Latest news with #Navara
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- The Advertiser
'Wrong side of the road': truck driver on the run after regional crash
A truck driver is wanted by police after he allegedly veered onto the wrong side of the road and caused a car crash involving a woman and two teenagers. Police are appealing for help to find the truck driver who allegedly left the crash scene in Beveridge, around 50 kilometres north of Melbourne CBD, in regional Victoria. Investigators said the man was "travelling on the wrong side of the road" on Minton Street at 2.55pm on June 9 when he collided with a white Nissan Navara utility. The truck driver stopped and spoke to the driver and passengers of the Navara before he fled, police were told. The Navara driver, an 18-year-old Aberfeldie man, and two passengers, a 17-year-old girl and a 51-year-old woman from Wallan, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. They were taken to the hospital for treatment. Police are searching for the truck driver and have urged anyone who was in the Wallan area at the time to check their dashcam footage. The suspect was described as short, in his late 40s, with a shaved head and stubble on his face. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or recognises the truck is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at A truck driver is wanted by police after he allegedly veered onto the wrong side of the road and caused a car crash involving a woman and two teenagers. Police are appealing for help to find the truck driver who allegedly left the crash scene in Beveridge, around 50 kilometres north of Melbourne CBD, in regional Victoria. Investigators said the man was "travelling on the wrong side of the road" on Minton Street at 2.55pm on June 9 when he collided with a white Nissan Navara utility. The truck driver stopped and spoke to the driver and passengers of the Navara before he fled, police were told. The Navara driver, an 18-year-old Aberfeldie man, and two passengers, a 17-year-old girl and a 51-year-old woman from Wallan, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. They were taken to the hospital for treatment. Police are searching for the truck driver and have urged anyone who was in the Wallan area at the time to check their dashcam footage. The suspect was described as short, in his late 40s, with a shaved head and stubble on his face. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or recognises the truck is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at A truck driver is wanted by police after he allegedly veered onto the wrong side of the road and caused a car crash involving a woman and two teenagers. Police are appealing for help to find the truck driver who allegedly left the crash scene in Beveridge, around 50 kilometres north of Melbourne CBD, in regional Victoria. Investigators said the man was "travelling on the wrong side of the road" on Minton Street at 2.55pm on June 9 when he collided with a white Nissan Navara utility. The truck driver stopped and spoke to the driver and passengers of the Navara before he fled, police were told. The Navara driver, an 18-year-old Aberfeldie man, and two passengers, a 17-year-old girl and a 51-year-old woman from Wallan, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. They were taken to the hospital for treatment. Police are searching for the truck driver and have urged anyone who was in the Wallan area at the time to check their dashcam footage. The suspect was described as short, in his late 40s, with a shaved head and stubble on his face. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or recognises the truck is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at A truck driver is wanted by police after he allegedly veered onto the wrong side of the road and caused a car crash involving a woman and two teenagers. Police are appealing for help to find the truck driver who allegedly left the crash scene in Beveridge, around 50 kilometres north of Melbourne CBD, in regional Victoria. Investigators said the man was "travelling on the wrong side of the road" on Minton Street at 2.55pm on June 9 when he collided with a white Nissan Navara utility. The truck driver stopped and spoke to the driver and passengers of the Navara before he fled, police were told. The Navara driver, an 18-year-old Aberfeldie man, and two passengers, a 17-year-old girl and a 51-year-old woman from Wallan, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. They were taken to the hospital for treatment. Police are searching for the truck driver and have urged anyone who was in the Wallan area at the time to check their dashcam footage. The suspect was described as short, in his late 40s, with a shaved head and stubble on his face. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or recognises the truck is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at
Wales Online
11-06-2025
- Wales Online
He forced his way through traffic and nearly knocked people over but laughed when shown CCTV
He forced his way through traffic and nearly knocked people over but laughed when shown CCTV James Osmond drove dangerously in three separate police pursuits in just two weeks but found video of his offending shown to him by police funny James Osmond (Image: South Wales Police ) A driver led police on three separate dangerous pursuits in the space of just two weeks, a court has heard. During the spree of offending James Osmond hit multiple cars, "forced" his way through traffic, raced through red lights, and narrowly avoided knocking down pedestrians. When shown CCTV footage of his driving following his arrest he laughed at the clips. At the time of the offending, Osmond was out of prison on licence following his involvement in a gang attack which saw two men stabbed and cars smashed with baseball bats. Swansea Crown Court heard the defendant had previous convictions for aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, affray, and conspiracy to supply drugs but the 25-year-old's barrister told the court he had now disassociated himself from his previous peer group and negative influences and "simply wants to get back to being a dad and a provider". Dean Pulling, prosecuting, told the court