Mario Angrisano found himself embroiled in a prolonged and tense dispute with the dealership after the Haval SUV he purchased, bought with his life savings, began malfunctioning within two weeks of purchase. The resident of West Cape faced constant electronic issues that led to engine stoppage.
Angrisano, 54, from Brackenfell, purchased a used 2021 Haval H6 2.0T Premium at Kia Tyger Valley on December 29, 2023, for 359,000 rand, paying in cash. According to Angrisano, the vehicle spent a total of 162 days in repair shops, with many defects remaining unresolved despite numerous repair attempts.
The problems allegedly started just two weeks after the purchase. In early January 2024, while driving, the SUV experienced a complete electrical failure: both the digital dashboard and the infotainment screen shut down simultaneously, leading to the failure of indicators, headlights, and hazard lights. He stated that this failure made the car unsafe to drive and posed a serious threat to his family and other road users.
He immediately reported the incident to Kia Tyger Valley, but the dealership could not help, advising him to contact an authorized Haval service center. At the end of January 2024, the vehicle was taken to Haval Brackenfell, where specialists presumably performed a factory software reset without conducting a deeper investigation into the recurring fault.
According to Angrisano, the electrical problems resumed between March and May 2024, accompanied by intermittent brake sticking. The situation escalated in July 2024 when the vehicle broke down near a school in Stellenbosch, leaving his wife and children stranded. The next day, technicians at Haval Helderberg diagnosed a battery cell failure. Angrisano paid over 3,500 rand for the battery replacement but insisted that the battery failure was merely a symptom of the underlying electrical fault. He claimed that Kia Tyger Valley refused to reimburse this amount, classifying the battery as a wear-and-tear component.
Angrisano reported that throughout the rest of 2024, other electronic glitches continued, including incorrect operation of the rain sensor and the appearance of numerous warning indicators on the dashboard. By December, many such signs were displayed on the panel. The conflict intensified in January 2025 when the vehicle showed critical warnings about water pump failure and severe engine overheating. He contacted a representative of Kia Tyger Valley, Kieran Corey, informed him of the car's unsafety, and demanded a full refund.
He was given another opportunity to have the car repaired, and he agreed to the last attempt. The SUV was taken to Haval Milnerton, where it remained for over three weeks. Angrisano claims that despite providing the service staff with videos and photos demonstrating the overheating warnings, the car was returned because technical specialists found no fault codes in the onboard computer.
After this, he escalated the matter to the Haval South Africa customer service department, and the vehicle was sent back to Haval Milnerton for approximately 40 days. Several months later, in September 2025, the vehicle's engine completely failed. In Angrisano's view, this engine failure was directly related to the unresolved overheating issues he had repeatedly reported earlier that year. As a result, Haval authorized a complete engine replacement.
After the engine replacement, the SUV was returned to Angrisano on December 18, 2025, with assurances that the repairs were complete. However, he stated that the problems resumed almost immediately. A couple of weeks later, in January 2026, the vehicle entered gearbox limp mode, and five days after that, another complete electrical failure occurred. It was then that Angrisano decided to approach the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa (MIOSA) demanding a full reimbursement. The matter was subsequently transferred to the National Consumer Commission (NCC), where it remains open.
Angrisano expressed his disappointment, noting that he feels he wasted his savings. He added that after nearly three years, he still cannot use the car, which was unexpected after considering it a sensible investment. The latest incident allegedly occurred in May 2026 when Angrisano's wife and daughter were traveling from Paarl to Brackenfell. At that moment, the infotainment screen suddenly went dark, disabling the rearview camera, the driver's display failed, and the turn signals and hazard lights stopped working.
Angrisano emphasized that despite multiple checks, repair attempts, and meetings with senior representatives from both Kia and Haval, the car continued to suffer from unresolved safety-related defects. He stated that both the dealership and the manufacturer refuse to meet his requests for a refund. He specifically noted that the purchase was made in cash, which complicated the situation as there was no bank backing. He insisted that the dispute was not about mere random electronic failures, but that the unresolved overheating warnings ultimately led to the complete engine failure, and the engine replacement did not solve the root causes. Currently, for safety reasons, Angrisano uses his old Toyota Tazz, and the Haval mostly sits in the parking lot.
