than 630 companies, more than 80 of them foreign, producing advanced products in six industries – integrated circuits, opto-electronics, biotech, machinery, PCs and telecoms. The companies employ more than 178,000 people and last year collectively earned revenue of $47-billion. The park hosts seven universities with 60,000 students, 9,000 of them PhDs, and eight labs. It is, as Huang put it, a comprehensive ecosystem for the incubation of hi-tech products, where companies and their suppliers, as well as universities, labs and research institutions, and government departments, are all within easy reach of one another. Hsinchu Science Park has also inspired the creation of 20 more science parks in Taiwan, hosting more than 1,100 companies, employing 328,000 people and earning $148-billion in revenues in 2024 – or about 18% of Taiwan's GDP. Hsinchu Science Park in particular has incubated household names such as Mediatek, a market leader in complex 'SoC' (system on a chip) for products such as mobile devices, home entertainment, connectivity and IoT ( Internet of Things); Realtek, a leading integrated circuit design house for AI, SoC, and other electronic solutions; and CytoAurora, global leader in single cell research and application platforms. The semiconductor industry is indeed an extremely complex ecosystem of interdependencies, domestically and globally, which any kind of military interference is very likely to destroy. That might just be Taiwan's strongest insurance policy. DM
Daily Maverick
4 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
After the Bell: Who's afraid of losing Agoa?
One of the great risks of the debate around Agoa is that it gives us something else to blame, when we should blame ourselves for our poor economy. And we must remember that it is not true that there is no cost to us from Agoa. One of the most boring discussions I've heard around our economy over the past five years has been posed as 'will we keep Agoa?' I hear it everywhere, even now, when US President Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to tear up the entire trade rule book. I can understand why we keep hearing about it. There are certain sections of our economy that really benefit from it. Because of Agoa (the African Growth and Opportunity Act), they have been able to grow and employ people. And some of the arguments they can make about why Agoa matters to us are important. Free market access to the US is great for the car industry, and for our farmers. It means they are exporting goods produced here, earning dollars in return and basically importing jobs. People are employed, their kids are kept in good schools. You could argue that the entire community around Daily Maverick journalist Estelle Ellis and the rest of the Baywatch team will be badly hit if it all comes to an end. And that would be true. Farmers, too, had a bumper season exporting to the US in the first quarter of the year. They were able to increase the amount of goods they sent there dramatically in that quarter. When I first heard that, I thought, perhaps, like the Chinese (and I'm sure others), they had been rushing goods into US ports before new tariffs could come into effect. But that amazing agricultural economics guru Wandile Sihlobo told me on The Money Show on Monday night that this is not the case. It happened because our farmers have created a strong demand for their goods. And, like our car industry, we are basically importing jobs. But we should be aware that, despite these very loud and important voices in our national debate, this is not the end of the story. The Brookings Institute estimated nearly 18 months ago that 'In total, a loss of Agoa benefits would lead to a GDP decline of just 0.06%'. To put that into context, our GDP grew by just 0.1% in the first quarter of this year. At the same time, the South African Reserve Bank has generally said that load shedding was costing our GDP 2% every year. So it may matter, but only in the context of our complete inability to take action to grow our own economy. One of the great risks of this debate around Agoa is that it gives us something else to blame, when we should blame ourselves for our poor economy. And we must remember that it is not true that there is no cost to us from Agoa. In fact, a few weeks ago I was almost taken aback when an American investor (one of those wonderful people who travels the world, and is hugely interested and fascinated by it) asked me point-blank: 'Why do you all care so much about Agoa?' He even suggested that actually it went against our interests. This is because of some of the small print. If you look at the text of the Act that passed through the US Congress, the conditions of eligibility are designed to literally create African economies in the US mould. Of course, as we were so often reminded during the Lady R saga, it says that you must 'not engage in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign policy interests'. This is a wonderful stick for the US to beat us with. If it wants, it could define our opposition to Israel's genocidal war on the people of Gaza as 'undermining' US 'foreign policy interests'. To be clear, there is much in Agoa that is good. It mentions that workers must be protected, that there should be political freedom and things like that. But it is still a tool of foreign policy. Yes, Agoa is helping African countries to develop. But it is also a useful instrument of control. Agoa looks finished anyway. In reality, the US system of government appears to be giving Trump whatever he wants. So far, very few Republicans have spoken against his tariff policies. But the markets are speaking. And the fact that the bond markets have forced Trump to basically chicken out has given us the wonderful phrase Taco (Trump always chickens out). So, I do think we need to be less afraid of him. He is slowly being revealed as all bark and very little bite. What we really need to do is to find Americans who lose out if we cannot export to the US. The US citrus industry, for example, needs our oranges to keep the market interested in oranges during their non-growing season. And we should not forget those strange people who drive BMW X3s. The models sold in the US are only made here. And even if they are rubbish cars (who can forget Jeremy Clarkson having to throw the sound guy out of the car to go and push, even now it's still worth watching), there is still a lobby for them in the US. I think we need to stop worrying so much about Agoa.
