The global shift towards electric mobility is creating significant challenges for South Africa’s automotive industry.
Author: Roy Cokayne
If you are paying e-tolls, you one of the few. Low payment rates by motorists resulted in revenue received by roads agency Sanral from e-tolls in Gauteng slumping 63% in the year to March.
More than 52% of motorists believe there is nothing government can do to convince them to start paying their e-tolls on Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project roads, according to the AA.
Volkswagen South Africa is working on a comprehensive electric mobility strategy with the purpose of laying a strong foundation for the introduction of battery electric vehicles into its key brands.
The only fair and sensible approach is to immediately suspend e-tolling in Gauteng and reimburse consumers who have paid e-tolls since 2013, says the Automobile Association.
The Gautrain Management Agency is planning to spend up to R2-billion to acquire second-hand additional rolling stock from the UK to deal with the capacity constraints on the high-speed train network.
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula says there are no easy solutions to the demand that e-tolling in Gauteng be scrapped.