MERCEDES-BENZ CARS TO TALK TO EACH OTHER!

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Social networks have become a well-established way of exchanging information quickly and easily. Now, one of the largest ever field trials of car-to-X communication (C2X) is set to show how this concept can be adapted in order to increase the road safety and efficiency of motor cars. The trial consists of 120 vehicles that will take to the roads of the Rhine-Main region until the end of the year.

Each car has a network link to the others, as well as to the traffic infrastructure, and they will keep each other updated about the current traffic situation. For example, if the tail-end of a traffic jam on the A5 autobahn is hidden behind the crest of a hill, vehicles approaching the problem area can be alerted in good time, allowing the driver to take appropriate action. In situations where drivers have difficulty seeing what’s happening on the road ahead of them, for example on the federal highway B3, C2X technology can help to prevent pileups, e.g. by providing information about an emergency stop to traffic further back, even if the actual brake lights may be hidden by a lorry. 

C2X systems can also do their bit to make traffic more efficient and thus more environmentally friendly, e.g. by helping to control traffic light systems according to demand, thereby optimising traffic flow. In addition, it can offer a range of convenient functions such as suggested routes to the nearest available car park. That makes C2X communication a key element in the technology of the driver assistance and safety systems of the future.

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PEUGEOT HOOKS UP KURT DARREN AND ANDILE JALI

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Peugeot South Africa has appointed two new brand ambassadors – and a more diametrically-opposed pair is hard to imagine! On the one hand, soccer star and outgoing Orlando Pirates Player of the Season Andile Jali gets a Peugeot 4008 to drive, and on the other, Afrikaans pop icon Kurt Darren can look forward to a 508 GT.

If the two ambassadors represent the opposite ends of South Africa’s diverse culture, then the two cars represent the opposite ends of Peugeot’s increasingly broad product range…

Says Peugeot South Africa’s Managing Director, Francis Harnie: “The choice of Andile and Kurt as our brand ambassadors for 2012/13 is evidence that Peugeot is once again part and parcel of South African life, and we believe that they’re both true to the values of our brand.

“Their passion for their chosen profession makes them admired and respected, not to mention the fact that they’re seen as stylish and influential.”

Jali is already familiar with the Peugeot brand, having enjoyed the use of a 508 as part of his prize for being chosen as the 2011 Orlando Pirates Player of the Season. Being recognised as such was proof of the midfielder’s popularity with a broad cross-section of the sports public and he is highly regarded as a role model. A 4008 is the ultimate crossover and perfect for a young man on the way up, thanks to its sexy good looks, go-anywhere ability - by virtue of its selectable four-wheel-drive, and effortless performance.

Darren is also a firm favourite with the public thanks to his clean-cut image, and the lanky Pretoria ‘boytjie’ appeals to young and old alike. He’s looking forward to his first experience of the Peugeot brand, and with a potent and luxurious 508 GT sports sedan – the flagship of the passenger car range – he won’t be disappointed.

“We’re very proud to have Kurt and Andile on board, and are certain they going to have many miles of happy motoring with Peugeot,” concluded Harnie. 

STORY BY PEUGEOT

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TEAM FERODO DOMINATES WEEKEND RACING

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There were podium finishes for all four Ferodo Racing drivers in round six of the WesBank Super Series at Phakisa Freeway in the Free State on Saturday. Most successful of the team’s young guns was 21-year-old Gennaro Bonafede, who scored a win, a second and a fourth in the day’s three Bridgestone Production Car races in his class T Ferodo VW Golf GTi. He finished second overall for the day and revived his championship aspirations with a rich haul of 33 points.

Engen VW Cup championship leader Kelvin van der Linde was quickest in qualifying for his two races, claiming third in race one after drawing fourth on the grid and finishing a disappointed 27th in race two after having to pit to replace a flat wheel. Contact with another competitor on lap one resulted in damage to the tyre.

Despite this set back, the 16-year-old from Johannesburg retains a comfortable lead in the championship, although his advantage over second-placed Devin Robertson, the defending champion, has been reduced from 65 to 47 points.

Sixteen-year-old Mikey Taylor from Centurion collected a fourth and a second place in the day’s two Formula Volkswagen races. Ferodo team-mate Ernie van der Walt was initially fourth in race one ahead of Taylor until his car was found to be underweight at the post-race weigh-in and he was excluded from the results. The 18-year-old from Hoopstad in the Free State recovered to take third place behind Taylor in race two.

Bonafede qualified second behind Gavin Cronje (Mini Cooper). An attempt to pass the Mini around the outside of turn one on the opening lap of the first of two back-to-back sprint races saw Bonafede run wide and drop back from second to fourth, where he remained until the end of the six-lap race. “The Minis were fast and I knew I had to make an early move if I was going to win the race,” said Bonafede. “I guess it was a little ambitious.”

The Pretoria University engineering student from Johannesburg made no mistake in race two, taking the lead on the opening lap from third on the reverse grid and recording the fastest lap of the race on his way to victory ahead of Lee Thompson (Mini Cooper) and championship leader Graeme Nathan (VW Golf GTi).

The final, 12-lap race ended in the semi-darkness of early evening, with Nathan five seconds ahead of Bonafede as they crossed the line with headlights blazing. Devin Robertson (Renault Megane) was third, a lap in arrears.

