New energy vehicle (NEV) sales in South Africa during the first nine months of this year have already surpassed the total recorded for the whole of 2024, reflecting rising demand for electrified mobility solutions, according to data released on Monday, 2 November, by the automotive industry association NAAMSA.
In September, the country reached a milestone in this segment, with one in every nine vehicles sold classified as an NEV, the organisation said. The category covers plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, conventional hybrids, and battery electric vehicles.
Cumulative sales across all three categories reached 22,389 units between January and September, a 34% increase compared with the 16,703 vehicles sold throughout the whole of last year.
The performance comes against a backdrop of broader expansion in the South African automotive market. In October, total vehicle sales — including conventional petrol and diesel models — rose 10.4% year-on-year to 61,890 units, according to NAAMSA data.
Within the NEV segment, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles together accounted for 50.5% of cumulative sales through September, marginally outpacing conventional hybrids, which represented 49.5%.
In absolute terms, 8,082 plug-in hybrids and 3,217 battery electric vehicles were sold in the first nine months of the year, compared with 11,090 conventional hybrids.
The growth has been driven by the entry of a wider range of electrified models into the market, particularly from Chinese manufacturers such as Chery, Great Wall Motor, and BYD.
Analysts also point to elevated international oil prices as a factor prompting consumers and businesses to consider alternatives to traditionally fuelled vehicles.
“As fuel prices rise, more and more consumers and businesses are recognising the long-term financial benefits of transitioning to electric mobility,” said Hiten Parmar, executive director of consultancy Electric Mission.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=557543
