Should the CEF’s predictions come true, it’ll be the country’s petrol drivers forced to bear the increased prices by the time the first Wednesday of the month (1 May) rolls around. That’s when the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the government branch responsible for officiating the fuel price, adjusts prices at the pumps around SA.

May the Force be with you

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news. The CEF’s predictions are, well, predictions. It arrives at the figures we’ve got below by studying the same data the Department of Mineral Energy and Resources does daily, rather than an average at the end of the month.

This offers the most accurate representation of the country’s waning or growing fuel price costs before the official changeover date — 1 May 2024.

The CEF examines data such as the current price of refined oil globally and the current Rand/US Dollar exchange to best determine the fluctuating petrol and diesel prices. These predictions unfortunately cannot account for the Department’s regular changes to the slate levy, or any pending failures on Eskom’s end that could send both sets of prices skyrocketing before the month’s end.

Read More: Here’s how Ford is living in a mixed reality

Here are the petrol and diesel price predictions (so far) for May 2024:

• Petrol 93: increase of 38 cents per litre (R0.38)
• Petrol 95: increase of 36 cents per litre (R0.36)
• Diesel 0.05%: decrease of 34 cents per litre (R0.34)
• Diesel 0.005%: decrease of 38 cents per litre (R0.38)
• Illuminating Paraffin: decrease of 27 cents per litre (R0.27)

The first deliveries of the SU7 have already been made, with the vehicles coming from a pool of 5,000 that were manufactured and ready for shipping. Everyone else on the pre-order list, which numbers well in excess of the 88,898 reported initial orders, has a fair while longer to wait. A little over six months, in fact.

The SU7 queue

That wait time is specifically for Xiaomi’s SU7 Max, the speedier version of the EV that’ll nail 100km/h in a little over 2.7 seconds. It’s also got an increased range (800km on a charge) and top speed (265km/h) over the standard model, so it’s hardly surprising that the vehicle is in demand.

The price point isn’t too shabby either. The Max version of Xiaomi’s first EV starts at about R780,000 (300,000 yuan) while the basic version of the car costs about R560,000 (216,000 yuan). It beats out Tesla’s local pricing in China by a considerable margin while offering similar or even superior capabilities. The only tricky factor is that pesky waiting list, an issue that Tesla also faced when it released its Roadster in 2008. The waiting list… hasn’t really gone away.

Xiaomi seems a little more confident in its ability to deliver. Its vehicle construction is handled by Chinese state automaker BAIC. The Beijing facility where the SU7 is made can output as many as 200,000 vehicles annually. Whether it can do so with a brand new EV remains to be seen but that’s the whole point of this exercise.

Source

It suddenly makes the company’s furious desire to keep pumping the market with newer models much more understandable. Ford is popular everywhere, so keeping up with demand is key. According to the company, it’s figured out a way to massively speed up the design process and get newer models out quicker: mixed reality.

No flying cars, but we have digital Rangers

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, mixed reality is exactly that; the melding of the physical world with those generated by a computer. You’ll most commonly see the phrase applied to products such as Meta’s Quest 3 or Apple’s new Vision Pro headsets, which overlay computer-generated elements onto the real world, where the two can co-exist.

In Ford’s case, mixed reality is a “powerful visualization and collaborative tool for the design team behind the Ranger, Ranger Raptor and Everest.” It isn’t difficult to see why. Before it throws a prototype model together, which requires countless hours of design and manufacture, the design team can whip up a 1:1 virtual model and iron out kinks before it hits the production floor.

Called ‘the pit’, Ford conjured up a digital world in which designers globally can throw on a headset and begin collaborating on a new model’s design. “We now have the capability to review the virtual vehicle in our familiar studio environment before committing to making a physical prototype, which helps speed up the design process and reduce changes,” said Andrew Dallan-Jones, Ford’s design visualisation manager.

Read More: The Ford Ranger is getting a plug-in hybrid model in 2025, and it’ll double as a generator

“It’s [mixed reality] at the stage where you’re walking around the vehicle wearing the headset and, when you remove the goggles, it takes a moment to readjust to the fact the vehicle is no longer there,’ said Dallan-Jones.