“Our car was strong today and all the team’s hard work and the testing paid off. I’m very pleased to have had a win and scored some points,” said Bonafede.

Van der Linde was understandably upset about his bad luck in race two. “I had contact with the same driver in both races. In race one I nearly lost control altogether when I was knocked sideways and on to the grass on lap two. I was lying third and rejoined the race in sixth place. In race two it resulted in a flat wheel and I had to stop to change it. We put in a lot of effort preparing for this race meeting and I was confident I could do well this weekend. It’s very disappointing to miss out in this way.”

The driver concerned, Kosie Weyers, who failed to finish either race, was subsequently penalised for his part in both incidents.

Van der Walt was happy with his performance in the two races on his first appearance in Ferodo colours at his home circuit. “The two rounds of the JK Asia Series I contested recently in France and Belgium have given me a lot of confidence in the single-seater.”

Taylor, too, was pleased with his day’s work: “It was a good weekend for the team,” he said. “I hadn’t raced since the Zwartkops round in May, so it was good to be on the pace after such a long break.”

The next round of the WesBank Super Series takes place at Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria on August 25.

STORY COURTESY OF PETER BURROUGHES COMMUNICATIONS

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MERCEDES-BENZ TRAINS REIGER PARK YOUTH

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The Mercedes-Benz group of companies in South Africa (MBSA) bases its innovative Automotive Repair and Maintenance learnership concept on the belief that the customer service experience can only be as good as the dedication and expertise of its staff members.

Twelve young learners from the Boksburg township, Reiger Park, were identified to participate in the learnership pilot earlier this year, and immersed in the MBSA culture of service excellence. After 6 months, they have completed the first phase which comprised theoretical and practical instruction at the St Anthony’s Education Centre. The students spent sometime at the MBSA Head Office in Centurion for brand specific training, and are currently involved in on-the-job training at various company dealerships.

Successful completion of the three-year programme will equip learners with a Certificate in Automotive Repair and Maintenance, while the workplace exposure and mentorship by the dealers will give them an invaluable head start in their future careers.

The MBSA leanership is run in co-operation with the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (MerSETA), with competency assessments being completed by the MerSETA at the end of each milestone.

Vice President for After-Sales at MBSA, Naeem Hassim, explains that the company shares the concern and commitment of government to educate and upskill the youth. “We want to create a sound skills base and a pipeline of technically-skilled individuals with a specific emphasis on customer relations and enhancing the customer experience,” he adds. “The automotive industry is strongly driven by technological advancement, and we have a severe shortage of technical skills. This learnership will potentially benefit both the company and the sector.”

Centre director, Vanessa Pillay, is satisfied with the progress made by the students. “The learners have a long journey ahead of them, starting with NQF Level 2 this year and culminating in 2014 with an NQF Level 4. Our emphasis is on equipping them for the journey with a combination of technical, job and life skills that will serve them not only in their training but also in their future careers.”

Leaner, Innocent Nkosi, expressed his delight with the outcomes of the programme thus far, and while he admits some apprehension about the challenges he will face in the second half of the year, he is also very excited: “I am grateful for the opportunity to kick-start a career in the motor industry, and have already learned more than I expected,” he says.

“We watch the progress of our learners with keen interest”, Hassim says. “The second intake of 12 learners has just taken place, and the success of the pilot project at the end of the year will determine the future trajectory of the programme, but we are confident that we will make a positive contribution to the skills development arena.”

STORY BY MERCEDES-BENZ

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BMW SOUTH AFRICA SELLS 3 SERIES TO CHINA

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BMW South Africa has become the first car manufacturer in the country, since the implementation of the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP), to receive a clearance permit to export vehicles to China from the Chinese authorities.

The permit – known as the China Quality Certification (CQC) – was recently awarded to the company’s Rosslyn manufacturing plant north of Pretoria, opening the door for BMW to export the new BMW 3 Series to China, one of the fastest-growing major markets in the world, from later this year. A comprehensive audit carried out by a team from the CQC Centre confirmed that Rosslyn’s production and quality management systems were in line with world standards.

The move follows an investment of some R2.2 billion between 2009 and 2012 by the BMW Group in its Rosslyn plant, which re-opened in March with the launch of the all-new BMW 3 Series.

BMW sales in China are currently growing at a rate of more than 40% per annum. The South African-built vehicles will go a long way towards addressing the booming demand in this market.
Bodo Donauer, BMW SA’s Managing Director, explains that Rosslyn’s production capacity will increase dramatically in the coming years and will ultimately exceed 90 000 units per annum. 

“The China certification is a great vote of confidence in our plant and our people. It bodes well not only for our sustainability as a company, but also for the broader motoring industry in South Africa,” said Donauer. “Whilst our Chinese exports will start at a small level at first, the plan is for this market to ultimately make up around 10% of our total export volume. In 2012, we plan to export around 3 900 units to China.”

Currently, Plant Rosslyn exports about 50% of the vehicles it produces to the US (the biggest export market for the plant). The remainder of the cars will be shared among the local and African markets, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia.

These exports were made possible by significant investment by the BMW Group since 1994. With more than R10 billion invested, BMW South Africa has led the local motor industry in a number of respects in terms of production and export. At the same time, BMW’s development of its production and export programme has been the catalyst for the company’s sustainable growth and contribution to the South African economy.

Plant Rosslyn was the first BMW plant to be established outside of Europe in 1973. 

STORY BY BMW

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