Latest news with #Mercedes-BenzC-Class
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Maverick
Mercedes' East London production pause highlights urgent need to transform automotive industry
Mercedes-Benz has the red light on at its East London plant for July. If we don't start making electric cars soon, temporary closures could become permanent along with thousands of jobs lost. Last month, Mercedes-Benz South Africa halted operations at its East London manufacturing plant for the entire month of July. While the company insists this is 'standard procedure' and typical maintenance scheduling, the timing reveals a more troubling narrative. The East London factory has been assembling cars since 1958. Now, this important outpost has gone silent. The perfect storm The shutdown may well be connected to escalating trade tensions initiated by US President Donald Trump's April announcement of 25% tariffs on automotive imports, tariffs that have since intensified to 30% last week. These protectionist measures significantly undermine the economic viability of exporting locally manufactured vehicles, such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans produced in East London, to the United States, one of South Africa's five largest automotive export markets. However, the challenges extend beyond tariff barriers. South Africa's automotive sector faces diminishing global appetite for traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, as international markets increasingly transition toward electrification. This structural shift threatens similar production curtailments, regardless of trade policy considerations. The global shift is unstoppabl e The future is unequivocal: the global automotive industry is transitioning toward zero-emission mobility in response to tightening worldwide vehicle emission regulations. South Africa's automotive sector remains locked in first gear during this global transformation, with predominantly petrol and diesel-based production and limited hybrid manufacturing. Despite sustained engagement from local manufacturers and industry bodies stretching back years, South Africa's automotive policy is lacking alignment with progressive global markets. Only in 2026 will car manufacturers establishing new investments qualify for tax incentives for producing 'new-energy vehicles'. Here lies the fundamental problem: it takes approximately seven years for automotive manufacturing cycles for new models. What will the global market look like by then? This production pause isn't merely a difficult month for East London's economy — it's a warning signal for the entire South African automotive industry. Consider this: in January 2024, Ethiopia announced an immediate ban on petrol and diesel car imports, a global first signalling regulatory change across developing markets. South Africa's primary car export markets in Europe and the UK have firmed 2035 and 2030 as their respective bans on petrol and diesel car imports. The revolution was televised Globally, electric cars aren't some distant trend but today's reality. The past seven years have witnessed nearly 800% growth in passenger electric car sales. From Norway to China, car buyers increasingly choose electric over internal combustion engines — driven not necessarily by sustainability ambitions, but by direct financial benefits. Automakers like Volkswagen, Ford, and BMW are investing tens of billions into electric car production lines worldwide. Mercedes-Benz, the very company halting production in East London, has declared its intention to go all-electric by decade's end in markets where conditions permit. Carbon taxes will devastate our exports The European Union (EU) has introduced the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a carbon tariff that imposes levies on goods exported to the EU based on production emissions. South Africa's carbon-intensive industrial sector will pay dearly. The automotive industry represents our largest manufacturing sector, with Europe as its primary customer. Approximately 75% of locally manufactured cars are shipped abroad, with the EU consuming 60% of this output. Under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, internal combustion engine models and associated components will face additional costs that make them less competitive compared with electric alternatives manufactured elsewhere. It's a lose-lose situation: either already financially strained car makers absorb the cost, or they lose customers. We have the raw materials The transition to electric cars isn't a threat but an opportunity. Southern Africa possesses abundant raw materials such as manganese and nickel, essential for lithium batteries. What we lack is political action and market supply side policies mandating manufacturers to locally produce affordable electric cars for local, regional, and international markets. Mercedes-Benz South Africa's July shutdown should serve as the warning light demanding political action to accelerate progressive policies such as fuel