that at 4.30pm on January 13 this year plain-clothes police officers in an unmarked vehicle were keeping watch on the activities of known drug-users around Swansea's Dyfatty flats as part of the on-going Operation Sceptre initiative. He said the officers became suspicious of the movements of a Nissan Navara pickup and followed it as it drove into the city centre. The court heard the pickup stopped outside the Eli Jenkins pub in Oxford Street and a woman got out. At that point the officers alighted their vehicle and approached the Nissan - Osmond responded by speeding off and going through a red traffic light at the junction with Dillwyn Street, narrowly avoiding pedestrians who were crossing the road. Article continues below The officers followed the Nissan as it sped along The Kingsway and onto Christina Street and then Walter Road at which point they lost sight of it. The details of the pickup were circulated to fellow officers. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter The court heard the Navara was then spotted by firearms officers the following day parked outside a shop in Morriston. Osmond was seen to get into the vehicle and a pursuit ensued with officers following him along Neath Road, but the court heard that, due to the dangerous nature of the defendant's driving, the pursuing officers were stood down. The prosecutor said Osmond headed for Landore and was seen to drive at speed through the area's narrow residential streets with members of the public reporting the pickup "swerving from side to side" and colliding with cars. One of the cars Osmond hit was being driven by a mum who had her young child in the back. The Navara was subsequently found abandoned in Cwmbwrla. The court heard Osmond came to the attention of police again on January 30 when officers in Penlan signalled for a Peugeot van containing three men to pull over. The van sped away but not before officers had recognised the driver. With Osmond at the wheel the van carried out a series of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres, went the wrong way round roundabouts, and "forced" its way through busy traffic, hitting a number of vehicles as it did so, including an unmarked police car being driven by an officer who was in the area on an unrelated job. The court heard the defendant was finally arrested on April 20 after he was located in the Cwmdu area. Osmond answered "no comment" to all questions asked in interview but was noted to laugh when shown CCTV clips of his driving around Swansea. James Michael Osmond, formerly of Middle Road, Gendros, Swansea, but now of Vicarage Road, Cwmdu, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of dangerous driving and driving without insurance in relation to the Peugeot van when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He had also previously pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited item - namely a mobile phone - in prison. This offence took place in May, 2023, when Osmond was being held on remand at HMP Cardiff. The court heard the L8Star "mini mobile" was found hidden in Osmond's bed in his cell after a prison scanner had picked up phone use on the wing. Osmond initially denied any knowledge of the phone but a download of its SIM card showed it had been used to call the same numbers the defendant had stored in his authorised prison phone contacts known as the "PIN list". The court heard Osmond had convictions for eight previous offences on his record including aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, violent disorder, and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, In June, 2023, the defendant was sentenced to 30 months in prison for affray and possession of an offensive weapon for his part in a gang attack on people in cars at the Sketty Cross junction in Swansea. That offence saw Osmond and others in a convoy of cars attack their targets with weapons including baseball bats before "parading around" in front of frightened members of the public. Two men later went to hospital with stab wounds but refused to co-operate with police. The court head that the day before the Sketty Cross disorder a petrol bomb had been thrown through the window of the defendant's mother's house. He was out of prison on licence for the affray matter when he committed the three counts of dangerous driving before the court. In January, 2021, Osmond was jailed for aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving after driving a friend's car "erratically" through Gendros - including at one stage swerving back and forth across the road "like a racing car driver trying to warm up his tyres" - before speeding off from police, mounting the pavement and crashing into a parked car. The Gendros offending happened just a few weeks after the defedant had been let out of a young offenders institution after serving less than a third of a sentence for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. The drug trafficking conviction followed police stopping a car containing three males in Brynmelyn in Swansea - the teenage Osmond was found with a Kinder Egg capsule containing wraps of heroin hidden "in his genital area" while a search of the car revealed a pickaxe, an air pistol, cash, and a mobile phone containing messages relating to dealing. Hywel Davies, for Osmond, said at the time of the offending the defendant's mental health had deteriorated significantly following medical issues with his partner. He said his client was "bitterly missing" his young daughter while being in custody and had removed himself from his previous negative peers and lifestyle and "simply wants to get back to being a dad and a provider". Judge Geraint Walters said that in all his time at the Bar he could not recall a defendant committing three separate pieces of dangerous driving in the space of a fortnight. With discounts for his guilty pleas the defendant was sentenced to a total of three years in prison. He will serve no more than half that sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. Osmond was disqualified from driving for a period of four-and-a-half years and must pass an extended test before he can get a new licence. Article continues below The judge made a depravation order for the Nissan Navara.
