logo
Chery to launch new EV brand Icaur in South Africa in 2026

Chery to launch new EV brand Icaur in South Africa in 2026

Zawya4 days ago
Icaur, a new energy vehicle (NEV) brand under China's Chery Group, has confirmed it will officially enter the South African market in the first quarter of 2026. The brand revealed its intentions following its recent debut at the 2025 Festival of Motoring.
Image supplied
Founded in 2023, Icaur positions itself as an expressive, lifestyle-driven EV brand that aims to deliver clean mobility without compromising on personality or design. Its local entry marks the Chery Group's continued investment in the region, and Icaur's first foray into the African market.
'As the world embraces a new era of clean mobility, South African motorists deserve access to electrified vehicles that are as expressive as they are intelligent,' says Shannon Gahagan, national brand and marketing manager at Icaur South Africa. 'Icaur brings a new energy to the market, combining advanced EV technology with a playful, user-centric spirit.'
International traction, local intent
Backed by Chery's global manufacturing and R&D resources, Icaur has gained attention internationally for its bold, retro-futuristic designs and tech-enabled platforms. In South Africa, the brand aims to offer accessible electric mobility while engaging younger, lifestyle-focused buyers.
The brand is built around four global pillars:
- Category innovation: Introducing new vehicle formats and user experiences
- Playful co-creation: Allowing customers to personalise and influence product development
- Emotional design: Blending nostalgic styling cues with modern functionality
- Lifestyle ecosystem: Expanding beyond vehicles into gear, content and digital experiences
Dealership plans under way
Icaur South Africa is finalising its national retail strategy, with the first dealerships expected in key metros. The brand targets a network of 15 outlets by launch. It also plans to roll out lifestyle activations and product updates in the run-up to its market debut.
'South Africa is a country with a rich outdoor lifestyle, vibrant urban culture, and an increasingly energy-conscious mindset,' Gahagan adds. 'These are the communities Icaur is built for.'
Details on the first Icaur models set for South Africa will be shared ahead of the 2026 launch.
All rights reserved. © 2022. Bizcommunity.com Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

South Africa: FlySafair confirms pilot strike certificate issued, vows to maintain operations
South Africa: FlySafair confirms pilot strike certificate issued, vows to maintain operations

Zawya

time3 days ago

  • Zawya

South Africa: FlySafair confirms pilot strike certificate issued, vows to maintain operations

FlySafair has confirmed that salary negotiations with its pilot group, represented by the trade union Solidarity, have reached a deadlock, with a strike certificate now issued — paving the way for protected industrial action to begin with 72 hours' notice. The airline said it remains 'firmly committed to ensuring passenger safety, maintaining operational continuity, and continuing constructive engagement with its flight crew." "Our passengers remain a key priority through this process," said Kirby Gordon, chief marketing officer at FlySafair. "We are fully prepared to manage the situation responsibly, with contingency plans in place to ensure minimal disruption to our schedule and service. Customers can continue to book and travel with confidence." The company acknowledged the union's legal right to strike, while emphasising it would also respect the rights of employees who choose not to participate in industrial action. Current operations, the airline stressed, remain fully compliant with all aviation safety regulations. "We deeply value our pilots and the critical role they play in delivering the FlySafair experience,' Gordon said. 'We respect their right to raise concerns and remain committed to engaging in good faith to reach a constructive resolution that supports our people, our passengers, and the long-term viability of our business." FlySafair also reiterated its commitment to building a sustainable South African aviation sector that retains talent, prioritises wellbeing, and delivers consistent service. Flight disruptions anticipated While the airline has not confirmed whether a strike will take place or how long it may last, it has begun rescheduling selected flights between Tuesday, 22 July, and Monday, 28 July 2025, as a precaution. According to BusinessTech, affected customers are being contacted directly and offered no-cost rebookings to alternative flights via the airline's website. The deadlock follows a three-month negotiation process between FlySafair and Solidarity. The airline's final offer reportedly included a 5.7% wage increase and additional compensation measures, which the union rejected. According to Moneyweb and TopAuto, the rejection was not only due to the proposed offer, but also ongoing dissatisfaction over rostering, leave policies, and what the union has described as a 'deteriorating relationship' with management. Solidarity has also warned that concerns surrounding a recently introduced shift roster — which pilots say affects the quality of life — could trigger separate strike action. According to Solidarity deputy general secretary Helgard Cronje, the roster dispute and perceived inflexibility in work scheduling are adding to frustrations. Negotiations over crew salaries are also underway, and TopAuto and Moneyweb report that cabin crew could follow pilots in launching their own dispute if talks falter. Strike rules to be finalised Strike rules are expected to be finalised on Thursday, 17 July, under the guidance of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). Once finalised, a 72-hour notice period would be required before industrial action may legally commence.

