The number of electrified vehicles on the market in South Africa is slowly increasing. So, what impact has this had on sales volumes? Let’s take a closer look at the figures…

Sales of electrified cars in Europe increased a hefty 66% year on year in 2021, accounting for nearly a fifth of all new vehicles sold on the continent. This increase was, of course, driven by a surge in choice in that market (a phenomenon in turn propelled by tightening emissions regulations).

What about South Africa? Though the number of fully electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids and full hybrids available locally right now remains a relatively modest one (by international standards, at least), there are certainly a few more options than in years gone by.

Looking specifically at EVs, the market now includes the Mini Cooper SE, Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge (with front-driven P6 to follow), BMW iX (in two guises) and Jaguar I-Pace, along with Audi’s broader e-tron range and Porsche’s just-as-vast Taycan portfolio (the BMW i3, though, has been discontinued). Hybrid variants, meanwhile, now number well in excess of 50 across around 30 model ranges.

EV and hybrid sales in South Africa in 2021

So, are South Africans buying these so-called “new energy vehicles”? Well, according to Naamsa, sales of electrified vehicles in SA grew to 896 units in 2021, up from 324 units the year before (equating to a heady increase of 176%, though admittedly off a low base thanks in part to contracted overall sales in 2020). Still, that means electrified vehicles accounted for a mere 0.19% of the total new-vehicle market last year.

Predictably, full (i.e., those without a plug) hybrids achieved the highest volume of the three forms of electrified vehicles, accounting for 627 of the 896 units registered in 2021. The late-2021 launch of Toyota’s locally built Corolla Cross range – which includes a pair of hybrid derivatives – as well as the rolling out of hybrid versions of the Corolla Sedan and RAV4 earlier last year likely had much to do with that.

Somewhat surprisingly, EVs (218 units) actually outsold plug-in hybrids (51 units) by more than four to one in 2021, with the former figure up from 92 units in 2020 and the latter figure down from 77 units in 2020, according to Naamsa.

What sort of EV and hybrid growth will we see in 2022?

Still, despite this 137% year-on-year sales growth of EVs in South Africa, there are virtually no affordable battery-powered cars on the market at the moment. While volumes are likely to increase somewhat again in 2022 simply thanks to the presence of more EVs on the market, sales have no chance of surging until there are affordable options. Right now, the least expensive EV is the Cooper SE (R709 400), with every other example stretching well into seven figures.

Hybrid sales, however, should continue to climb strongly this year as a few more options hit the local market and sales of dual-powered Corolla Cross, Corolla Sedan and RAV4 models pick up pace. The final annual figure will, however, likely be tempered by the fact Toyota has had to halt production at its Prospecton facility – where the aforementioned Corolla Cross is built – due to severe damage caused by the KwaZulu-Natal floods.