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The Volvo XC90 is built with a stunning design, spacious and comfortable interior and if you take a test drive you will certainly be mesmerized by the smooth and quiet ride. Volvo is undoubtedly the safest car brand in the world and this has steadily grown in attracting the local market. Stepping into the cabin of the XC90, you are welcomed by a masterclass design that is not only comfy but also a tech-rich haven. The handling of this car is quite exceptional and solid appealing to customers who understands cars perhaps on their third or fourth time purchasing cars. It has direct competition with the Audi Q7, Mercedes Benz GLE, Lexus RX 500h and the Land Rover Discovery. The Volvo XC90 has undergone two generations of production since making its debut in 2002. Numerous facelifts and improvements have been made to it building on its evolutionary lineage. The 2018 Volvo XC90 comes with three engine options; a 2.0 L Turbocharged inline four Petrol producing 254 horsepower and 350lb-ft of torque, a 2.0 L Turbocharged four-cylinder with supercharging churning out 316 horsepower and 295lb-ft of torque, and a 2.0 L Turbocharged & Supercharged inline-four with an electric motor (plug-in Hybrid) producing a combined output of 400 horsepower and 472lb-ft of torque. These powertrains are linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The fuel consumption ranges between 11.7 km/l and 11.4 km/l but the Plug-in Hybrid engine jumps to 30 km/l on average. 2018 Volvo XC90 grades Volvo XC90 Momentum- It comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights & daytime running lights, Apple Car Play & Android Auto, a 10-speaker audio system, leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with memory, dual-zone climate control, and a power liftgate. Volvo XC90 R Design- This grade has 20-inch alloy wheels, paddle shifters, Apple Car Play & Android Auto, a blind spot monitor, lane departure warning, Aluminum mesh interior inlays, Nappa leather upholstery, and a digital instrument cluster. Volvo XC90 Inscription- It boasts of a chrome exterior accents, 20-inch alloy wheels, Linear walnut interior inlays, four-zone automatic climate control, illuminated scuff plates, interior ambient lighting, Apple Car Play & Android Auto, lane departure warning, and parking sensors. Volvo XC90 Excellence- This grade is fitted with 21-inch alloy wheels, heated & ventilated seats, leather upholstery & suede interior materials, Premium Bowers & Wilkins sound system, blind spot monitor, autonomous emergency braking, parking sensors, and four-zone climate control. These different grades afford you the chance to select the right specifications that matches your personal taste and lifestyle. Legroom and space The 2018 Volvo XC90 features a well-appointed interior furnished with Scandinavian elements. The dashboard is ergonomically designed and it is fitted with a nine inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple Car Play & Android Auto for seamless connectivity. The heated and ventilated seats are dressed in Nappa leather upholstery for a luxurious outlook. Ambient interior lighting with customisable colors accords the cabin with a serene atmosphere. Boot space The 2018 Volvo XC90 has 316 liters of space when all seven seats are in place. Folding the rear seats, 967 liters of space is created. 1,868 liters of space are available when the second and third-row seats have been retracted. This creates great convenience to whatever space one may require at a different commute and journey. However, l must hasten to say this is not the right car to carry some goats after visiting your village because the brand naturally has a low resale value.  Exterior The 2018 Volvo XC90 is a masterclass when it comes to exterior design. The time, precision, and commitment used in manufacturing the XC90 are worth it. Up front sits a chrome-accented grille adorned with the prominent Volvo iron mark emblem stamping its authority wherever it traverses. Flanking the grille are the iconic Thor’s Hammer LED headlights and daytime running lights for a contemporary flair.18 Volvo XC90 Subtle character lines on the side profile enhance the dynamism of the XC90 for improved performance and fuel efficiency. The 20-inch alloy wheels add a distinctive look to this SUV. The power mirrors are integrated with an auto-dimming function for more allure. The L-shaped LED taillights match the headlights for a cohesive look. A roof spoiler is present adding an athletic touch to the XC90. The power liftgate also bears the Volvo logo and the exhaust outlet is neatly integrated into the rear bumper maintaining a clean and uncluttered appearance. Safety features The 2018 Volvo XC90 encompasses a city safety collision avoidance technology, pilot assist with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor with a rear-cross traffic alert, run-off mitigation, lane departure warning, road sign recognition, driver alert control, multiple airbags, park assist pilot, 360-degree surround view camera, Head-up display, rear collision warning, and a blind spot monitor. The Volvo brand has consistently proven itself in safety testing, been a leader in safety innovations for decades, mainly focused on accident prevention through features and handling. Stability and handling The 2018 Volvo XC90 sits on a solid unibody construction translating to its rigidity and agility. The finely tuned suspension system effectively absorbs road imperfections and minimizes body rolls which connects with its brand philosophy of prioritizing safety. The steering wheel is light and responsive. The driver has excellent visibility and command of the oncoming traffic. The Volvo XC90 comes either as a front-wheel drive (FWD) or an all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD configuration is ideal when driving on uneven surfaces because power from the engine is equally distributed to all the wheels for maximum traction. The brakes are robust and boast a high stopping power. Electronic stability control and traction control are encompassed enhancing the stability and handling of the XC90. Owing to its high ground clearance, the angles of approach and departure are elevated thus its body components cannot be damaged when driving on moderate off-road terrains. The 2018 Volvo XC90 is a family-friendly SUV that makes a perfect choice for individuals with large households owing to its spacious and practical interior. Luxury elements are not only displayed in the cabin