efficiency standards and vehicle emission standards to shape domestic markets, while critically providing manufacturing incentives across the value chain towards localisation. No time to coast Thankfully, the Mercedes-Benz plant isn't closing permanently, and hopefully this costly downtime will be used to realign toward zero-emission vehicle technologies under incoming CEO Abey Kgotle. If the East London plant doesn't start moving toward that future, it risks being excluded from the group's long-term plans entirely. The same applies to Volkswagen in Uitenhage, Toyota in Durban, and all other manufacturers. These companies participate in global supply chains now oriented around decarbonisation. If they don't meet new global standards, South Africa won't make the cut. South Africa boasts a strong automotive legacy, celebrating 100 years of the industry in 2024. But legacy isn't a business model, and nostalgia doesn't pay salaries. We stand at a crossroads, and the road forward is toward zero-emission cars. If we fail to act, July's pause may become August's retrenchments and next year's closures. If we seize this moment, however, we can ensure South Africa becomes not merely a producer of cars, but a global hub for the sustainable mobility revolution. The Mercedes plant's pause should be a wake-up call to policymakers for critical action. The question isn't whether the transition will happen, but whether South Africa will be part of it. DM
The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2026 BMW i4 gets hotter M60 flagship, longer driving range
The BMW i4 electric sedan has been given yet another upgrade, this time bringing a new M60 flagship and a longer driving range for rear-wheel drive variants. Production of the updated electric vehicle (EV) – the Bavarian brand's best-selling EV in Australia in 2024, when it outsold the entire Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup – is scheduled to start in July 2025. It follows a minor styling update released in Europe for the battery-powered mid-size fastback last year, but BMW is yet to confirm when any upgrades for the i4 will become available in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "Any updates regarding the BMW i4 lineup for Australia will be announced in due course," a spokesperson from BMW Australia told CarExpert. Overseas, the 2026 BMW i4 M60 xDrive takes over from the M50 as the range-topper, with the dual-motor powertrain scoring an additional 42kW of power to take its total output to 442kW. This shaves 0.2 seconds from the previous all-wheel drive liftback's official 0-100km/h claim, which now drops to 3.7 seconds. BMW says the 2025 i4 range will use silicon carbide semiconductor parts in its inverter, resulting in a claimed energy consumption reduction of 4.5 per cent. The changes give the entry-level BMW i4 eDrive35 an improved driving range of 428km (WLTP) compared to the current version's 406km, while the updated i4 eDrive40 can travel 510km, which is up from 491km. The German automaker shared no other powertrain changes, with the i4 eDrive35 – the most popular model grade in Australia – continuing to output 210kW and employ a 70.2kWh battery The eDrive35 was introduced in September 2023 as the only i4 variant priced below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold, helping BMW to become Australia's top-selling premium auto brand for the first time in 11 years. While BMW Australia posted a 0.6 per cent sales increase in 2024, its rivals lost ground, with Mercedes-Benz sales down 17.8 per cent and Audi falling 19.5 per cent. BMW EV sales increased by a staggering 160.4 per cent year-on-year, helping the brand become the fourth-biggest seller of electric cars behind Tesla, BYD and MG. Despite the success, BMW has said it will not pursue an EV-only strategy globally like some its rivals, and BMW Australia is considering the local release of the diesel-powered mild-hybrid BMW X3 mid-size SUV offered overseas. The spinning propellor brand also recently revealed a 70-vehicle production run for the BMW Speedtop, which is powered by a 460kW/750Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 taken from various M models including the M8 Competition. Content originally sourced from: The BMW i4 electric sedan has been given yet another upgrade, this time bringing a new M60 flagship and a longer driving range for rear-wheel drive variants. Production of the updated electric vehicle (EV) – the Bavarian brand's best-selling EV in Australia in 2024, when it outsold the entire Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup – is scheduled to start in July 2025. It follows a minor styling update released in Europe for the battery-powered mid-size fastback last year, but BMW is yet to confirm when any upgrades for the i4 will become available in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "Any updates regarding the BMW i4 lineup for Australia will be announced in due course," a spokesperson from BMW Australia told CarExpert. Overseas, the 2026 BMW i4 M60 xDrive