Rapid Rise in SA Electric Vehicle Market, BMW Leading the Charge

In a boost for the environment and cost-conscious consumers, South Africa's electric vehicle (EV) sales are beginning to pick up, albeit gradually, matching 2022's total sales within the first half of 2023. Despite earlier slow adoption, the country's EV market has begun to thrive, with 'World EV Day' on September 9th becoming a celebration of these increased sales.

The new and used EV market is led by BMW, which posted a 51% share of new sales, and 50% share of used sales in the half-year, selling the most popular model on the used market, the quirky BMW i3. The strong performance by BMW, a pioneer in introducing EVs locally, is likely boosted by its diverse range of EV models. Following BMW on the sales rank, Volvo secured a 20% share of new sales while MINI captured 12%. Other premium brand contributors included Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Jaguar, and Porsche.

However, in the second-hand market, MINI and Volvo swapped places with MINI claiming 14.5% of sales through its MINI Cooper SE. Audi, Jaguar, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz also made their presence felt in the used sales sphere.

While the scene is currently dominated by premium brands, the landscape is set to change with the arrival of more affordable EV models from Chinese brands Great Wall Motors (GWM) and JAC, as well as the Korean brand, Kia. The most affordable new EV in SA is presently the MINI Cooper SE, but the soon-to-be-launched GWM's Ora hatchback indicates a shift towards affordability.

In addition to the increasing availability of EVs, the growth of this market in South Africa has been stimulated by educational efforts aimed at enhancing buyer knowledge. Companies like AutoTrader have led these initiatives, playing a significant role in transitioning towards green transportation. To mark World EV Day, AutoTrader and GridCars are rewarding a 20% return in charging tokens at any GridCars station for anybody who recharges on the day.