You probably didn’t know it, but we are experiencing a trucking boom. According to recent sales data, June 2018 was the biggest month for Class 8 big rig trucks sales… ever! And this is a good thing. Booming truck sales mean a very healthy economy and emission reductions. 

South African new-truck market has increased overall sales by 2.3% year-on-year for the first nine months of the year, defying a slew of negative economic indicators.

It's an all-out bakkie war in Mzansi with German automakers Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen keen on challenging the dominance of perennial favourites Toyota and Ford. 

In its latest quarterly report, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) expects South African new-vehicle sales to reach 558 000 units this year, inching up from last year’s 557 701 units.

While local sales weren't great, South Africa saw a record breaking 56% jump in vehicle exports in December 2018, compared to the same month in 2017.

Plug-in pickup trucks look to be the next frontier in the budding electric vehicle industry as startup Rivian Automotive is said to be in talks with General Motors Co. and Amazon.com Inc.

The resale value of any vehicle – bakkies included – is significant when shopping for wheels. More so when it comes to companies that often operate pick-up fleets.

In recent months, we’ve shone attention on companies racing to bring electric aviation to the skies in the coming decades.

 Based on things we have seen, plus our own research, here is a look at what can be expected with regard to heavy duty truck technology as we progress to the year 2020.