The Citizen
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
PODCAST: What closure of Nissan Rosslyn plant means for Mzansi
Nissan is set to cut its financial losses by closing seven of its 17 global factories by 2027. The Nissan plant in Rosslyn outside Pretoria faces closure in the Japanese carmaker's desperate attempt to cut its global losses. The local factory is one of seven global assembly facilities on the chopping block as Nissan plans to reduce its plants from 17 to 10 by 2027. The plant has been in operation since 1966 and apart from direct job losses, its closure will have an indirect impact on two other manufacturers, BMW and Ford, which also have factories in Pretoria. In this week's episode of The Citizen Motoring's Pitstop podcast, we look at what the closure of the Nissan plant will mean for the brand in South Africa. Nissan plant in Rosslyn under-utilised Since the discontinuation of the Nissan NP200, only the Navara bakkie has been built in Rosslyn, leaving the factory underutilised. While there has been talk about the possibility of assembling an SUV alongside the Navara, the company's global restructuring plan, Re:Nissan, indicates otherwise. The manufacturer announced this month that it plans to reduce its global workforce by a further 20 000 jobs on top of 9 000 last year. This follows an R82.2-billion revenue loss for the 2024 financial year. Reports indicate other Nissan plants facing the chop include the Oppama and Shonan plants in Japan, the Santa Isabel plant in Argentina, the Chennai plant in India and one of three factories in Mexico. ALSO READ: Reports claim Rosslyn to be one of Nissan's plants facing closure Patrol, two new SUVs coming The Nissan plant in Rosslyn builds Navaras for the local market and sub-Saharan Africa. If the Rosslyn plant closes, Nissan is likely to import the Navara from Thailand. Nissan South Africa announced in March that the new Patrol and two new Indian-built SUVs derived from Renault products are due to arrive in 2026. Renault and Mitsubishi are Nissan's two alliance partners.
TimesLIVE
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Nissan's struggles open door for Chinese carmakers in SA
Chery SA CEO Tony Liu said the Chinese automaker is exploring all available avenues to establish its first production facility in the country. Liu was responding to a question from TimesLIVE Motoring about whether an established plant, such as the Nissan Rosslyn operation whose future is under doubt, might be of interest. News agency Reuters reported in May that Japanese manufacturer Nissan was considering global plant closures, potentially including shutting the doors of its Tshwane facility. 'SA boasts a proud legacy of local vehicle manufacturing, and Chery is committed to strengthening the industry for generations to come. This would also allow us to enhance our contribution to local communities,' he said. According to Liu, the brand's outlook features two potential pathways: partnering with an existing manufacturer to 'help address current production gaps' or set up its own, dedicated manufacturing plant, realising the 'full production capabilities' of Chery. The CEO said the manufacturer's customer base, which grew to 55,000 over the three years since market re-entry, represents critical mass that has justified a feasibility study to assess how local manufacturing could support its long-term volume aspirations. 'Beyond market size, SA being the largest new car market in Sub-Saharan Africa, Chery recognises SA's role as a gateway into Africa through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.' Liu said local manufacturing would also enable contribution to the domestic supply chain, with commitment to broad-based black Economic empowerment requirements. Meanwhile, Nissan SA representatives have countered the notion that the Rosslyn plant is on borrowed time. 'Nissan wants to clarify the news is not based on any official information of the company,' said head of communications Ramy Mohareb. 'At this stage we are not able to inform you which plants will be affected. Our focus remains on our operations and the dedicated workforce that drives our success,' he told TimesLIVE Motoring. The Rosslyn plant employs 1,080 people and has been operational since 1966. Mohareb was unable to comment on the facility's output, or elaborate on plans to sustain its business and protect local jobs and retailers. In 2024 the brand's top-selling NP200 half-tonne bakkie, produced at Rosslyn, was discontinued. The plant only produces the one-tonne Navara. A well-placed industry insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed the view that Nissan SA, in its present guise, would struggle to find longevity. 