Are sales of electric vehicles and hybrids picking up in South Africa? Let’s take a closer look at the official registration figures for the first three quarters of 2022…

Wondering exactly how many electric vehicles (EVs), traditional hybrids and plug-in hybrids have been sold in South Africa over the first three quarter of 2022? Well, wonder no more.

In its quarterly review of business conditions for the South African automotive industry, Naamsa has again listed some fascinating sales figures regarding so-called “new energy vehicles” (electric, plug-in hybrid and traditional hybrid).

Of course, it’s worth noting the local market is still without a truly affordable electric car, with the least expensive option currently being the 3-door Mini Cooper SE Hatch, which retails for a lofty R723 000. No other full-size, battery-powered vehicle comes in at less than R1-million.

The most affordable EV on the SA market isn’t all that affordable…

According to Naamsa, 350 electric vehicles were registered in South Africa over the first nine months of 2022 (so, around 39 units a month), translating to just 0.09% of the September 2022 year-to-date industry total of 391 936 units. That figure rises slightly to 0.13% if we consider EV sales as a percentage of total passenger-car registrations instead (271 173 units over the first three quarters of 2022).

Interestingly, the third quarter of the year saw the most EV sales, with 143 units registered across July, August and September. For the sake of comparison, 218 electric cars were sold in South Africa in 2021.

Hybrid and PHEV sales in SA over the first three quarters of 2022

Sales of traditional hybrids picked up quarter three, with the Corolla Cross again rolling off Toyota’s KZN assembly line.

What are the numbers like when it comes to plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles? Well, just 104 PHEVs have been registered locally in the first nine months of the year, with the third quarter being the weakest (with 22 units sold) of the three.

Meanwhile, traditional hybrids – including the likes of dual-powered versions of the Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross andRAV4, various Lexus models as well as the Honda Fit (Haval’s H6 Hybrid arrived just outside the reporting period) –reflected a sales total of 2 638 units up to the end of September 2022. The third quarter saw 788 units registered, a recovery from the 593 units achieved in the second quarter but not quite at the level of the opening quarter (1 257 units).

Of course, that initial quarter-on-quarter decline in traditional hybrid sales was thanks to the KwaZulu-Natal floods that forced Toyota SA Motors to halt production of the Corolla Cross hybrid, among other vehicles.

Looking at all three powertrains combined (electric, plug-in hybrid and traditional hybrid), Naamsa says new-energy vehicle sales from 13 brands increased by 29.1% from 738 units in the second quarter to 953 units in the third quarter of 2022.

In the first nine months of 2022, some 3 092 new-energy vehicles have been registered in South Africa, representing an increase of 245.1% compared with the full year of 2021 (in which 896 units were sold).

Electrified vehicle sales in South Africa from 2017 to Q3 of 2022. Figures courtesy of Naamsa.

Related content

How VW’s Polo slipped down the list of SA’s best sellers

New vehicle sales in South Africa: October 2022

Mercedes-Benz says first electric van ‘on track’ for SA