While owning a car is often perceived as an expense, it can be transformed into an asset that brings in extra income. Considering that your car is the second most valuable asset after the house and, therefore, it is strategic to come up with ways to monetise your asset, tap into new income streams and perhaps help you take control of your financial affairs. The timing for this conservation is idle as the majority among us are already suffering from the “January disease” syndrome, which seems to be a consistent symptom every beginning of the year. Let us drive through the details; Renting out your car: Sharing your vehicle for profit Do you have a second car gathering dust in your garage? Do you work from home or on flexible hours?  If your answers are yes in both cases, then you are indeed a candidate for potential revenue generation using your car.  Provide chauffer driven car rental services in which you can drive the car by yourself or use a reliable driver.  Similarly, you can register with Indrive and Bolt and start getting customers to provide short distance transport within the locality. These online platforms facilitate the process, connecting you with responsible customers.  Ensure your car is in good condition, it is insured to carry passengers, and you’re comfortable with the terms of the agreement. Tips for success: Transporting school children: A dependable and reliable service School runs can be stressful for parents, particularly when juggling busy schedules.  Step in as a dependable solution by offering your car as a safe and reliable transportation option.  This requires consistency and punctuality, as you’ll become a trusted figure in the lives of the families you serve. Separate your service quality from that of mushikashika type of transport service. Essential considerations: Safety: Ensure your car is roadworthy, safe for children, and equipped with the necessary safety features, like seat belts and emergency exit Courier services: Delivering time-sensitive needs Courier services offer flexibility and convenience. You can join platforms like Glovo, Uber Deliveries, or other local delivery apps to transport documents, parcels, or even groceries.  You have the freedom to choose your delivery slots, and earnings are based on the distance covered and the urgency of the delivery. Essential tips of make money: Mobile shop: Fast foods, fresh vegetables or hardware shop You can hook a trailer or a Caravan and modify it to suit your type of Mobile Shop. Convenience is a product that anyone will buy into anytime and every day.  You can drop off the trailer or caravan on your way to work and entrust someone who is good with calculations and honest with cash handling. Essential considerations: Tour guide services: Sharing your city’s secrets If you have a passion for your area, possess a charismatic personality, and enjoy connecting with people, a tour guide service could be the perfect side hustle. Take visitors on customised journeys, exploring hidden gems, historical landmarks, and vibrant local experiences. Your car acts as your transportation hub, offering a unique perspective on your city’s treasures. Boosting your service: Emergency roadside assistance: Helping drivers in need Possess a knack for mechanical know-how? Help stranded motorists jump-start their vehicles, change tires, or deliver emergency fuel.  This requires basic mechanical knowledge, some tools, and the ability to respond quickly in emergencies. Key factors for success: Event transportation: Luxury and chauffeur services If you own a stylish or spacious car, offer event transportation services. Cater for weddings, parties, or corporate events, providing a professional chauffeur experience. This often requires a more formal appearance, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride for clients. Key points for consideration: Specialised transportation: Tapping into niche opportunities Beyond traditional options, explore niche opportunities within the transportation sector. For example, consider: Enterprise creation opportunity While these ideas maybe offered directly from the vehicle owner to the customers, but there is also an opportunity for you start a business using other people’s cars. If you study the market demand properly and come up with a pricing formula that is attractive to both the end user and the vehicle owners that leaves you with good profits, then an enterprise can be established.  Key factors for success: Stanley Makombe has 25 years’ experience in the motor industry and is currently handling vehicle imports from Japan, Thailand, UK and South Africa into African countries. He is writing in his own capacity and can be contacted on +254 743 900 590, on X @Stan_Carsales, email: stanley@stanleymakombe.com, www.stanleymakombe.com