takes over from the M50 as the range-topper, with the dual-motor powertrain scoring an additional 42kW of power to take its total output to 442kW. This shaves 0.2 seconds from the previous all-wheel drive liftback's official 0-100km/h claim, which now drops to 3.7 seconds. BMW says the 2025 i4 range will use silicon carbide semiconductor parts in its inverter, resulting in a claimed energy consumption reduction of 4.5 per cent. The changes give the entry-level BMW i4 eDrive35 an improved driving range of 428km (WLTP) compared to the current version's 406km, while the updated i4 eDrive40 can travel 510km, which is up from 491km. The German automaker shared no other powertrain changes, with the i4 eDrive35 – the most popular model grade in Australia – continuing to output 210kW and employ a 70.2kWh battery The eDrive35 was introduced in September 2023 as the only i4 variant priced below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold, helping BMW to become Australia's top-selling premium auto brand for the first time in 11 years. While BMW Australia posted a 0.6 per cent sales increase in 2024, its rivals lost ground, with Mercedes-Benz sales down 17.8 per cent and Audi falling 19.5 per cent. BMW EV sales increased by a staggering 160.4 per cent year-on-year, helping the brand become the fourth-biggest seller of electric cars behind Tesla, BYD and MG. Despite the success, BMW has said it will not pursue an EV-only strategy globally like some its rivals, and BMW Australia is considering the local release of the diesel-powered mild-hybrid BMW X3 mid-size SUV offered overseas. The spinning propellor brand also recently revealed a 70-vehicle production run for the BMW Speedtop, which is powered by a 460kW/750Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 taken from various M models including the M8 Competition. Content originally sourced from: The BMW i4 electric sedan has been given yet another upgrade, this time bringing a new M60 flagship and a longer driving range for rear-wheel drive variants. Production of the updated electric vehicle (EV) – the Bavarian brand's best-selling EV in Australia in 2024, when it outsold the entire Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup – is scheduled to start in July 2025. It follows a minor styling update released in Europe for the battery-powered mid-size fastback last year, but BMW is yet to confirm when any upgrades for the i4 will become available in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "Any updates regarding the BMW i4 lineup for Australia will be announced in due course," a spokesperson from BMW Australia told CarExpert. Overseas, the 2026 BMW i4 M60 xDrive takes over from the M50 as the range-topper, with the dual-motor powertrain scoring an additional 42kW of power to take its total output to 442kW. This shaves 0.2 seconds from the previous all-wheel drive liftback's official 0-100km/h claim, which now drops to 3.7 seconds. BMW says the 2025 i4 range will use silicon carbide semiconductor parts in its inverter, resulting in a claimed energy consumption reduction of 4.5 per cent. The changes give the entry-level BMW i4 eDrive35 an improved driving range of 428km (WLTP) compared to the current version's 406km, while the updated i4 eDrive40 can travel 510km, which is up from 491km. The German automaker shared no other powertrain changes, with the i4 eDrive35 – the most popular model grade in Australia – continuing to output 210kW and employ a 70.2kWh battery The eDrive35 was introduced in September 2023 as the only i4 variant priced below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold, helping BMW to become Australia's top-selling premium auto brand for the first time in 11 years. While BMW Australia posted a 0.6 per cent sales increase in 2024, its rivals lost ground, with Mercedes-Benz sales down 17.8 per cent and Audi falling 19.5 per cent. BMW EV sales increased by a staggering 160.4 per cent year-on-year, helping the brand become the fourth-biggest seller of electric cars behind Tesla, BYD and MG. Despite the success, BMW has said it will not pursue an EV-only strategy globally like some its rivals, and BMW Australia is considering the local release of the diesel-powered mild-hybrid BMW X3 mid-size SUV offered overseas. The spinning propellor brand also recently revealed a 70-vehicle production run for the BMW Speedtop, which is powered by a 460kW/750Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 taken from various M models including the M8 Competition. Content originally sourced from: The BMW i4 electric sedan has been given yet another upgrade, this time bringing a new M60 flagship and a longer driving range for rear-wheel drive variants. Production of the updated electric vehicle (EV) – the Bavarian brand's best-selling EV in Australia in 2024, when it outsold the entire Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup – is scheduled to start in July 2025. It follows a minor styling update released in Europe for the battery-powered mid-size fastback