Big electric car milestone in South Africa

Annual sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa exceeded 1,000 units for the first time ever in 2024.

Data from Lighstone Auto and the National Automobile Association of South Africa (Naamsa) showed that 1,130 new EVs were registered in the country between January and October 2024.

That is a 22% increase over the 929 registered in the entire 2023 and well over double the 502 registered throughout 2022.

The increase is likely to be much higher over the entire 2024 as car sales tend to pick up in the last few months of the year due to promotions to clear stock and may way for the next year’s models.

The increase could potentially be attributed to the number of models available for under R1 million doubling from four to eight.

Sales of partially electrified hybrid models have grown even more substantially than fully-electirc models.

Sales of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) jumped from 333 in 2023 to 533 in the first 11 months of 2024, an increase of 60%.

That is despite all PHEVs in the country being priced at more than R1 million.

More affordable traditional hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) accounted for the biggest number of new energy vehicles (NEVs).

10,739 HEVs were sold in the first ten months of the year, 66% more than the 6,848 sold in 2023.

Sales across the three NEV categories increased 60% — from 7,746 to 12,402.

The table below provides a breakdown of the number of new energy vehicles sold in South Africa from 2019 to the year-to-date (YTD) in 2024.

Two biggest players in a tight rivalry — and one major maker missing

The competition for the best-selling EV manufacturer also intensified in 2024.

992 of the new fully-electric cars registered between January and October 2024 were models from the BMW and Volvo groups.

BMW sold 500 EVs in the first 10 months of the year, while Volvo accounted for 492 sales.

BMW would only need to sell 16 more EVs in the last two months of the year to beat its 2023 sales record.

However, Volvo has closed the gap on the Germans.

It had already sold over twice as many EVs as in 2023 — when it shifted 181 units — and seemed headed for a tripling based on an average of 49 cars sold per month.

Volvo is likely to be the bigger single EV brand of the two, as the BMW Group’s sales include Mini models.

Volvo’s big mover has undoubtedly been the EX30 crossover, which was launched in the first quarter of 2024.

In the first nine months of the year, it had already racked up 348 sales, making it the top-selling model in the country.

The EX30 has a starting price of less than R800,000 for the single-motor model, making it the Swedish brand’s most affordable electric car.

It also boasts impressive performance, with acceleration from standstill to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds.

Big Chinese player’s sales missing

The only other brands which had double-figure sales were Mercedes-Benz (68), GWM (36), and Volkswagen Group (12).

The sales figures have one big problem — they exclude number for Chinese EV giant BYD, Tesla’s biggest rival on the global stage.

While still largely unfamiliar to South Africans, the brand launched two new models in the local market during 2024 — the affordable Dolphin hatchback and the premium Seal sedan.

Priced from R539,990, the Dolphin is the most affordable EV in the country that can travel at the maximum highway speed of 120km/h.

In between the Dolphin and the Seal, the brand also offers a sub-R800,000 compact SUV — the Atto 3.

Considering its range, reputability, and pricing, it is likely to have sold at least a few dozen units as well.

Various BYD dealers have posted multiple photos showing customers taking delivery of their vehicles.

BYD is set to roll out several more models in 2025, including its first PHEVs, which are expected to be the country’s first under R1 million.

The table below summarises the changes in fully electric sales for the biggest EV manufacturers in South Africa, which are included in Naamsa’s figures.