Ford has since expanded its use of mixed reality to encompass the entire design process, according to Ford’s Cory Middling, Ford Design’s visualisation technology specialist. “In the beginning, we use it to explore volume, themes and surface development. Once the vehicle theme has been chosen, mixed reality is used to scrutinise the design inside and out as we go back and forth between digital and physical prototypes.”

Ford is confining the technology to its design team for now, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it’s working on commercialising the idea, too. Imagine being able to summon a digital replica of the new Ranger Raptor in your driveway to see how large that boot really is. All without ever leaving your home.

Only petrol drivers and a small set of diesel drivers will be forced to bear the brunt of tomorrow’s nearly 70c/l increase. The rest of the country’s diesel drivers, those living along the coast, should have an easier time of it tomorrow with a minor 2c/l decrease. The Department’s changes will be reflected at the country’s pumps from midnight on Wednesday, 3 April 2024.

April’s making fools of us

There’s no use sending your condemnations (or praises) in the direction of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. What’s done is done, and at the end of the day, it can’t take all the blame. The country’s fuel prices are left down to several economic factors, both locally and globally.

Those involve keeping an eye on the average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate throughout March, and the average price of refined oil globally. The Department judges these factors at the end of every month and goes from there. Despite an appreciating Rand across March, the Department noted increased international petrol prices, while those for diesel and paraffin saw a decrease.

The Department, however, is responsible for controlling the Slate Levy. According to the fuel price change release, the combined cumulative petrol and diesel Slate balances at the end of February amount to R2.65 billion, meaning an additional 21.92c/l has been tacked onto this month’s changes.

Read More: Armouring your car: here’s how much it costs to stop an AK47

From 00:01 on the morning of Wednesday, 3 April, petroleum-based fuels will see the following changes:

Inland:

• Petrol 93: increase of 65 cents per litre (R0.65)
• Petrol 95: increase of 67 cents per litre (R0.67)
• Diesel 0.05%: increase of 3 cents per litre (R0.03)
• Diesel 0.005%: decrease of 2 cents per litre (R0.02)
• Illuminating Paraffin: decrease of 29 cents per litre (R0.29)
• LPGAS: decrease of 19 cents per kilogram (R0.19)

Coastal:

• Petrol 93: increase of 58 cents per litre (R0.58)
• Petrol 95: increase of 60 cents per litre (R0.60)
• Diesel 0.05%: decrease of 4 cents per litre (R0.04)
• Diesel 0.005%: decrease of 9 cents per litre (R0.09)
• Illuminating Paraffin: decrease of 26 cents per litre (R0.26)
• LPGAS: decrease of 19 cents per kilogram (R0.19)

Armoured Mobility is a South African outlet “specialising in the production, retail, and leasing of bulletproof vehicles.” It’s essentially made a name for itself by turning everyday cars — like Chery’s Tiggo 8 Pro Max — into a Grand Theft Auto cheat code for a hefty R1.3-million chunk of change. Kevlar doesn’t come cheap. We think.

Armoured Mobility: “Fear Fokol“

Armoured Mobility reckons if you aren’t buying outright, you’ll need to be earning at least R100,000 a month to get hold of its “flexible financing plans.” Thanks, but no. We’ll stick to wishful lottery winnings for now.

Currently, there are only two ‘levels’ of protection on the market allowed for civilian usage. Those are B4 and B6, the former of which is designed to stop smaller guns such as handguns, while the more expensive B6 can protect against “high-powered rifle threats.”

Where Armoured Mobility differs from the competition is its 360-degree armouring abilities, covering everything from the sunroof to the cabin. But how much does it cost to get a vehicle kitted out? We’ve included tables below to better outline the price of both B4 and B6 protection levels across a spectrum of vehicles:

Premium Discreet Range with B4 protection:

Premium Discreet Range with B6 protection:

Security Range with B6 protection with 360-degree Security (Including Curved Windscreen)

“While the cost of armoured vehicles may seem prohibitive for many South Africans, the invaluable protection they offer against the country’s escalating crime rates cannot be overstated,” Armoured Mobility said in a release. “With ongoing efforts to enhance affordability and accessibility, Armoured Mobility remains committed to providing citizens with the peace of mind they deserve in an increasingly uncertain country,” it concluded.

