By Nqobile Dludla.
Sales of new energy vehicles in South Africa for the first nine months of this year have exceeded the total for 2025, industry body naamsa said on Monday.
Reflecting the extent of the growth, South Africa hit a milestone in September when one in every nine vehicles sold in South Africa was an NEV, naamsa said. The industry body uses the term new energy vehicles, or NEVs, to include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, traditional hybrids and battery-electric vehicles.
Cumulative sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, traditional hybrids and battery-electric vehicles, reached 22,389 units between January and September.
That was up 34% from the 16,703 vehicles sold during the whole of last year.
Overall vehicle sales, including conventional vehicles running on diesel and petrol, grew 10.4% year-on-year in October to 61,890 units, naamsa data showed.
Battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids accounted for 50.5% of year-to-date NEV sales by September, slightly overtaking traditional hybrids, which made up 49.5%.
Sales of PHEVs reached 8,082 units and BEVs 3,217 units in the first nine months of the year, compared with 11,090 HEVs.
The growth has been supported by an expanding range of electrified models entering the market, particularly from Chinese automakers such as Chery group (99973.HK), Great Wall Motor 601633.SS) and BYD (002594.SZ).
Analysts said high international oil prices were also a factor.
“As fuel prices surge, many consumers and businesses are increasingly recognising the long-term financial benefits of switching to electric mobility,” said Hiten Parmar, executive director of market advisory firm Electric Mission.