Over the years, there has been tremendous advancement in automotive technology, which has evolved rapidly from engines using fossil fuels to power transportation to the hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) to others that can drive themselves. Indeed, the integration of technological advances has made vehicles more user-friendly, with features improving their value and benefits. The change now offers much more than driving; it is now an experience! ?But of particular interest, which l want to have a conversation about is on the engine technologies with hybrids offering a great deal of fuel efficiency and reduced emissions and the EVs, which offer zero emissions and very low maintenance costs because of running without an engine.  With the increase in global environmental protection requirements to combat climate change and changes in energy structure, hybrid and EVs are increasingly valued by several markets in different continents. The automakers are also increasing their investment in pure electric and plug-in hybrid technologies to reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels. It is reported that 14 million EVs were registered in 2023 alone, bringing the total number on the units on the roads to 40 million cars. The EVs registered in 2023 was a 35% jump from the 2022 figure and is actually six times higher than in 2018, just five years earlier, clearly confirming the rise in popularity.  Apparently the EV sales data is significantly concentrated in just a few major markets.  In 2023, just under 60% of the new electric car registrations were in the People’s Republic of China, just under 25% in Europe and 10% in the United States. It is, therefore, imperative to analyse the reasons why Africa is not yet consuming these new engine technologies and perhaps push a conversation around what the key stakeholders should do to improve the situation to optimise their use and be in tandem with the rest of the world. There is no doubt in my mind about the existing hesitation by the markets in Africa to use these hybrids and electric vehicle powered cars. Despite the many advantages that these new engines are offering, sadly  the majority of customers in Africa are literally afraid to buy these cars, with statistics suggesting that only 1% of the EVs are being used in this continent.  I have personally been involved in the conversations with customers initially interested in the cars, perhaps attracted by what they hear or read as the benefits. But sadly, the customers end up refusing to buy and revert to the internal combustion engines. I have learnt with time that some of the reasons that cause the change of mind includes: nThere are no charging stations available within shorter distances convenient to everyone across the countries within Africa.  I recently read an article, which stated that Harare will soon have two public charging stations for EVs in Westgate and Borrowdale. nThe charging time will be one hour to full and will cost 0.40c per kwh. While this is good news and a first step, the effort is too small to boost interest from the public to embrace the EVs in Zimbabwe. I believe that the government should negotiate with Chinese EV manufacturers to invest in this infrastructure in the country because they have interest to open up the market for brand new and used EVs. China is currently pushing an agenda to expand its used vehicle exports which are largely going to be EVs within the next 15 years from now. Furthermore, l also think that the government can allocate a budget annually for this purpose under the climate change agenda.  Tesla has been at the forefront of investing in charging stations and they also secured funding from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law in the USA, winning almost 13% of all EV charging awards from the law, earning it a total of more than US$17 million in infrastructure grants. The hybrid batteries appear very expensive. Generally, the actual price depends on the type of vehicle make and model, but on average, the cost of a brand new battery is between US$2 000 and US$8 000. These figures, at face value, genuinely appear very expensive. However, the warranty of the batteries is around eight years or 150 000km. In many cases, the batteries last for over 200 000km before you need to replace it.  So assuming that you are doing 25 000km per year with your car it means you will need to replace the battery after eight years. So replacing the battery after eight years, my conviction is that the price is not that expensive as people fear. And again there is an opportunity to drive the production of the batteries within the African countries because we have some of the minerals required for the manufacturing such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum and copper.  Recently, the Zambian government announced that they are set to begin the manufacturing of EV batteries within a few months through a collaboration with the Chinese government. The manufacturing factory is said to be at the Zambia-Jiangxi Multi-Facility Economic Zone in Chibombo district. As a result of the fact that there are very few brand new or used hybrid and  EVs being sold within the African markets, it results in the availability of the spares being very bad. Although the spares can easily be sourced from USA, Europe and Asia who are using these cars in big numbers, the lack of convenience affects the market. As a matter of fact, one can easily buy any part from Dubai and transport it by air or sea or via sea consolidation to make the costs very affordable. Off course, l do understand that people are worried if it takes two weeks to a month just to get the spares, but they should understand that it is doable and not a deal breaker. As a result of many African countries not purchasing these car models as brand new, there has never been a strong plan to transfer expertise to service and repair

