http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1607
The disciplinary hearings of the North West head of public works, roads and transport Nic van Staden and chief financial officer Kwekwu Odame-Takyi started on Monday, the department said.
Departmental spokesman Matshube Mfoloe said the hearings would continue until Friday.
Van Staden and Odame-Takyi had been charged with gross misconduct.
Irregular road tenders
The two were suspended four months ago and subsequently charged after a forensic investigation into alleged irregular multi-million rand road tenders.
Within three months of the 2009/10 financial year, the roads directorate, headed by chief director Eddie Thebe, spent its entire R525 million road projects annual budget.
In addition, more than R1.5 billion allocated to road-related projects over the next three years was found to have already been committed.
Thebe was suspended and disciplinary proceedings against him had been held.
He pleaded not guilty to 10 charges of gross misconduct and was found guilty on eight of the ten charges.
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Drivers happiest alone
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1608
A survey commissioned by a European carmaker has revealed that more than 60% of drivers are happiest when driving alone.
Commissioned by European carmaker Škoda, the survey conducted in the UK found that respondents would much rather spend some “me time” than share their precious cabin space with friends, family or celebs.
Those travelling alone listed listening to music or the radio as their greatest source of happiness in the car (40%), followed by beautiful scenery (12%) and time to think (10%).
On travelling with colleagues, half said the time was well spent getting to know their colleagues better and about 20% used the time to indulge in office gossip. Only 1% considered their boss to be a favourite passenger.
The top car sharing annoyances include driving styles (32%), smelly or untidy interiors (29%) and backseat drivers (28%).
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Tyre fitment comes to you
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1609
Johannesburg motorists now have one new service to add to their little black books – a mobile tyre fitment “centre” called Tyres in Transit.
Tyres in Transit allows customers to order new tyres online or over the phone for fitment and balancing at home, at the office or anywhere that’s convenient.
Tyres in Transit operates from a fully-equipped state-of-the-art fitment van including a tyre-changing machine, digital wheel balancing equipment and rubberised jacks to protect the underside of the vehicle.
An onboard generator and compressor mean fitment and balancing can be conducted anywhere and at (virtually) any time.
All makes of tyres to fit popular cars can be ordered and the company claims its service could save motorists up to 30% on the entire job. Go to the website for more details.
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VW expansion plan targets China
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1610
German automaker Volkswagen AG said it hopes to sell more than 2 million cars in 2010 in China and open four new plants there in the near future.
VW head of operations in China, Winfried Vahland, told German news agency DAPD late Monday that he expects sales revenue to increase by 20% this year. The Chinese operations sent €700 million ($837 million) in profit to its parent company, Europe's biggest automaker by sales, in 2009, he said.
VW in China sold 1.4 million cars at a total amount of €20 billion in 2009.
Volkswagen has said recently it wants to sell more than 10 million vehicles annually by 2018 as it pursues current world number one carmaker Toyota.
Volkswagen's brands include Audi, Seat, Bentley and Skoda.
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Google Street View has eye on SA
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1611
Google Maps launched its first Street View feature in Africa, giving soccer fans a pitch-level view of SA's new stadiums.
Google Maps’ first Street View feature in Africa shows detailed images of South Africa's new football stadiums. Three-hundred-and-sixty-degree views of the interior at pitch-level and exterior of the selected stadiumsare available.
Stadiums available for viewing include Soccer City in Johannesburg, Peter Mokaba in Polokwane and Moses Mabhida in Durban. Street view images are available in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth.
Images from 27 towns and cities around the country were collected over the last few months using Google Street View Trikes.
Julie Taylor, communications manager for Google South Africa, said: "This is a first for Africa, and a really exciting development for South Africans, who can now explore their country in new ways, whether a local neighbourhood in the city or a scenic coastal route they've never seen.
“Tourists will be able to take a look at sights and stadiums before they get here, while the rest of the world can enjoy the view from their mobile phone or PC."
For motorists, the Street View application will aid in planning routes, too. Motorists can plot their routes or get directions via Google maps before switching to the Street View application to identify their destination.
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Opel to receive 300 million euros in aid - Spain
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1612
GM wants to hold onto its Opel division but it still needs funding for the German brand's European operations.
Now, the Spanish central government, along with the regional government of Aragon, have stepped in to offer €300 million ($358.2 million) in aid to keep Opel afloat in the country. The money will like be earmarked mainly for Opel's Figuruelas plant there.
Meanwhile, the Spanish public conducts protests to the government's austerity package which includes a 5 percent pay cut for public sector workers.
Opel is asking for funding from several European governments in the places where it has manufacturing plants. The automaker's plans are to cut costs by reducing its capacity in Europe by 20 percent. It is still waiting on a final decision by the German government for aid in its home market. Opel has asked for a loan guarantee of €1 billion ($1.2 billion) from the German federal government.
