There is something deeply evocative about an old truck that is still earning its keep. Long after the shine has faded and the odometer has rolled over countless times, these machines stand as reminders that the most meaningful journeys are rarely the quickest. In many ways, vintage trucks mirror life itself – carrying the marks of hard work, perseverance and experience while reminding us of the value of our roots. It is in this spirit that Isuzu Motors South Africa has launched ‘Legends of the Long Run’, as a tribute to loyal customers and the trucks that continue to deliver value long after most vehicles would have retired.

The campaign will see one deserving truck owner receive a complete vehicle restoration by the OEM, with the entire refurbishment process documented from the first bolt removed to the final engine start.

Isuzu trucks have long been synonymous with longevity, durability and reliability. For decades, the brand has celebrated the engineering excellence behind its vehicles – machines that have become trusted business partners to customers across South Africa.

Now, the company is turning the spotlight onto the people behind the badge. These are the customers who placed their trust in Isuzu and helped make it South Africa’s number one commercial vehicle brand for 13 consecutive years. The campaign celebrates not only enduring engineering but also the people whose livelihoods have been built alongside these dependable workhorses.

Reliability is the bedrock
In industries such as transport, logistics and construction, downtime is costly. Every missed delivery and every hour spent off the road directly impacts profitability. Successful operators therefore do not simply purchase trucks – they invest in assets capable of delivering dependable returns year after year. Reliability, in this environment, is not a luxury. It is a business necessity.

This is the foundation upon which Isuzu has built its reputation. Rather than relying on marketing promises, the company points to the kilometres travelled, uptime achieved and businesses sustained by its vehicles.

“Our success as a brand is built not only on the strength of our engineering, but on the trust our customers place in us every day,” says Mpho Nkhumeleni, Department Executive for CV Sales at Isuzu Motors South Africa.

The vehicles eligible for the competition are working trucks that have accumulated hundreds of thousands of kilometres, with many having surpassed the one-million-kilometre milestone while remaining active and productive assets for their owners.

According to Isuzu, this longevity is no accident. It reflects more than a century of global engineering expertise combined with over six decades of experience in the South African market.

Tell your Isuzu story
As part of the campaign, Isuzu Motors South Africa is inviting truck owners to share their personal journeys and experiences with their Isuzu vehicles. One standout entry will be selected to receive a full restoration by the OEM. Who better to restore a truck than the engineering team who built it?

Owners who believe their truck deserves legendary status are encouraged to submit their stories through the campaign website (http://www.isuzu.co.za/legends). One truck will be given a new lease on life, while its journey is shared with trucking enthusiasts and operators across the country.

“Legends of the Long Run is a celebration of those customers and the incredible journeys they have taken with their trucks that continue to deliver value well beyond expectations,” Nkhumeleni concludes.

Editor’s Comment: Few sights are more inspiring in our industry than a truck that has travelled a million kilometres and still reports for duty every morning. Such vehicles represent more than engineering achievement – they embody resilience, loyalty and the enduring partnerships between manufacturers and operators. In celebrating these high-mileage workhorses, Isuzu is also celebrating the values that have long defined truck transport: perseverance, reliability and an appreciation for the journeys that shape both businesses and lives.

With global energy markets under strain amid instability in the Persian Gulf region, the timing of new electric commercial vehicle launches is becoming increasingly significant. Rising fuel volatility and supply uncertainty are sharpening the focus on operational resilience and manufacturers are accelerating the shift toward electrified transport as fleets search for insulation from diesel price shocks.

India’s commercial vehicle giant Tata Motors used a Cape Town showcase on May 22 to underline how far its electric truck strategy has progressed – and how deliberately it is being positioned for emerging-market realities, including our continent’s cost-sensitive logistics sector.

At the event, Tata Motors unveiled an 11-vehicle line-up spanning electric trucks, buses, pickups and heavy-duty vocational platforms. Battery-electric commercial vehicles took center stage, signaling that electrification is no longer being framed as a future concept, but as a near-term working solution across multiple duty cycles – from last-mile delivery to mining and construction support.

The showcase highlighted not only the breadth of Tata Motors’ commercial vehicle portfolio but also the company’s growing emphasis on electrification, productivity and lower total cost of ownership across a wide range of transport applications. From last-mile logistics to heavy vocational work, the underlying message was clear – energy risk is now a core transport planning variable, not a peripheral concern.

Electric trucks lead the charge
Among the most significant reveals was the battery-electric commercial vehicle range, covering applications from compact urban delivery to heavy-duty industrial operations.

The Tata Ace Pro EV was positioned as a zero-emissions mini truck for last-mile delivery, where compact size, maneuverability and low running costs are key operational drivers. Tata describes it as a practical urban logistics tool designed to reduce dependency on volatile fuel pricing.

Alongside it, the Tata Intra EV targets higher-payload urban cargo operations, offering extended range capability and improved earning potential through lower cost of operation.

Tata also showcased the Ultra E.9 electric truck for intra-city logistics, while the Prima E28.K electric tipper extended the electrification foray into mining and construction. The latter signals a growing confidence that heavy-duty electrification is moving beyond pilot programmes into commercially relevant applications.

Speaking at the event, Asif Shamim, Head, International Business at Tata Motors, said the portfolio reflects a deliberate, application-led engineering approach.

