Volkswagen achieves International ISO Certifications
During the annual OHSE and Quality audits conducted by lead auditors from Tuev Nord and Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) was again awarded the ISO 9001:2015 certification and successfully transitioned to the new VDA 6.1:2016 certification.
VWSA also obtained extensions on current system certifications, namely ISO 14001, ISO 50001 and BS: OHSAS 18001. This annual VWSA Management System audit shows that the company is compliant with the latest international standards. In addition, VWSA has also been re-certified to the Conformity of Production standards (German National and International Road Traffic Legislation – KBA).
This achievement of the certification guarantees that the Uitenhage plant has the management systems in place as a pre-requisite for export to international customers; it also ensures the continuation of VWSA’s export programme and provides assurance to customers, suppliers and employees that VWSA is compliant with international standards.
Goodyear Announces Intelligent Tyre Trial
The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company is applying its expertise to a fleet of semi-autonomous electric cars.
Goodyear announced that it is equipping Tesloop, a city-to-city mobility service that exclusively uses Tesla electric vehicles, with wireless sensors in its tyres to improve overall tyre management and maximize uptime for its growing fleet.
The wireless sensors continuously measure and record tyre temperature and pressure, which is paired with other vehicle data and connected to Goodyear’s cloud-based proprietary algorithms to enhance overall fleet operations and predict when the tyres need service or replacement.
As part of the programme with Tesloop, Goodyear is also extending its mobile fleet solutions to passenger vehicles, providing tyre maintenance and repair while Tesloop vehicles are at charging stations, during regularly planned downtime.
Ferrari marks its 70th anniversary
The celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Ferrari took place at Maranello, attracting thousands of customers from around the world to celebrate their connection with the Prancing Horse.
The past weekend saw a single grand parade of 500 Ferraris drive to the Fiorano circuit, the main venue of the great celebration of motoring.
Guests attended the show “Ferrari Settanta”, which recounted the company’s past and present while also taking a peek into the future.
A Concours d’Elegance concluded the celebrations in style. A jury of international experts chose the two “Best of Show” cars in the GT and Sportscar categories from among 120 precious vintage Ferraris.
Volkswagen welcomes a new family member
A Mountain Gorilla is not what you would traditionally associate with Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) but when the Rwanda Development Board selected VWSA as a name giver for one of their newborn gorillas, VWSA gladly accepted.
Individuals or companies are selected to name a baby gorilla based on their conservation involvement either in Rwanda or in their own countries. Volkswagen’s commitment to conservation in South Africa and especially the protection of the endangered Rhino population was taken into consideration when they were chosen.
On Friday 1 September, Thomas Schaefer, Chairman and Managing Director, Volkswagen Group South Africa and Dr. Andrew Muir the CEO of Wilderness Foundation Africa attended the naming ceremony in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. The ceremony is called Kwita Izina which is the term used for the naming ceremony for all newborn babies in Rwandan culture.
The Rwanda Conservation Officials that work with these animals take the naming of the gorillas seriously and choose names that suit the animal’s personality. Thomas Schaefer, Chairman and Managing Director: Volkswagen Group South Africa was given three names to choose from and chose the name Nsanganira which means, “well integrated into a new family”.
Ford presents first Ranger Raptor
Ford Motor Company recently announced that the hugely popular Ford Ranger bakkie will be available in an off-road performance variant for the first time. The purpose-built, desert-racing inspired bakkie joins the Ford Performance family, as the new ‘Ford Ranger Raptor’. The Ranger Raptor will be coming to South Africa soon.
The Ford Ranger Raptor sports a head-turning exterior look that exudes toughness as well as a level of capability and off-road performance never before seen in the mid-size bakkie segment.
Visit the Ford SA Facebook page for a sneak peek of a prototype Ford Ranger Raptor in high-speed off-road testing.
General Tire unleashes all-new Grabber AT3 and X3
General Tire, a brand of Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA), is building on its replacement 4×4 tyre segment with a new range of off-road tyres: the all-terrain Grabber AT3 and the extreme-terrain Grabber X3.
The Grabber AT3 replaces the previous-generation Grabber AT, General Tire’s multiple award-winning tyre designed for all-terrain applications. Retaining the 50/50 on/off-road bias of its predecessor, the new AT3 was developed to meet the needs of sport utility vehicle (SUV), bakkie and off-road vehicle drivers who demand the combination of exceptional off-road abilities and confident on-road manners.
The Grabber X3 is available in a total of five sizes encompassing 15 to 17-inch rim sizes.