Home and professional protection has become more accessible thanks to the security camera promotions available on Amazon. Three options featuring current functionalities, such as night vision, Wi-Fi connectivity, and water resistance, have been selected, allowing consumers to choose the model best suited to their needs.
One suggestion is the Full HD 1080p WiFi IP Security Camera, which offers high-definition images (Full HD 1080p) and infrared night vision for continuous surveillance, regardless of lighting. This model has rotation to cover large areas and two-way audio, enabling instant communication. Furthermore, it is water-resistant and compatible with various voltages, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
For outdoor environments, there is the IP A8 Outdoor WiFi Security Camera. This camera was specifically developed for outdoor use, combining durability against the elements with infrared night vision to ensure surveillance even under difficult weather conditions. Its Wi-Fi connection allows monitoring in real time via smartphone, simplifying the monitoring of any location.
Another innovative alternative is the Yoosee Full HD 1080p WiFi Security Camera in Bulb Shape. This device integrates into a conventional light bulb socket, camouflaging the monitoring equipment. It features Full HD 1080p resolution, infrared night vision, motion detection, and two-way audio, operating through the Yoosee app. Being rotatable, waterproof, and dual-voltage, it is ideal for those who prioritize ease of installation.
It is important to note that stock and promotional conditions on Amazon are subject to rapid changes. Interested parties are advised to check the links immediately to secure the models of interest before the offers end.
The São Paulo City Hall (SP) granted accreditation to Uber to operate passenger transport services using motorcycles in the city of São Paulo, as occurred this Friday, the 24th. However, despite this authorization, the service remains inactive and can only be launched after the company proves that it has met all requirements established by municipal legislation.
This accreditation was issued in response to a judicial determination requiring the municipal administration to formalize the company's permission within a maximum period of 48 hours. Nevertheless, the administration led by Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) clarified that the platform does not yet have permission to offer motorcycle rides in the city.
According to the municipal administration, Uber must demonstrate full compliance with the norms for paid passenger transport by motorcycle. The guidelines were defined during a special meeting of the Municipal Road Use Committee (CMUV) held on the same Friday. In the minutes, the collegiate body approved the company's accreditation aiming for strict compliance with the judicial decision, but conditioned the start of operations on meeting various technical and operational demands.
The document also recorded that the accreditation was given even though Uber's tax regularity certificates had expired. Among the requirements imposed by the municipality is the need for a proof of concept, which will allow the city hall to practically verify if the application follows local rules. The company must prove that only motorcyclists and pre-registered vehicles will conduct the rides, that the platform will display the required certificates, that there will be speed limits via the application, that passengers will receive helmets and reflective vests, and that trips will be blocked in prohibited areas, such as the Minianel Viário and high-speed roads.
Additionally, the city hall may request technological integration with the platform for inspection and monitoring of the operation. The accreditation will be valid for one year from this Friday, unless there is a new judicial deliberation.
In the meeting minutes, the city hall justified these requirements by pointing to the high risks involved in paid transport by motorcycle, both for drivers and passengers. The document cited data from the Infosiga system, which indicates that 475 motorcyclists died in the capital's traffic in 2025, and another 238 deaths were registered in the first half of 2026. Furthermore, the administration mentioned information from the Lucy Montoro Network, which reveals that more than half of motorcyclists treated after accidents become paraplegic or suffer amputations.
The CMUV assessed that expanding this type of transport could overload the Unified Health System (SUS) and Social Security. The committee emphasized that Uber can only begin operating after presenting the proof of concept to the Municipal Secretariat of Urban Mobility and Transport (SMT) and confirming full compliance with municipal legislation.
The accreditation formalizes the stance communicated by the city hall hours earlier. On Friday, the administration also announced that it appealed to the São Paulo Court of Justice to try to annul the decision that mandated the accreditation, although it assured that it would comply with the judicial order. Mayor Ricardo Nunes reiterated that the accreditation does not mean immediate authorization for rides, as the company still needs to meet other requirements, such as vehicle and motorcyclist registration and proof of safety standards.