“This showcase reflects our continued focus on developing relevant, application-led mobility solutions for our international markets,” said Shamim. “The portfolio presented here demonstrates the range of platforms and technologies we are building across segments, including electric vehicles, tailored to different use cases and operating conditions.”

Expanding the conventional range
While electrification took centre stage, Tata also reinforced the depth of its diesel and hybrid-ready platforms.

The Ultra Prime RE rear-engine intra-city bus is aimed at urban passenger transport, powered by a 6.7-litre diesel engine and designed for high-frequency duty cycles.

The Azura 1918 intermediate-duty truck continues Tata’s focus on regional and urban haulage, with an emphasis on uptime and lifecycle efficiency.

In pickups, the Intra V30 and V70 models were highlighted for their crash-tested walkthrough cabins and payload capacity ranging from 1 300kg to 1 950kg – reinforcing their role as high-utilisation commercial tools.

The passenger portfolio also included the LPO 1618 Magna, LP 909 and LPO 1623 Nova buses, covering staff, school and inter-city transport segments.

Africa remains central to Tata’s strategy
The Cape Town showcase also reinforced the scale of Tata Motors’ established footprint across Sub-Saharan Africa. The company operates in 29 countries through partners including Tata International, Panafrique Motors, KOMCO Motors and Allied Motors.

More than 340 000 commercial vehicles have been sold across the region, supported by over 320 service centres and assembly operations in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

Tata also highlighted warranty extensions and annual maintenance contracts as part of its effort to stabilise lifecycle costs in volatile operating environments.

Shamim concluded by stating that Tata’s new commercial vehicle portfolio “reflects the strength of the engineering and development capabilities behind these products, enabling us to deliver solutions that are practical, reliable and built to support customer productivity. We have always focused on supporting growing businesses and communities – building lasting relationships through dependable, efficient and durable products.”

Editor’s Comment: The coincidence of accelerated electric truck rollouts with renewed energy instability in the Gulf is not incidental – it is increasingly structural. As geopolitical risk feeds directly into fuel price volatility, the economics of diesel dependence are becoming harder to defend, particularly in emerging markets where transport costs ripple quickly through food, retail and industrial supply chains. Tata Motors’ Cape Town showcase sits squarely in this transition point, where electrification is no longer just about emissions targets but about energy security and cost predictability.

For African operators, the calculus is becoming more pragmatic than ideological. Electric trucks are being evaluated not as climate statements but as hedges against fuel shocks and margin compression. Tata’s strategy reflects this shift clearly – pairing electric platforms with established diesel products and an extensive support footprint, effectively offering fleets a staged transition rather than a disruptive leap.

With South Africa’s unemployment rate climbing to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026 – leaving 8.1 million people without work – the pressure on South Africa to move beyond statements and deliver real economic participation has never been greater.

The dire situation of jobless youngsters was spotlighted in many quarters during June’s Youth Month and in all honesty, the situation seems daunting. However, to throw some light onto the table, FleetWatch is carrying this story of a young lady who joined Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s Commercial Assembly Plant in 2024 through the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme and has risen to great heights in the company. It’s all about the Power of One.

Behind every Hyundai H100 and EX8 truck that rolls out of Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s Commercial Assembly Plant, is a team of skilled technicians dedicated to quality and precision. Among them is Kwanele Sibisi, one of the facility’s top-performing assembly technicians.

Since joining the plant in 2024, the Newcastle-born technician has helped assemble more than 2 000 vehicles while consistently achieving high-level performance ratings. It is an impressive achievement in a field where accuracy and attention to detail are critical to ensuring vehicles meet Hyundai’s quality standards before reaching customers.

Sibisi works on the assembly line where semi-knocked-down vehicle kits are transformed into fully assembled commercial vehicles destined for businesses across South Africa.  Her responsibilities include fitting, inspecting and verifying components throughout the assembly process.

For someone who has always been fascinated by engineering, working in vehicle manufacturing has proven to be rewarding. “I have always been fascinated by the engineering field and wanted to be involved in creating something people depend on every day,” said Sibisi.

“Nothing fulfils me more than seeing Hyundai commercial vehicles on the road and knowing they are helping businesses operate and supporting entrepreneurship. It gives me a real sense of pride because I understand the work, care and attention to detail that goes into assembling each vehicle.”

The Benoni-based Plant has assembled more than 22 000 vehicles since commencing operations in 2013. The facility currently produces key commercial models including the Hyundai H100 and EX8, with the Hyundai GT11 6-ton truck set to join the line-up later this year.

For Sibisi, quality remains one of the most important aspects of her role. “Quality control is not something I compromise on. Every vehicle that leaves the assembly line represents teamwork, pride and responsibility. I always strive to ensure that my work meets the highest standards possible,” she said.

According to Murge Mathapershad, General Manager of the Plant, Sibisi’s performance reflects the discipline required to maintain quality throughout the production process. “Quality is at the heart of everything we do and the standards required in vehicle assembly are extremely high.”

“Kwanele’s consistency, focus and attention to detail have made her one of our standout assembly technicians.  Her contribution highlights the importance of skilled people in delivering products that customers can depend on.”

One job given. One Super Star results. The Power of One.

Editor’s Comment: Statistics can either be encouraging or disheartening. When they are too high, one is left almost in despair thinking there’s nothing one can do about it. When they are low, one would perhaps think so what’s the problem. FleetWatch has always acted on the Power of One – one crash is one too many; one hijacking is one too many; one road death is one too many. One job, however, is not one too many. This story proves that to be true.