Toyota profit triples to $9.7bn

Toyota's full-year net profit more than tripled to $9.7bn, with the world's largest automaker adding it was on track for another soaring profit in the current fiscal year.

• Women, black middle class up car sales
• Johan van Zyl leads Toyota in Africa
• Used car prices 'under pressure'

Green is the future: Molewa

Green technology is essential to guarantee South Africa's energy security and reduce reliance on imported oil, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said in Pretoria West.

• Smoggy air tied to heart attacks
• China admits pollution-linked ‘cancer villages’
• Ozone levels linked to cardiac arrest

GM CEO says Opel not for sale

General Motors says that its Opel unit was not for sale, following a report that Peugeot could take over the troubled European arm of the US automaker.

• Opel cuts working hours at third plant
• Loss-making Opel under threat
• Germany sceptical on GM aid for Opel

Defect Subaru cars could spark a fire

Japanese automaker Subaru could recall up to 630 000 cars and SUVs in the United States because of a faulty puddle light that could spark a fire.

• Hyundai recalls cars in the US
• Toyota to step up safety features
• Honda to recall 268 000 cars in US

Keeping your tyres in check

Fitting your car with a Valve-Check and Spare-Check will save you money. Believe it?

• When to buy tyres for your car
• Whats your dream car?
• How to buy a car

Keeping your tyres in check

Fitting your car with a Valve-Check and Spare-Check will save you money. Believe it?

• When to buy tyres for your car
• Whats your dream car?
• How to buy a car

Learn how to drive

Getting your license is supposedly simple with Afsim, a simulator which teaches hopefuls the basics of driving. Would you recommend it?

Foreign investors flock to Brazil

Rising demand and government incentives are luring foreign carmakers to boost their investment in Brazil, which analysts say could be a lead producer by 2015.

• Toyota drives into Brics
• Export boost for Volkswagen SA
• Consumers complain most about cars

Export boost for Volkswagen SA

Volkswagen South Africa’s Engine plant in Uitenhage is again operating at full capacity after receiving an additional export order from China.

• Consumers complain most about cars
• VW sales up, warns on debt crisis
• Almost half of 1m jobs lost recovered
• SA needs to roll up its sleeves

Learner Driver Diaries: What does this button do?

What can you expect in your first driving lesson? A lot of talk, a lot of checks, and a fair amount of panic, says Kele Scheppers.

• Learner Driver Diaries: I passed! Now what?
• How to choose a driving school
• Safe Driving Tips

Learner Driver Diaries: What does this button do?

What can you expect in your first driving lesson? A lot of talk, a lot of checks, and a fair amount of panic, says Kele Scheppers.

• Learner Driver Diaries: I passed! Now what?
• How to choose a driving school
• Safe Driving Tips

Fond farewell

Russia halts production of its iconic Lada Classic cars.

• Toyota poised for $4.3bn profit
• BMW car sales break records
• BMW recalls 1.3 million cars worldwide
• MBSA boasts rise in revenue
• Automotive sector gears up for record
• 'World's cheapest car' tag backfires

Nissan sports car, Aveo 'most deadly'

Drivers of a Nissan sports car and the Chevrolet Aveo run the most risk of dying in a crash, according to a report.

• Toyota owners to 'tweet' their cars
• Japanese disaster weighs on SA car sector
• German new car sales speed ahead

Japan disaster reshapes vehicle industry

Toyota is likely to lose its poll position in the global vehicle industry as parts shortages weigh on manufacturers after Japan's earthquake.

• Nuclear crisis hits Japan's economy
• Plan to plug nuclear leak fails
• Japan's economy gets electric shock

How cars are keeping pace with cellphones

Car makers are developing technology to use smartphones help drivers with a host of new services, including internet access, writes Svetlana Doneva.

• Believing the hype
• Video making second mobile revolution
• Leveraging technology

Toyota SA unsure about parts

The head of Toyota SA has confirmed that some of its vehicles imported from Japan have been delayed and said it is uncertain when the production of parts will return to normal.

• Demand for low-priced cars rising
• Market shrugs off latest Toyota recall
• Global Toyota recall affects SA

Motlanthe urges more motor sector jobs

The automotive industry has a key part to play in the government’s aim to create more jobs, says Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

• Stop talking, get on with it: Gordhan
• Gordhan to decide on jobs fund agency
• R10bn jobs loan scheme unveiled

Vehicle sales still going strong

Naamsa says new car as well as medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales in particular registered exceptional gains compared to last year's figures.

• SA car exports set for new record
• Car sector recovery accelerates
• Vehicle sales power ahead

Imperial profit up 44%

A recovery in consumer spending has bolstered Imperial's interim earnings, but the freight strike will hit its second-half performance.

• Imperial earnings seen 25% - 45% higher
• Imperial acquires EWC Express
• Imperial pursues vehicle tracking
• Imperial takes majority stake in Goscor
• Imperial on acquisition path
• Imperial repurchases own shares

Eddie Izzard revs up for Cars 2

British actor and comedian Eddie Izzard has signed up to voice characters in Pixar's sequel to the animated hit Cars.

SA car exports set for new record

The time is ripe for the local motor industry to exceed the record exports it achieved in 2008.

• Used car sales dip
• Green cars shine at Detroit auto show
• Govt mulls green tax on all cars

Green cars shine at Detroit auto show

Optimism and a renewed focus on green cars have returned to the Detroit auto show as carmakers celebrated rising sales and a remarkable recovery.

• Toyota makes a comeback
• Toyota's global sales accelerate
• Toyota: Crisis isn't over
• Ford plans five electric cars
• GM profits zoom past $1bn
• GM steps up electric car project

Hyundai aims to race ahead of the pack

Bolstered by a 24% increase last year, Hyundai says it plans to achieve record sales in 2011.

• Hyundai boss in the firing line
• Hyundai deny GM's brand buy-out
• Hyundai recalls Sonata sedans
• Kia Motors boss resigns over mass recall
• World's costliest car goes on sale
• US retail sales jump on autos

Honda in another car recall

Honda says it is to recall one of its subcompact cars to fix a defect, its second recall since August.

• Honda recalls more than 400 000 cars
• Honda books record profit
• Toyota's global sales accelerate