The government on October 17 2024, announced revised regulations relating to the returning residents and diplomats cars through statutory Instrument 172 of 2024, along with SI 54 and SI 111 of 2024. The announcement provided clarity that inherited cars and those from returning citizens and diplomats as defined by Customs and Excise regulations, are no longer included from the ban on importing motor vehicles older than 10 years with specific mention on clause 3B which includes antique, classic, vintage and historic vehicles that are at least 25 years or older from the date of manufacture that should satisfy particular characteristics. I must say this was a long awaited clarification regarding the returning citizens and diplomats cars because the law had created a huge ambiguity that literally made every diaspora left with some questions about that.  It was indeed befitting for the diasporas’ to be allowed to bring their cars irrespective of the age and the requirement to have owned the vehicle six months prior to claiming the duty free facility that was very complicated for many. On the other hand, allowing the antique, classic, vintage and historic vehicles that are at least 25 years or older from the date of manufacture was also necessary as countries like South Africa, irrespective of their strict Motor Industry Development policy, that prohibits the importation of used cars in their country still allows these types of used cars.  I also know that majority of African countries including Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania to mention a few also allows their citizens to bring their cars upon returning home irrespective or their age limit regulations. However, when l analysed this benefit, there are many dynamics that the returning residents and diplomats should consider when making the decision whether to bring the car home or not. Off course, the circumstances differ from the location where the returning resident is coming from and but it is important to connect that decision to among other things; Brand popularity The brand popularity in the home country where you are returning is important to check before making the decision to take the vehicle with you. This is critical as it connects to the availability of spare parts, knowledge to service and repair it and value of the motor vehicle. If assuming the brand is not so popular back home, then the first step is for you to check the market price of your car in your country of residence and make a comparison with the same back home. In majority of African countries, some of the car models such as GWM, Mazda, Citroen, Chevrolet, BMW, Audi, VW and Mercedes Benz, among others, lose value rapidly compared to other models. This informs the lack of interests from the customers whether they are right hand or left hand drive vehicles. Market value Your car is your asset and assets are about the value stored in it. If the value of the car in your resident country is much higher than the home country, it is advisable to sell it and buy another car when you settle down. Considering that there is a cost of transporting the car back home although l know that diplomats don’t use their own money for that. The math’s must make sense otherwise you may spend more on shipping costs and other applicable taxes on a car that can only fetch less in the market when you decide to sell it. Driver’s side Different countries have different rules on which side their cars drive on. In USA, France, China, Nigeria, Russia, Ethiopia, Brazil and Dubai they use left hand drive cars. So if you are coming back to Southern Africa or East Africa except Rwanda and South Sudan the cars there use right hand drive.  So the question is do you really have to bring your Left Hand Drive car from those countries and use it in a country driving on the right? The values of cars that drive on the opposite side of the road don’t have a market. I have been to South Sudan and although the country allows right hand drive cars to be driven on their roads, but the challenge is on the market values. The same 2018 Toyota Landcruiser Prado TX-L the left hand sells for more and right hand drive sells for much less because majority of the rich people only want the left hand ones. So when selling the right hand drive you are forced to reduce the price to attract customers. But l like the Kenyan laws which allows the resident returning from a country that operates left hand drive (LHD) motor vehicles to be allowed to import a replacement right hand drive (RHD) from any other source within a period of one year after returning home.  The laws dictates that the replacement motor vehicle current retail selling price should not exceed that of the previously owned left hand drive vehicle. The returning resident should show proof to the customs authorities that they owned and personally used the left hand drive vehicle in the country of former residence for a period of at least one year, prior to their return. They must also provide proof of disposal (transfer of ownership) of the previously owned vehicle before changing residence from the former country of residence. This really helps its citizens to avoid brining the left hand drive cars completely and escape from the predicaments l have covered above.  Current condition The present condition of the motor vehicle is also one important aspect to consider if you should take your car with you back to your country or not. Assuming it had an accident before or it had a major makeover including changing the engine and the body was repainted. In such circumstances it means that your car is already compromised to fetch a good market value and hence you are going to run the risk of the costs of transportation and additional taxes being higher than the value. On the opposite side