This month, lady luck appears to be favouring the country’s diesel drivers with the CEF’s predictions pointing to a minor diesel price drop at the beginning of April. Petrol drivers won’t be as fortunate when the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DoE) gets ’round to altering the pumps on the first Wednesday of the new month.

The prices, Mason!

It’s not worth sulking about just yet. The CEF, a state-owned energy company reporting to the DoE, might offer up the most accurate representation of South Africa’s waning or growing petrol and diesel prices, but their word is not law. That responsibility lies with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy at the end of this month.

Until that happens, the CEF’s numbers are the best we’ve got. It arrived at these figures by looking at all the same information the Department does at the end of the month, giving us a running bout of predictions to help us better prepare for the official 3 April 2024 changeover date.

That means keeping an eye on the average price of refined oil globally throughout the month, and the current Rand/US Dollar exchange. South Africa’s economic position is a major factor, with changes to load shedding or falling Rand values massively affecting the price we’ll see in April.

Read More: FNB slashes license disc renewal fee, making it the cheapest option in South Africa

Here are the petrol and diesel price predictions (so far) for April 2024:

• Petrol 93: increase of 8 cents per litre (R0.08)
• Petrol 95: increase of 10 cents per litre (R0.10)
• Diesel 0.05%: decrease of 33 cents per litre (R0.33)
• Diesel 0.005%: decrease of 38 cents per litre (R0.38)
• Illuminating Paraffin: decrease of 46 cents per litre (R0.46)

Reuters reports that the announcement came via Weibo, the Chinese social media service. The company said that nearly 60 stores across 29 cities in China will take orders for the vehicle. A launch event is planned for 28 March, though the Speed Ultra 7 (SU7) has been extensively previewed in terms of specs already.

Xiaomi what you drive

The Chinese company hopes to replicate its smartphone success, which started in 2011 with the Mi 1 handset, with automobiles. Xiaomi head Lei Jun said on Weibo this week, “Xiaomi’s cars are going from zero to one in a very different growth stage and facing very different user expectations compared to when Xiaomi’s smartphones went from zero to one 14 years ago. Xiaomi’s cars need to be different, and the most important aspect is smart technology.”

The SU7 and its subsequent companions are entering a difficult market. Not only are EVs pricey but demand for them seems to be slowing as a result. Some brands, like Mercedes, have tweaked their production plans to continue making internal combustion engines for longer than was expected, suggesting that EVs aren’t a sure bet for everyone.

Xiaomi has faced these sorts of headwinds before, which may be why the company reckons it is on to a good thing with the launch of its own EV. And if you’re wondering how the company has jumped the queue in terms of vehicle production, a notoriously difficult endeavour, that would be because state-owned vehicle manufacturer BAIC is handling the actual production. Xiaomi is mostly sticking its smarts into a vehicle compatible with the smart ecosystem the company has been pushing of late.

Source

Imagine still visiting the post office or somewhere similar to renew your car’s license when the FNB app exists. It’s possible you weren’t aware of FNB’s abilities to get your license renewal sorted, nor that it only cost R100 for a renewal. That was the headline in November, anyway. Now, FNB has cut that price to R70 per renewal for a “promotional time period”. If you’ve been doing your best impression of a procrastinator, it’s time to move.

Going Postal

Better yet, that R70 includes the delivery fee and allows customers to pay that rate using plain ol’ cash or by pulling from their stash of eBucks. Oh, and if you get a no-obligation insurance quote through FNB insurance, and renew your license through the app, FNB will dole R99 worth of eBucks into your account, free of charge.

“This decision is in line with the bank’s ethos of help and is informed by the economic pressures that consumers are experiencing, such as high interest-rates and inflation,” FNB said in a statement.

Jolandé Duvenage, nav» Chief Imagineer at FNB, says, “This is another way we’re helping our customers navigate life and the tough economic environment by offering affordable, seamless, and secured solutions for their car needs. The service continues to grow in popularity, with over 1 million vehicles uploaded to the platform and 107 000 vehicle license renewals completed over the past 12 months.”