last year, but BMW is yet to confirm when any upgrades for the i4 will become available in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "Any updates regarding the BMW i4 lineup for Australia will be announced in due course," a spokesperson from BMW Australia told CarExpert. Overseas, the 2026 BMW i4 M60 xDrive takes over from the M50 as the range-topper, with the dual-motor powertrain scoring an additional 42kW of power to take its total output to 442kW. This shaves 0.2 seconds from the previous all-wheel drive liftback's official 0-100km/h claim, which now drops to 3.7 seconds. BMW says the 2025 i4 range will use silicon carbide semiconductor parts in its inverter, resulting in a claimed energy consumption reduction of 4.5 per cent. The changes give the entry-level BMW i4 eDrive35 an improved driving range of 428km (WLTP) compared to the current version's 406km, while the updated i4 eDrive40 can travel 510km, which is up from 491km. The German automaker shared no other powertrain changes, with the i4 eDrive35 – the most popular model grade in Australia – continuing to output 210kW and employ a 70.2kWh battery The eDrive35 was introduced in September 2023 as the only i4 variant priced below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold, helping BMW to become Australia's top-selling premium auto brand for the first time in 11 years. While BMW Australia posted a 0.6 per cent sales increase in 2024, its rivals lost ground, with Mercedes-Benz sales down 17.8 per cent and Audi falling 19.5 per cent. BMW EV sales increased by a staggering 160.4 per cent year-on-year, helping the brand become the fourth-biggest seller of electric cars behind Tesla, BYD and MG. Despite the success, BMW has said it will not pursue an EV-only strategy globally like some its rivals, and BMW Australia is considering the local release of the diesel-powered mild-hybrid BMW X3 mid-size SUV offered overseas. The spinning propellor brand also recently revealed a 70-vehicle production run for the BMW Speedtop, which is powered by a 460kW/750Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 taken from various M models including the M8 Competition. Content originally sourced from:
Perth Now
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2026 BMW i4 gets hotter M60 flagship, longer driving range
The BMW i4 electric sedan has been given yet another upgrade, this time bringing a new M60 flagship and a longer driving range for rear-wheel drive variants. Production of the updated electric vehicle (EV) – the Bavarian brand's best-selling EV in Australia in 2024, when it outsold the entire Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup – is scheduled to start in July 2025. It follows a minor styling update released in Europe for the battery-powered mid-size fastback last year, but BMW is yet to confirm when any upgrades for the i4 will become available in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'Any updates regarding the BMW i4 lineup for Australia will be announced in due course,' a spokesperson from BMW Australia told CarExpert. Overseas, the 2026 BMW i4 M60 xDrive takes over from the M50 as the range-topper, with the dual-motor powertrain scoring an additional 42kW of power to take its total output to 442kW. This shaves 0.2 seconds from the previous all-wheel drive liftback's official 0-100km/h claim, which now drops to 3.7 seconds. BMW says the 2025 i4 range will use silicon carbide semiconductor parts in its inverter, resulting in a claimed energy consumption reduction of 4.5 per cent. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The changes give the entry-level BMW i4 eDrive35 an improved driving range of 428km (WLTP) compared to the current version's 406km, while the updated i4 eDrive40 can travel 510km, which is up from 491km. The German automaker shared no other powertrain changes, with the i4 eDrive35 – the most popular model grade in Australia – continuing to output 210kW and employ a 70.2kWh battery The eDrive35 was introduced in September 2023 as the only i4 variant priced below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold, helping BMW to become Australia's top-selling premium auto brand for the first time in 11 years. While BMW Australia posted a 0.6 per cent sales increase in 2024, its rivals lost ground, with Mercedes-Benz sales down 17.8 per cent and Audi falling 19.5 per cent. Supplied Credit: CarExpert BMW EV sales increased by a staggering 160.4 per cent year-on-year, helping the brand become the fourth-biggest seller of electric cars behind Tesla, BYD and MG. Despite the success, BMW has said it will not pursue an EV-only strategy globally like some its rivals, and BMW Australia is considering the local release of the diesel-powered mild-hybrid BMW X3 mid-size SUV offered overseas. The spinning propellor brand also recently revealed a 70-vehicle production run for the BMW Speedtop, which is powered by a 460kW/750Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 taken from various M models including the M8 Competition.
