Latest news with #Whitfield
TimesLIVE
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Stellantis to launch Leapmotor EVs in South Africa later this year
Stellantis plans to sell Chinese-branded electric vehicles (EVs) developed by its partner Leapmotor in South Africa starting with the C10 from September, the company said on Tuesday. The C10 is an electric SUV with a petrol engine used only to charge the battery. More Leapmotor models are expected to be launched next year, including fully electric models, said Mike Whitfield, MD of Stellantis South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Leapmotor created waves with its recent rollout of the all-electric B10 SUV equipped with smart-driving features and lidar sensing technology for less than $18,000 (R316,865). In Stellantis bought a 21% stake in Leapmotor for $1.6bn (R28.17bn). The two carmakers also formed the joint venture Leapmotor International, in which Stellantis holds a 51% stake. Leapmotor will help the world's fourth largest carmaker widen its range of affordable EVs, as it presses ahead with electrification while other Chinese carmakers including BYD and Chery Auto are aggressively expanding into Africa. 'South Africa is a critical market for Stellantis and we are committed to unlocking its potential through product, innovation and meaningful partnerships,' Whitfield said. Stellantis, which entered the South African market four years ago, is building a new plant in the country with a maximum capacity of 100,000 vehicles by 2030. It plans to become the No 1 player in the Middle East and Africa region with 1-million vehicles sold by 2030, with 35% expected to be electric. In 2024 it sold 500,000 cars in the Middle East and Africa. With more than 60% of the South African market concentrated below the R400,000 price point, Stellantis's Citroën C3 range is gaining strong traction, with the upcoming C3 Basalt set to complete a competitive line-up in the accessible B-hatch and SUV segments early next year, Whitfield said. Stellantis will also launch the Citroën C3 Hola panel van, its entry into the growing commercial vehicle sector aimed at small business owners.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Stellantis to debut Leapmotor's EVs in South Africa this year
Stellantis plans to sell Chinese-branded electric vehicles developed by its partner Leapmotor in South Africa starting with the C10 from September, the company said on Tuesday. The C10 is an electric SUV with a petrol engine used purely to charge the battery. More Leapmotor models are expected to be launched next year, including fully electric models, Mike Whitfield, managing director of Stellantis South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, said in a statement. Leapmotor created waves with its recent rollout of the all-electric B10 SUV equipped with smart-driving features and lidar sensing technology for less than $18,000. In 2023, Stellantis bought a 21% stake in Leapmotor for $1.6 billion. The two automakers also formed the joint venture Leapmotor International, in which Stellantis holds a 51% stake. Leapmotor will help the world's fourth-largest automaker widen its range of affordable EVs, as it presses ahead with electrification at a time when other Chinese automakers including BYD and Chery Auto are aggressively expanding into Africa. "South Africa is a critical market for Stellantis, and we are fully committed to unlocking its potential through product, innovation and meaningful partnerships," Whitfield said. Stellantis, which entered the South African market four years ago, is building a new plant in the country, with a maximum capacity of 100,000 vehicles by 2030. It plans to become the No.1 player in the Middle East and Africa region with one million vehicles sold by 2030, with 35% expected to be electric. In 2024, it sold 500,000 cars in the Middle East and Africa. With over 60% of the South African market concentrated below the 400,000 rand ($22,755) price point, Stellantis' Citroën C3 range is gaining strong traction, with the upcoming C3 Basalt set to complete a competitive lineup in the accessible B-hatch and SUV segments early next year, Whitfield said. Stellantis will also launch the Citroën C3 Hola panel van, its entry into the growing commercial vehicle sector aimed at small business owners.>
7NEWS
12-07-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
GWS milestone man Lachie Whitfield pays tribute to dad in hospital after win over Geelong
GWS Giants veteran Lachie Whitfield has marked his 250th AFL game with a win while family was firmly on his mind. A second-half burst from forward Aaron Cadman catapulted GWS to a fourth straight win, beating fellow finals contenders Geelong by 26 points in Sydney. GWS rallied from an awful start, conceding a goal after just 20 seconds and the first 19 points, to a 17.9 (111) to 13.7 (85) win at Engie Stadium on Saturday. It was the Giants' fourth straight win — exceeding 100 points each time — and also their fourth consecutive victory over the Cats. But the post-game celebrations were all about Whitfield, who was honoured with a tifo while You'll Never Walk Alone — tapping into his love for EPL giants Liverpool — played over the speakers. 'That's a bit of carry-on I think,' he laughed. 'Good footy club, it's good how we celebrate our blokes in these sorts of ways — they make you feel loved.' In an emotional post-script to finish the interview, Whitfield then revealed his father was forced to miss the occasion. 'Just want to give a shoutout to my dad, who's in hospital and wasn't able to get here as well. Thinking of you, old man,' he said. Whitfield was among the Giants' most important with 32 disposals and 11 marks. Geelong cut a 20-point deficit in the third quarter to seven, but Cadman turned the game after an uneventful first half in which he logged just one behind. He kicked four goals in the third term as GWS opened up.a 25-point buffer going into the last quarter. Cadman added two more in the fourth, displaying a strong aerial presence and accuracy from both set shots and general play. He eclipsed his previous career best of five goals against Brisbane last month. Jake Stringer added four goals, his best tally for the Giants, with three coming in the first half. The Cats' early pressure forced turnovers around their attacking 50 and they punished the Giants on the scoreboard. The shellshocked Giants worked their way into the game to trail by 13 points at the first change, then exploded out of the blocks in the second quarter. GWS booted the first five goals of the term, dominating clearances and inside-50s to earn a 20-point lead. Geelong rallied before halftime, kicking the last two goals to trail by just six at the major break. The game took another twist early in the third quarter as GWS booted the first two goals to swell their advantage to 18 points. Geelong surged to get within seven, but Cadman took over, converting a strong mark into a set-shot goal, then landed an impressive snap. Former GWS favourite and the club's all-time leading goalkicker Jeremy Cameron had a quiet return in his first game at the ground since leaving the Giants after the 2020 season, kicking 1.2. The Geelong spearhead and Coleman Medal leader had just four first-half touches and spent time being treated on the bench in the second quarter. Some of Geelong's other prime movers struggled, including Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Atkins. Shannon Neale was a strong target up forward for the Cats, kicking four goals.