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2011 Renault Latitude revealed
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1613
Official information is now being released on the new Renault Latitude sedan. Set for introduction at August's Moscow Motor Show, the car is based on the Renault-Samsung SM5 released on the Korean market at the end of 2009.
At 4.89m by 1.83m by 1.49m, the Latitude is 5mm longer than the SM5, but otherwise shares the same dimensions. The SM5 is actually based off the Laguna, and uses the Nissan D Platform.
The somewhat-bland car has been styled in such a way as to be appealing to a mass market. After Moscow, it will go on sale in Africa, Asia, Australia, Mexico, the Middle East, Russia and Turkey. A Euro-spec version will be introduced at the Paris Motor Show, with sales expected to begin by early 2011.
Renault says the car will come with adaptive bi-Xenon headlights, air ionizer with fragrance diffuser, Bose audio system, massaging driver's seat, rear LED lighting, sunroof, start button and triple-zone climate change.
We expect the car to be a bit pricy for what it is. Renault is pitching it as a vehicle for drivers "who are looking for status, quality and comfort," with no mention of "affordability." Look for more information about the new Renault Latitude to be released later this week when the website dedicated to the model is launched.
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Mercedes G-Class to get more updates for 2011
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1614
Inarguably not the most stylish Benz around these days, news is that the G-Class is due for more updates next year.
According to Autoevolution sources, the G-Wagen, as it is referred to in German, will be getting its third update in four years following a minor facelift in 2007. The new 2011 model is due for an introduction this September, most likely at the Paris auto show.
Exterior re-touches will be subtle while the interior gets the appropriate upgrade to keep up with Mercedes-Benz cabin features and technologies. All European models will now meet Euro 5 emission standards.
New engines expected include Benz's latest 5.5 liter twin-turbo V8 which will replace the normally-aspirated 5.5 liter V8 of the G500 in order to offer more power and better fuel economy. An AMG G 63 is in play for 2012, likely with a saucier version of that twin-turbo V8.
In fairness to the G-Class's styling, though, the whole point of its design is to stay true to its original iteration back in 1979 as a true off-road vehicle - one definitely not for the suburbanized SUV driver.
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Ford adds Google Maps 'Send to SYNC' feature
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1615
Ford has unveiled a new feature for the Send to SYNC infotainment system.
Designed to maximize convenience, the feature allows people to send Google Maps directions to their SYNC-equipped vehicle via their smartphone or computer. To do this, users visit Google Maps and find a desired destination. Once they have selected an address, they click on it, click more, and select send. After this, they select car, click Ford, and enter their SYNC TDI (Traffic, Directions & Information) account number. Once completed, the user enters their vehicle, uses the Services command, and confirms the request to download the Google Maps destination. This information is then turned into audible turn-by-turn directions for easy navigation.
According to Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services Solutions Organization, "Printing paper directions from a website is a relic in our digital age. With Send to SYNC, you can map a destination at home, at work - wherever you have connectivity - and when you get to your car, it already knows where you want to go. It's convenient and it eliminates the waste and distraction of paper maps, conserving resources while helping drivers keep their eyes on the road."
Send to SYNC with Google Maps compatibility also joins the MapQuest service which was announced earlier this year. Set to be launched later this month, the 'Send to SYNC' feature will be free of charge.
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Renault, Nissan, Samsung joint bid for SsangYong
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1616
French automaker Renault has confirmed rumors that it made an offer for South Korean manufacturer SsangYong Motor Co. Renault made the offer in conjunction with their Korean subsidiary Renault Samsung Motors and Japanese firm Nissan.
Details of the bid were not made public.
SsangYong has been in the process of court-ordered restructuring since January, when it was placed into receivership. China-based SAIC Motor has a 6.2 percent stake in SsangYong, South Korea's smallest automaker. The largest shareholder is Barclays Bank and Barclays Capital Securities which holds a combined 8.02 percent.
Laid-off factory workers at SsangYong blocked several plants for nearly 80 days this year, accusing management of corruption and unfair labor practices. The shutdown reportedly cost the company over $183 million.
Five of the six other companies bidding for SsangYong include Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra, along with Pawan Kumar Ruia, Seoul Investments, SM Aluminum and Young An Hat Co. One undisclosed company has already been disqualified from the proceedings.
The bid from Mahindra & Mahindra was said to be worth $500 million.
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MEC Design S65 AMG replica kit for W221 S-Class
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1617
MEC Design has unveiled a new styling package for the pre-facelift Mercedes S-Class (W221).
Created for a customer in Germany, the 2007 S550 is a dead ringer for the current S65 AMG. Only the lack of LED turn signals in the headlamps and LED daytime running lights in the front bumper give it away. As part of the conversion, the company installed their version of S65 AMG bumpers, 20-inch three-piece MEC Xtreme III wheels, an ELS lowering module (which reduces ride height by up to 65mm), and a high performance exhaust system.
Inside, the cabin is outfitted with an MEC Design steering wheel and floor mats with leather edging.
No word on pricing, but we're sure someone is very happy in Dortmund.
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