2025 update: Navigating ESG disclosure changes in South Africa
2025 update: Navigating ESG disclosure changes in South Africa

Zawya

time3 days ago

  • Zawya

2025 update: Navigating ESG disclosure changes in South Africa

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors have grown in significance for businesses worldwide, including South African financial institutions. ESG disclosure helps stakeholders understand how companies manage ESG risks and opportunities and how they perform against ESG criteria. As regulatory frameworks continue to evolve, financial institutions must stay informed about current and upcoming disclosure requirements. Why ESG is important All organisations impact the environment and society while also being affected by environmental and societal factors that influence business performance. Stakeholders increasingly expect transparency on non-financial parameters affecting company operations, and ESG disclosure serves as the primary vehicle for communicating this information. Sustainability reporting and climate change reporting are important subsets of ESG disclosure. While mandatory disclosure requirements are already in force in jurisdictions such as the European Union and the United Kingdom, South Africa has been developing its framework through voluntary guidance and regulatory initiatives. ESG developments in SA JSE disclosure guidance In 2022, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) released its Sustainability Disclosure Guidance and Climate Change Disclosure Guidance to promote transparency and good governance among listed companies. The JSE is currently reviewing this guidance to align with the International Sustainability Standards Board's (ISSB) IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 standards, published in June 2023. CIPC framework In October 2024, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) updated its framework by adding a sustainability disclosures module to the XBRL taxonomy. This update aligns with the ISSB's IFRS S1 and S2 standards and encourages voluntary ESG data reporting. On 31 January 2025, the CIPC published Notice 6 of 2025 regarding public consultations on implementing mandatory sustainability reporting obligations. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the CIPC have established a steering committee to oversee a regulatory impact assessment on adopting the ISSB standards in South Africa. FSCA initiatives In May 2023, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) published its Introductory Statement on Sustainable Finance and Programme of Work to foster a fair, efficient, and resilient financial system that supports inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The FSCA aims to enable capital flows that support sustainability objectives; facilitate due diligence; adapt international ESG frameworks; and empower retail consumers. 2025 sustainable finance In March 2025, the FSCA published its Sustainable Finance Update Report, outlining progress under its sustainable finance programme. The report aligns with South Africa's G20 presidency priorities, which include: - Strengthening the global sustainable finance architecture. - Scaling up adaptation finance for a just climate transition. - Unlocking the financing potential of carbon markets. The FSCA's strategy is structured around five key pillars: - Taxonomy: Developing common terminology and understanding, building on outputs from National Treasury's Climate Risk Forum. - Disclosure, reporting and assurance: Aligning corporate disclosure and financial reporting requirements while helping consumers assess sustainability products. - Market development: Supporting the development of sustainable finance markets, including carbon markets. - Active ownership: Encouraging institutional investors to drive positive, sustainable outcomes. - Financial education: Empowering retail investors through financial literacy to understand the risks and benefits of ESG-aligned products We have written a more detailed breakdown on the FSCA's sustainable finance programme, which can be accessed here. Climate-related governance The Prudential Authority has issued guidance notes on climate-related governance and risk practices for insurers and banks, emphasising that: - Insurers and banks need to incorporate climate-related risks into their established risk and corporate governance frameworks. - Climate-related risks go beyond reputational concerns and require holistic treatment. - These risks must be adequately accounted for in board-approved risk management frameworks. The authority has also issued guidance on climate-related disclosures covering governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets. Mitigating greenwashing risks South Africa has joined a global panel of legal counsel issuing opinions on directors' duties and liability for climate-related risks. In September 2024, a legal opinion was issued on behalf of the Centre for Environmental Rights and the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA) addressing directors' accountability under the Companies Act, 2008; the common law; other relevant legislation; and good governance standards, including the King IV Report on Corporate Governance, 2016, and its Guidance Paper on Climate Change, 2021. The opinion considers the legal bias on which directors may be held liable for failing to address, disclose, or prepare adequately for climate risks affecting the company's business. As ESG disclosure requirements continue to evolve in South Africa, and as the ESG-related disputes increasingly include sustainability disclosure-related stakeholder actions, financial institutions must prioritise transparency, accuracy, and fairness in their ESG reporting. Doing so will mitigate greenwashing risks and enable informed decision-making by consumers and investors. The FSCA will continue to publish annual updates on its sustainable finance programme. Upcoming initiatives include finalising the GFT pilot, issuing guidance notices, and introducing mandatory corporate sustainability disclosure requirements. Financial institutions should begin preparing now by strengthening internal ESG governance structures; enhancing sustainability reporting capabilities; and ensuring alignment with international standards such as IFRS S1 and S2. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (