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
SARS imposes provisional anti-dumping duties on tyres from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia
The newly imposed dumping duty stands at 41.47% on all exporters not specifically named in the Government Gazette, effective for a six-month period from late May to late November 2025. Image: Jason Boud The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has implemented provisional anti-dumping duties on new pneumatic tyres imported from Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia as of 29 May 2025. This action comes after an anti-circumvention investigation initiated by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC), responding to concerns that Chinese tyre manufacturers were evading existing tariffs by distributing products through affiliates in Southeast Asia, a practice often referred to as "country hopping." The newly imposed dumping duty stands at 41.47% on all exporters not specifically named in the Government Gazette, effective for a six-month period from late May to late November 2025. This measure targets various tyre types categorised under specific tariff subheadings including motor car tyres and bus and lorry tyres. This situation stems from a prior investigation launched by ITAC in 2022, prompted by an application from the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC). The findings of that inquiry revealed that dumping practices were inflicting material harm on local tyre manufacturers, leading to the imposition of anti-dumping duties as high as 41% on non-cooperating Chinese exporters. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Those producers that complied with the investigation were granted reduced duties ranging from 7% to 15%. However, in the aftermath of these duties, imports of tyres from Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia surged. SATMC accused Chinese exporters of circumventing the imposed duties by routing their products through entities in these countries. Responding to these allegations, ITAC initiated an anti-circumvention investigation, uncovering substantial operational ties between Chinese tyre manufacturers and their affiliated companies in Southeast Asia. According to evidence presented during this investigation, the companies identified as both dumping and circumventing the regulations include Sentury Tire, Huayi Group, Prinx Chengshan, and Linglong, among others based in Thailand and Vietnam. Notably, a few exporters such as Vietnam Cofo, Firemax (Cambodia), and Haohua (Vietnam) were not found guilty of either dumping or circumvention. The South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) told Business Report that they welcome the anti-dumping duties. SATMC said, "According to ITAC's preliminary report, there is evidence that there was circumvention taking place in the form of country hopping and that there was dumping into the SACU region in the period reviewed. The provisional duties will be in place for the next six months and the SATMC believes that this is a strong move to address the unfair trade of tyres in South Africa. It is also a bold step to protect not only the local producers namely, Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear and Dunlop Tyres, but also to ensure fair trade for the compliant importers." "The ITAC investigation will now continue with its Final Investigation Phase, during which ITAC will study all interested parties' comments and verify information that was submitted, before concluding the investigation. SATMC and its members remain committed to the country and maintaining a sustainable future for the tyre industry in SA," SATMC further said. For those impacted by these provisional duties, the next steps are crucial. According to evidence presented during this investigation, the companies identified as both dumping and circumventing the regulations include Sentury Tire, Huayi Group, Prinx Chengshan, and Linglong, among others based in Thailand and Vietnam. Image: These measures will remain in effect while ITAC finalizes its investigation, with a possibility of establishing definitive duties that could remain for up to five years. Importers, particularly those sourcing tyres from Southeast Asia, are urged to closely evaluate their risk exposure, mindful of the potential for significant penalties issued by SARS for misinterpretations of anti-dumping duty applications. As the situation unfolds, interested parties have until 12 June 2025, to respond to ITAC's preliminary determinations. Those wishing to represent their views directly to the Commission must submit requests for oral hearings by 25 July 2025. With this ongoing investigation and potential long-term implications for trade and industry, stakeholders in the South African tyre market are urged to stay informed and proactive.
