Exactly how many electric vehicles and hybrids were sold in South Africa in 2022? Let’s take a closer look at the sales figures…

According to figures released by Naamsa, sales of electric vehicles (EVs), traditional hybrids and plug-in hybrids in South Africa increased a whopping 431.7% year on year in 2022. Still, we should point out the final “new-energy vehicle” tally of 4764 units represented a mere 0.88% of the country’s total new-vehicle market for the year.

As we’ve noted before, South Africa is still without a truly affordable electric car (though GWM’s Ora sub-brand may well change that in the near future), with the least expensive option currently being the 3-door Mini Cooper SE Hatch, which retails for R742 102. The cheapest hybrid, meanwhile, is Toyota’s locally built Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XS, which kicks off at R442400.

According to Naamsa, 502 fully electric vehicles were registered in South Africa during 2022, a figure that grew from 218 units in 2021. Fascinatingly, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) were again less popular than fully electric models, with just 122 examples sold locally during the year.

As expected, traditional hybrids – including the likes of dual-powered versions of the Corolla hatch and sedan, the aforementioned Corolla Cross and the RAV4, plus various Lexus models as well as the Honda Fit and Haval’s H6 and Jolion hybrids – accounted for the bulk of the so-called new-energy vehicle registrations, reflecting a sales total of 4 050 units for the year.

Where is SA in the global transition towards NEVs?

Automakers such as BMW Group SA are rapidly expanding their EV line-ups.

Naamsa revealed the figures alongside a lengthy “thought leadership discussion document” on the topic of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in South Africa.

“The global transition towards NEVs is a critical step to secure the future of the automotive industry in South Africa. Our rapid adoption to newer technologies is critical for the domestic automotive industry’s long-term success and growth. The only way to have a successful automotive manufacturing base is to keep up with technological developments,” said Naamsa CEO, Mikel Mabasa.

“The South African automotive industry cannot be running on one development technology track whilst the rest of the world is way ahead on the same track. If we want to remain globally competitive, we have no option by to play with the big global players who are leading the NEV charge,” he explained.

“Regrettably, South Africa has been painfully slow in finalising its governance and policy transformation priorities. We need to urgently enhance existing auto policies to facilitate a high-yielding business environment, including developing an attractive fiscal and regulatory framework that makes South Africa a highly competitive and compelling location for NEV production.

“The rapid technological advancement in the automotive industry and the global commitment by world economies to a greener future, mean the evolution in vehicle production will rapidly develop in the next 10 years, far more than it did in the last 100 years. This evolution requires a clearly thought-out public policy regiment and prudent fiscal planning,” Mabasa added.

You can download the full Naamsa discussion document here

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