Legal risks of AI: Why your business needs a workplace policy?
Legal risks of AI: Why your business needs a workplace policy?

Zawya

time3 days ago

  • Zawya

Legal risks of AI: Why your business needs a workplace policy?

As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools becomes more prevalent in the workplace, businesses face new legal, ethical, and operational challenges. AI brings exciting opportunities to innovate, work more efficiently, and save costs, but allowing employees to use these tools without clear rules and guidelines can expose a company to risks, including data leaks, damage to reputation, or regulatory violations. For these reasons, having an internal AI policy is no longer merely a value-add — it has become essential for any business seeking to remain competitive and secure amid the current technological revolution. Potential legal risks One of the most compelling reasons to implement an AI policy is to reduce legal exposure. In South Africa, the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (PoPIA) places strict obligations on organisations to handle personal information lawfully and securely. When employees use generative AI tools, especially cloud-based platforms such as ChatGPT or Midjourney, there is a risk that they may inadvertently upload confidential, personal, or proprietary data into environments where control is lost. The hidden danger in AI inputs This risk is heightened by the way generative AI models function. Generative AI models depend on data inputs to generate results. Employees might unknowingly not only expose personal information protected by PoPIA but also release sensitive internal reports, client details, or proprietary content by entering them into these platforms. This can lead to unintended data exposure, as confidential information might be stored, reused, or incorporated into public AI training datasets. What a good AI policy should include To mitigate these risks, having an internal AI policy helps protect information by forbidding the upload of confidential data to public AI platforms, requiring proper testing of any third-party AI tools before use, and making sure AI-generated outputs are reviewed carefully to avoid leaking protected information. It is also important to remember that AI is not neutral; it can reflect and even amplify human biases. If AI is used in decision-making, like screening candidates or creating marketing materials, it could unintentionally introduce unfairness or exclusion. A good AI policy should encourage ethical use, focusing on fairness, transparency, and accountability. Incorporating these ethical standards into company governance not only reduces legal exposure but also fosters trust among clients, customers, and employees. An AI policy is not intended to restrict innovation but to support it responsibly. When employees understand which AI tools are approved and how to use them safely, they can experiment and innovate without risking legal or reputational harm. By establishing clear guidelines instead of harsh restrictions, the policy empowers staff to automate routine tasks, explore new customer solutions, and enhance productivity and quality while effectively managing risks. South Africa's steps toward AI regulation Around the world, AI regulations are developing rapidly. The European Union's AI Act, for instance, establishes strict rules for high-risk AI systems. While South Africa does not yet have specific AI legislation, regulators and industry groups are closely monitoring responsible AI usage, especially in sensitive sectors like finance, healthcare, and government. The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) is leading the way on AI regulation in South Africa. After launching their National AI Plan, the DCDT has advanced further by publishing the South African National AI Policy Framework. This demonstrates their ongoing commitment to establishing a comprehensive national AI policy. Implementing an AI policy is more than a forward-thinking move — it's a critical defence against the real and rising risks of AI misuse, from data leaks and compliance breaches to reputational harm. A clear policy empowers your team to innovate responsibly while protecting your business from costly mistakes. It also signals to international clients and partners that your business meets global standards for ethics and compliance — an increasingly important trust marker in today's connected economy. AI may be artificial, but your risks are real.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store