The Cars.co.za Podcast

Rob Yao joins us again for episode 2 of this series we've decided to call China Chat. It focuses on everything automotive occurring in China, where Rob has fantastic insights being an interpreter for some Chinese automotive companies. 

In this episode, Ciro and Rob discuss how many new models brands like Haval and Chery are making in the next few years as well as which models could be introduced in SA.

Then they look at some of the wild and crazy vehicles, particularly in the bakkie segment, that have potential to threaten the likes of the Hilux and Ranger locally. Let us know what your thoughts in the comments below and as always, like and subscribe so we can get this content out to as many people as possible.

The Chinese car industry has evolved rapidly over the last decade. What started out as a copycat culture has developed into a global machine that is penetrating the world's automotive industry. How have Chinese cars developed and what is the culture that has led them to such speedy growth? Rob Yao has unique insights into the Chinese culture as a professional translator. Rob has been the in-between voice for the Chinese manufacturers wherever they have looked to expand. His unique insight provides an interesting take on what to expect from the Chinese moving forward as well as where the Chinese plan on leading the way.

In this exclusive podcast, Ciro de Siena sits with Naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa on the state of the SA car industry.

Naamsa (National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA) is the trusted voice for and on behalf of the South African automotive industry. Its job is to support the local industry through engagement with the government on behalf of the automotive industry in South Africa.

Its CEO, Mikel Mabasa chats with Ciro De Siena in this tell-all podcast ranging from its endorsement of the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards to dealings with the government surrounding EV taxes and local production. If you enjoy digging into the behind-the-scenes of big business as well as the politics that go with it then this one is definitely worth a watch/listen.

We were grateful to be joined by Martina Biene, MD of Volkswagen SA, for a wide-ranging and candid interview with Ciro De Siena in our Cape Town podcast studio. Martina offered us tonnes of info about the future of Volkswagen in South Africa, including plans for hydrogen, plug-in hybrids, the cost of new Polos, the challenges around the the theft of Polo, the secret new model that they will be building in Kariega, the possibility of a half-tonne bakkie and the widely discussed delay of the Golf 8 R launching in South Africa.

With the comprehensive EQ portfolio, Mercedes-Benz SA is confident that it can make inroads into the premium EV segment. We also chat about the Mercedes-Benz facility in East London and the challenges facing the South African EV landscape.

Winstone Jordaan, MD of Gridcars, along with his team, has been spearheading the electrification of South Africa’s road network. If you’ve seen a fast charger somewhere along the N1, N2, N3 or N4, it’s most likely a GridCars charger

We were delighted to be joined by Winstone in our Cape Town podcast studio for a lengthy chat, hosted by our video guy Ciro De Siena.

The electric revolution is gathering serious pace in some markets, but in South Africa, there is great concern amongst the public as to just how electric cars are going to work in our country.

Whenever you mention driving an EV in South Africa, the first word on everyone’s lips is “Eskom”. Yes, load shedding is not exactly ideal. But as we discuss in this podcast, it’s not as big a problem as motorists perceive it to be.

Alex Parker is an award-winning author, car journalist, and communications specialist who is currently working in the environmental communications space. 

In this podcast, he joins Ciro De Siena to help answer the question, will electric cars work in South Africa? We also cover the most popular electric car in China, what happens to South African manufacturing of cars if all of our export markets go electric, and Alex introduces us to the complicated world of CBAM – cross border adjustment mechanisms, which is going make trading with the EU quite tricky indeed.

Juliet McGuire is a stalwart of the local motoring media industry, having worked for multiple magazine titles, as well as holding the title of editor of Women on Wheels. For the last four years, she has been freelancing, and it has been quite a ride.   She joins Ciro De Siena in the studio for a very frank and honest discussion about the challenges facing freelancers, and especially female freelancers hoping to get into the industry.

Ciro was delighted to be joined in studio by popular SA Youtuber Niyaaz Isaacs, the face and voice behind the Liberebil Youtube channel.  

In this wide-ranging interview, Ciro and Niyaaz discuss the unreliability of BMW M cars, why Honda fans love model codes so much, why Maseratis need to look like Monica Bellucci, how to fix engines before they break, why he wants to buy his mom a Mercedes SLK, driving an electric Golf, what Niyaaz might buy next and of course his new venture, a build shop in Paarl focusing on American muscle trucks.