The conflict between the city hall and transport platforms has already reached the Supreme Federal Court (STF), which suspended part of the municipal rules. The previous week, the administration had denied Uber's accreditation request for the second time, alleging that the company had not presented the insurance policy because one of the documents lacked a signature. Uber appealed and succeeded in court. Judge Patrícia Persicano Pires, of the 16th Civil Public Treasury Court, ruled that the requirement had already been met and that a new denial repeated an act already considered illegal. The magistrate also referred to the decision of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF, who suspended the mandatory nature of extra insurance coverages provided for in municipal regulations.
Digital platforms, represented by CNS, contested the regulation approved by the municipality in December 2025, shortly after its approval by the Municipal Chamber and sanction by Mayor Ricardo Nunes. The entity filed an ADPF with the STF, arguing that the requirements were excessively rigid and constituted a 'disguised prohibition of regulation,' since no company had managed to obtain accreditation since then.
On January 19, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the case, suspended some rules by considering that the city hall had invaded the legislative competence of the Union. Among the suspended points was the rule preventing the automatic issuance of the license if accreditation requests were not analyzed within 60 days, which kept the activity indefinitely prohibited. The minister also deemed illegal the requirement for a red plate, intended for rental vehicles, as federal legislation does not impose such an obligation on private individual ride-hailing transport. Moraes stressed that this service cannot be compared to mototaxi, regulated by specific law.
Subsequently, on June 30, the minister suspended another municipal rule that forced companies to contract insurance with coverage higher than that provided for in federal legislation. The municipal decree required the Passenger Personal Accident Insurance (APP) to cover passengers, drivers, and third parties, with a minimum indemnity of R$ 100 thousand for physical and moral damages, R$ 300 thousand in cases of disability, and R$ 500 thousand in case of death. In the decision, Moraes noted that the requested amounts were much higher than those provided for similar activities. He wrote: 'It draws attention [...] to the requirement of exorbitant amounts, inconsistent with what is observed with norms applicable to similar activities, which strengthens the thesis that the municipal entity, beyond the rigor in regulating a topic of public interest, intended to make the provision of motorcycle passenger transport service unviable.'
BMW has implemented a feature that allows interested parties to build a vehicle from the brand by interacting directly with ChatGPT. The German automaker made a plugin available for OpenAI's artificial intelligence assistant, allowing the user to configure their ideal car through a fluid conversation, eliminating the need to navigate extensive menus and long lists of options.
Instead of using the conventional configurator on the website, the potential buyer can simply describe their preferences in common language. A command can be specific, such as requesting a red 3 Series with 19-inch wheels, or it can be more general, mentioning characteristics like the car's size, ground clearance, or engine type. According to BMW, this tool also offers the possibility of comparing operating costs and considering aspects such as dynamic performance and all-wheel drive availability.
The main advantage, according to the manufacturer, lies in the combination of generative AI's natural language processing capability and the company's data repository on products and configurations. The goal is to ensure that ChatGPT only presents combinations that actually exist in the catalog, preventing the customer from building an unfeasible model. Thus, even those without deep knowledge of the brand's lineup can achieve a suitable configuration just by expressing their needs and tastes.
However, accessing this function requires specific steps: one must go to the ChatGPT.com website, locate the plugins menu, and search for 'BMW'. It was not clarified whether this distribution is worldwide or if it is currently limited to certain markets, such as Germany. Furthermore, BMW is not the pioneer in this type of integration, as ChatGPT itself already integrates plugins from related sectors, such as Autotrader, Cars, CarMax, Carfax, and Edmunds, primarily focused on vehicle search and comparison.
Despite this, this initiative strengthens a larger trend in the automotive industry, which has been transferring part of consumer interaction to AI assistants. While digital configurators have already replaced traditional catalogs with interactive visual representations, BMW is now testing the complete replacement of clicking through menus with a conversation, when this technology is effective.