If you’ve got the FNB app installed, all that needs to be done to renew your vehicle’s license is to load your car into the app’s nav»Car platform and use your smartphone to scan the vehicle license disc to complete the renewal.

Read More: FNB ending tap-to-pay smartphone functionality

Even before the bank’s R30 discount, it was the cheapest provider of license renewal services in the country — offering its R100/per renewal fee — tied with the National Traffic Information System (Natis), though this does not include a pricey delivery fee.

“Our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction continues to drive the solutions we offer our customers to solve for their individual, family, and business needs.  We pride ourselves in being the ultimate destination for our customers not only for their banking needs, but their lifestyle needs,” Duvenage concludes.

We have reached out to FNB South Africa to determine the length of the “promotional time period” and will update the article accordingly if we hear back.

Don’t set those hopes up too high just yet. The country won’t exactly be getting off scot-free by the time April rolls around, but the figures down below are a far cry from the R1.14/l increase that’s been bandied about this week. Hey, we’re willing to take anything as long as it’s less than the increases the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DoE) saddled us with on Wednesday.

(Kinda) Good news for diesel drivers

While the DoE is officially in charge of altering the country’s petrol pumps at the beginning of a new month, the CEF — an energy company reporting to the DoE — is responsible for keeping an eye on the fluctuating price throughout the month. The idea is to give us a rough — and we mean rough — idea of the incoming changes to other prepare celebrations, or as more often happens, commiserations.

The CEF arrives at the numbers below by looking at all the same information the DoE does, just on a more regular basis. Judging by the weakening Rand in comparison to the Dollar, and the rising price of refined oil globally, we’re in for a rough month. Multiple economic factors are constantly influencing these figures, meaning there’s still time for South Africa to turn this tanker around.

Read More: Volvo’s cheapest EV, the EX30, rolls onto South Africa’s streets from R776,000

Here are the petrol and diesel price predictions (so far) for April 2024:

• Petrol 93: increase of 51 cents per litre (R0.51)
• Petrol 95: increase of 52 cents per litre (R0.52)
• Diesel 0.05%: increase of 14 cents per litre (R0.14)
• Diesel 0.005%: increase of 14 cents per litre (R0.14)
• Illuminating Paraffin: increase of 17 cents per litre (R0.17)

Yup. The Department just published March’s official petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin prices and… they’re not pretty. It’s not all bad news, however. The increases promised won’t be coming into effect until midnight on Wednesday, 6 March. This means there’s still plenty of time to get to your nearest petrol station and make the most of the somewhat ‘reasonable’ prices while you still can.

Not South Africa’s best March

If you’re in search of somebody to blame, it won’t be the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, despite them being the country’s official fuel regulators. No, it’ll be the economy at large hearing your grievances, with Eskom’s constantly shifting load shedding schedule doing more bad for the Rand than good. If anyone is to blame, it’s the state-owned power controller that stopped you watching TV last night.

All the Department is responsible for is informing the country of their woes, landing on a price based on the average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate for the past month, and the average price of refined oil internationally. Throughout February, the Rand weakened significantly, leading to the increases you see below, according to the Department.

Fortunately, things weren’t as bad as they could have been. The Department’s announcement mentions that the current Slate levy on petrol and diesel will remain unchanged at R0 — meaning the government isn’t imposing a further increase on residents this month. Still… there’s a R1+ increase to deal with. Let’s get down to it, shall we?

Read More: Volvo’s cheapest EV, the EX30, rolls onto South Africa’s streets from R776,000

From 00:01 on the morning of Wednesday, 6 March, petroleum-based fuels will see the following changes:

• Petrol 93: increase of 121 cents per litre (R1.21)
• Petrol 95: increase of 121 cents per litre (R1.21)
• Diesel 0.05%: increase of 105 cents per litre (R1.05)
• Diesel 0.005%: increase of 118 cents per litre (R1.18)
• Illuminating Paraffin: increase of 85 cents per litre (R0.85)
• LPGAS: increase of 41 cents per kilogram (R0.41)