7NEWS
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
2026 BMW i4 gets hotter M60 flagship, longer driving range
The BMW i4 electric sedan has been given yet another upgrade, this time bringing a new M60 flagship and a longer driving range for rear-wheel drive variants. Production of the updated electric vehicle (EV) – the Bavarian brand's best-selling EV in Australia in 2024, when it outsold the entire Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup – is scheduled to start in July 2025. It follows a minor styling update released in Europe for the battery-powered mid-size fastback last year, but BMW is yet to confirm when any upgrades for the i4 will become available in Australia. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 'Any updates regarding the BMW i4 lineup for Australia will be announced in due course,' a spokesperson from BMW Australia told CarExpert. Overseas, the 2026 BMW i4 M60 xDrive takes over from the M50 as the range-topper, with the dual-motor powertrain scoring an additional 42kW of power to take its total output to 442kW. This shaves 0.2 seconds from the previous all-wheel drive liftback's official 0-100km/h claim, which now drops to 3.7 seconds. BMW says the 2025 i4 range will use silicon carbide semiconductor parts in its inverter, resulting in a claimed energy consumption reduction of 4.5 per cent. The changes give the entry-level BMW i4 eDrive35 an improved driving range of 428km (WLTP) compared to the current version's 406km, while the updated i4 eDrive40 can travel 510km, which is up from 491km. The German automaker shared no other powertrain changes, with the i4 eDrive35 – the most popular model grade in Australia – continuing to output 210kW and employ a 70.2kWh battery The eDrive35 was introduced in September 2023 as the only i4 variant priced below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold, helping BMW to become Australia's top-selling premium auto brand for the first time in 11 years. While BMW Australia posted a 0.6 per cent sales increase in 2024, its rivals lost ground, with Mercedes-Benz sales down 17.8 per cent and Audi falling 19.5 per cent. BMW EV sales increased by a staggering 160.4 per cent year-on-year, helping the brand become the fourth-biggest seller of electric cars behind Tesla, BYD and MG. Despite the success, BMW has said it will not pursue an EV-only strategy globally like some its rivals, and BMW Australia is considering the local release of the diesel-powered mild-hybrid BMW X3 mid-size SUV offered overseas. The spinning propellor brand also recently revealed a 70-vehicle production run for the BMW Speedtop, which is powered by a 460kW/750Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 taken from various M models including the M8 Competition.
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Daily Record
Prison governor jailed after taking £12k Mercedes from drug gang lover she let out early
Kerri Pegg, 42, swapped her Honda Jazz for a £12,000 Mercedes C class car, paid for by 34 kilos of amphetamines by Anthony Saunderson, a major organised crime boss, who is now serving 35 years behind bars. A disgraced prison governor who fell in love with a dangerous drug gang boss and let him out early has been jailed — after accepting a £12,000 Mercedes he bought her using dirty money. Kerri Pegg, 42, has been sentenced to three years behind bars after a court heard how she abused her position at HMP Kirkham to start a secret affair with inmate Anthony Saunderson, a convicted drug trafficker who used the alias "Jesse Pinkman" — a nod to the Breaking Bad character. Pegg, described as a 'rising star' in the prison service, rubber-stamped Saunderson's temporary release in 2018 without the required checks or authorisation. It was a decision that allowed him to return to his criminal empire and continue trafficking drugs across the country. But their relationship didn't stop there. In 2020, Saunderson used cash from his criminal network to buy Pegg a black Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe, worth £12,000. The flash motor was delivered straight to her home in Wigan — and the whole deal was arranged via encrypted messages on the EncroChat network, reports the Mirror. Using criminal slang, Saunderson messaged associates saying he'd paid '12 quid for her motor,' making it clear the funds came from his drug dealings. When police searched Pegg's home, they found the car parked outside — along with Saunderson's toothbrush, flip-flops, and designer clothes inside the house. Prosecutors told Preston Crown Court that Pegg was 'completely compromised,' adding that she had significant personal debt and multiple county court judgments, making her susceptible to exploitation by someone like Saunderson. But they also pointed out that Pegg knew exactly what she was doing — and had actively helped a dangerous criminal stay one step ahead of the law. Despite denying all charges and claiming she had been manipulated by Saunderson, Pegg was convicted of two counts of misconduct in public office and one of possessing criminal property. Sentencing her this week, Judge Simon Medland KC told Pegg: 'You allowed yourself to become emotionally involved with a man who you knew to be a serious criminal. You failed in your duty and compromised the integrity of the prison system. Your fall from grace is dramatic — but it is entirely of your own making.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! The judge added that Pegg's actions had damaged public trust and posed 'a real risk to public safety,' especially given the high level of trust placed in senior prison officers. Following the sentencing, a Prison Service spokesperson said: 'We expect the highest standards from our staff and will not hesitate to take action when those are breached. This individual betrayed her position and the public, and justice has now been served.'