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Bronny James gushes over girlfriend's summer photos as he readies for NBA Summer League
Bronny James is keeping up with girlfriend Parker Whitfield's summer adventures. The rising second-year guard and son of Lakers superstar LeBron James swooned over a recent batch of Whitfield's Instagram snaps, which featured a handful of poolside photos, as he gears up for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. 'My girlfriend!' the 20-year-old James exclaimed, to which Whitfield replied in the comments, 'Hi babe!!' Advertisement 4 Bronny James with girlfriend Parker Whitfield in August 2024. Getty Images 4 Parker Whitfield shared a handful of summer snaps on Instagram. Instagram Whitfield, the daughter of actress/TV director Salli Richardson and actor Dondré Whitfield, enjoyed some R&R outdoors in the Instagram shots shared Sunday. Advertisement 'My summer so far,' she captioned the post. Whitfield and James made their romance public in October 2024. Months earlier, the Lakers selected the 6-foot-3 James with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He played just one season at USC. Advertisement James and his dad made NBA history as the first father-son duo to play together when they shared the court for a Lakers preseason game in the fall. The first-year pro had a rough transition to the pros and spent time playing with the South Bay Lakers, the team's G League affiliate. 4 Bronny James during the California Classic on July 8, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images 4 Bronny with dad LeBron James. NBAE via Getty Images Advertisement In 27 regular-season appearances with the Lakers, he averaged 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists, whereas he averaged 21.9 points in the developmental league. James said he is grateful to have had his father, a four-time NBA champion, to lean on as he navigated his rookie season. 'It's a blessing,' Bronny told FOX Sports in May. 'Being able to learn from him, not only as a player, but as a dad. It's a different type of relationship. I try to take full advantage of it because it's something that a lot of people can't have. It was an amazing experience for me. And I'm looking forward to learning more from him, if he's still here or not, either way. But I'm just looking forward to it.' The NBA Summer League begins Thursday, with James and the Lakers tipping off at 8 p.m. against the Mavericks and this year's first-overall pick, Cooper Flagg.
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Stellantis' local assembly plans now involve three products
Of the two additional models, one will be a new energy product, while the identity of the third or its market placing wasn't confirmed. Peugeot Landtrek will be joined by two additional products produced locally at the currently under construction plant in the Eastern Cape. Image: Peugeot Stellantis has revised its plans for South Africa by announcing that its under-construction factory in the Coega Industrial Zone in Nelson Mandela Bay will no longer solely build the Peugeot Landtrek bakkie. Making the most Part of a R3-billion investment for the production of 50 000 units annually, the deal, inked with the Department of Trade and Industry two years ago, had only been expected to involve complete knockdown (CKD) kit versions of the Landtrek for the local and export market by 2026. ALSO READ: Subtly updated Peugeot Landtrek debuts with new diesel heart Despite rumours at the time suggesting that Fiat might be another option when the third-generation Strada reverts to being a global model that same year, Stellantis South Africa CEO Mike Whitfield affirmed that the facility would instead be geared for two additional models alongside the Landtrek. Addressing the media at Stellantis' annual Media Connect event at Montecasino in Johannesburg on Wednesday (9 July), Whitfield said changes in the automotive landscape had made sole production of the Landtrek no longer viable if it wanted to fully utilise a factory claimed to produce as many as 90 000 units per year. A total of three Asked about the planned products, Whitfield stated that one would fall under the new energy vehicle category, before declining to comment on the third model. Shown at the event, the C10 by Chinese start-up Leapmotor, which entered into a formal partnership with Stellantis last year, has hinted at a possible third model, although this is purely speculative and unconfirmed for the moment. Whitfield, however, stated that the Landtrek, currently imported from China, will remain the core model once the factory commences assembly, now that the groundwork for the foundation has finished. More later Part of the conglomerate's Dare Forward 2030 campaign, initial reports that the facility would become operational at the end of the year have now seemingly been pushed back, as assembly was expected to start next year. While no details are available at the moment, expectations are that a clearer picture could emerge either before year-end or in early 2026. NOW READ: Stellantis approves R3bn local bakkie production deal from 2026