'The key to being a successful manufacturer in SA is sufficient export volume, which Nissan never had. The best-selling SA cars and light commercial vehicles only manage about 25,000 units per year, insufficient for competitive manufacturing. This needs to be complemented with a proper export programme to reach a viable volume,' the source said. 'Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Ford have the programmes but Nissan, with a few thousand Navara exports into Africa, aren't close. Getting there is a parent company decision. The SA factory needs to be part of the global supply chain, not a local market factory with a handful of exports to small regional markets.' According to the insider, the peak of Nissan SA's sales dates as far back as the period of 1976 to 1978 when it was the leading manufacturer in SA. 'Its most successful models included the original Datsun 1200s and the B120/140 bakkie, the original Datsun 1600s and the Skylines. The first Maxima and Primera were great cars but not quite the sellers they should have been. On the bakkie side, the Hardbody took the fight to the Hilux, but this faded as the last Hardbody's life was extended, ultimately a life of more than 20 years.' 'In my view, Nissan's product offering didn't keep up with the changing demands of the SA buyer. As the market evolved, moving from sedans to SUVs and crossovers, Nissan's range reduced significantly and the individual products were less competitive within their respective segments.' Mikel Mabasa, CEO of Naamsa, the national automotive business council, said the organisation was waiting for Nissan SA to provide an outline of its local plans. He said Naamsa was concerned by media reports casting doubt over the brand's future in SA. 'Any [possible] closure is not something we take lightly. We have a lot of people employed through such plants, not only those on the production line, but the value chain, including those who support the plant with components. If Nissan decides to discontinue operations, we will activate discussions with them directly, understanding their position and identifying how we can support the future of the facility,' Mabasa said. 'Naamsa will be at the forefront in working with partners to see what can be done to safeguard the plant for future operations,' he said, referencing the 2017 disinvestment of General Motors, where similar conversations were had. 'Isuzu was able to raise their hand and the Gqeberha plant was saved.' Separately, Mabasa confirmed Naamsa had been in discussions with brands who are importers, eyeing SA as a destination for manufacturing operations. He said Naamsa welcomed intentions for new operations by brands, whether it involves repurposing existing plants or establishing a greenfield investment from the ground up. Spokesperson for the department of trade, industry and competition, Bongani Lukhele, said Nissan had not provided formal communications on the issue, and the department was therefore not in a position to respond to queries.
TimesLIVE
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Can the new Nissan Navara Warrior tackle the Spirit of Africa?
Nissan recently launched the Pro-4X Warrior as the new flagship model of its locally built Navara double cab range, boasting upgrades that enhance its off-roading ability. It is the vehicle used in this year's Spirit of Africa, an annual off-road challenge run by legendary racer Sarel van der Merwe and this year taking place at Sandwani Game Lodge near Cullinan. It's the 21st anniversary of the event and the third edition under the Nissan banner. In addition to three-day events open to the public from April to June, there was a one-day media challenge earlier this week in which I took part. Paired up with Wheels24 motoring journalist Reuben van Niekerk, we competed against 14 other two-people crews driving through a series of slow technical obstacles and high-speed sections — sometimes in reverse. In the slow stuff you have to guide the large Nissan bakkie through an undulating off-road course against the clock, guiding it between poles that earn you penalty points if touched. The poles are narrowly spaced and more suited to Suzuki Jimnys than wide Nissan Navaras. It leaves millimetres of clearance at the Navara's side mirrors, all while driving on uneven surfaces of gravel, mud and soft sand. Making it extra challenging is you tackle each section without having seen it in advance, so you have to be smart about deciding which driving mode to use. For example, selecting two-wheel drive gives the vehicle a smaller turning circle, which provides an advantage in tight corners — you lose points for reversing, so the idea is to get through the turn the first time. Two-wheel drive provides less traction, however, and you may encounter a steep and slippery climb that requires engaging four-wheel drive and the rear diff lock. The Navara has the advantage that it can be switched between two- and four-wheel drive at the twist of a dial while driving, but doing it while navigating dongas through Jimny-sized gaps, with the stopwatch ticking, keeps you on your toes.
