The Future of South Africa’s Automotive Industry: Insights from BMW’s CEO In the latest No Free Lunch Podcast, Greg Stewart chats with BMW South Africa’s CEO, Peter van Binsbergen about the future of the automotive industry in the country. Are South Africa’s automotive manufacturing prospects headed for decline or renewal? With industry leaders raising concerns about sustainability, exports, and policy support, understanding the landscape is crucial. The conversation delves into key insights shared by Peter, on the current state and future challenges of the local automotive sector. Whether you’re an industry stakeholder, policy maker, or car enthusiast, these perspectives shed…
Author: Greg Stewart
Business News Today Tech Stocks See Major Market Reevaluation Global technology stocks, and particularly the Magnificent 7 (Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet/Google, Meta, Tesla) and broader AI-linked names, experienced a significant selloff over the past week and many have seen sharp declines in market value this year after years of outsized gains, as investors question if extended spending forecasts on AI will generate sufficient returns to justify the lofty valuations. Amazon (AMZN): Down between 5–6%, the heaviest hit among some reports, due to their $200B+ capex guidance surprising investors negatively. Apple (AAPL): Down 2–3.5%.Nvidia (NVDA): Down ~1–2% (slight dip, despite…
The paradox of Potential and Reality: No other continent exemplifies this more than Africa, a continent rich in raw potential, but its value chain is more like a conveyor belt that starts underground and ends up enriching balance sheets elsewhere in the global supply-chain. While Africa’s Fintech industry is booming (hello, M-Pesa and thousands of others), this is mostly shuffling of monetary digits rather than forging new wealth on the Continent. The Current Flow: Extraction to Extraction (of Value) There is an embedded classic resource curse in Africa which is amplified by numerous debt traps. Take minerals as an example.…
Business News Today AI Wars – Byte Dance Encroaching on Disney Designs Disney has sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance accusing the AI image and video generating company of using Disney characters to train and power its Seedance 2.0 AI video generator without permission, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The letter alleges Chinese owned Seedance is reproducing, distributing and creating derivative works featuring Spider-Man, Darth Vader, and other characters. ByteDance will strengthen safeguards on its Seedance 2.0 AI video tool to prevent the unauthorised use of copyrighted characters and celebrity likenesses, the Chinese firm told the BBC…
Cyril Ramaphosa assumed the presidency of South Africa in 2018 amid high hopes for renewal, promising to tackle corruption, revive the economy, and deliver on infrastructure dreams. His annual State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs) from 2021 to 2025 outlined ambitious visions, including job creation, anti-corruption reforms, smart cities, high-speed trains, and support for struggling industries. Yet, as South Africa grapples with persistent challenges like high unemployment, crime, and economic inequality, critics argue these pledges often amount to rhetoric without results. below we examine key promises from Ramaphosa’s SONAs over the past five years, assessing delivery based on available data…
Business News Today SONA 2026 Misfires But Gives Hope for Automotive and Ferro-chrome Sectors South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gave his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last night in Cape Town. He laid out a pretty frank take on South Africa’s challenges and bleak outlook with growing crime, gangsterism, illegal mining, and especially the worsening water crisis (which has hit Johannesburg hard, with some areas dry for weeks and protests popping up). Key announcements included deploying the SANDF to support police in the Western Cape and Gauteng against gangs and “zama zamas” (illegal miners), plus promises to hold municipal…
There is little debate left regarding the impact of artificial intelligence in the world today where there is a whirlwind of rapid advancements, mounting ethical concerns, and tangible economic disruptions. A viral X post by Matt Shumer, CEO of HyperWrite AI, has ignited widespread discussion, framing recent AI developments as a “bigger than COVID” moment that could reshape society. Shumer’s essay, viewed over 50 million times, warns of AI’s accelerating capabilities with advanced models now handling complex tasks like legal reasoning and app development, while urging preparation for widespread job displacement and existential risks. This comes at a time where…
Alpina, now officially “BMW Alpina,” represents a unique chapter in automotive history, blending German engineering precision with a focus on luxurious, high-performance vehicles. Founded in 1965 by Burkard Bovensiepen in Buchloe, Bavaria, the company originated from humble beginnings in an outbuilding of a former typewriter factory. Its roots trace back to 1962, when Bovensiepen developed a Weber dual carburetor system for the BMW 1500, sparking a passion for enhancing BMW models. Initially a tuner, Alpina gained recognition for its motorsport successes in the 1960s and 1970s, including victories in touring car races with modified BMWs. By 1983, it was officially…
While small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of most African economies, driving innovation, job creation, and sustainable development, many, find the path to scaling beyond local borders littered with hurdles preventing access to markets. Access to export markets is often cited as a key obstacle, stifling growth and preventing groundbreaking products from reaching global audiences that could benefit from their ingenuity. Consider the continent’s untapped potential: Africa’s SMEs contribute over 80% of employment in many countries, but fewer than 20% successfully export, leaving billions in economic value on the table. This not only hampers individual businesses but also…
Business News Today Vehicle Sales in South Africa Accelerate Total local vehicle sales in South Africa grew in January 2026 according to the latest NAAMSA data report. Passenger vehicle sales grew by 7.1% to 37 190 year-on-year compared to January 2025, while light commercial vehicles (bakkies /pick-up trucks) and minibus vehicles grew by double digit figures (11%) to 10 996 y-o-y. Medium trucks and busses dropped by -5.9% to 542 unit sales, and heavy truck and bus sales saw a drop of -4.3% y-o-y, to a total of 1 345 units in January 2026 bringing total local vehicle sales to…
