South African electric vehicle’s big break into Europe

Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer MellowVans is set to make big waves overseas in the next few months.

The Stellenbosch-based firm has done what no other local manufacturer has managed — getting a locally-designed and manufactured vehicle road-legal in both Europe and the United Kingdom.

The company’s EV — which carries the same name as its manufacturer — is also the first electric tricycle in the world to be declared road legal in Europe.

In recent years, the Stellenbosch-based firm partnered with Dutch mobility supplier Dockr and DHL Europe to test its vehicles in Belgium and the Netherlands, respectively.

Belgian car dealership Gent Motors is the first company to import a road-legal variant into the region and plans to start general sales soon.

The company believes that the MellowVan is the ideal solution for last-mile parcel deliveries in congested city centres in Europe.

Gent Motors’ Fabrizio Barillari explained that the MellowVan was the only fully homologated L5 class vehicle in Europe. The classification applies to electrically-powered vehicles with three wheels.

The vehicle was also showcased at the Paris Motor Show in November 2025 and won the award for Best Vehicle for Goods Logistics.

The MellowVan has already proven its mettle in the South African e-commerce space, where it is used by various couriers and online delivery services — including DHL, DPD Laser, Pick n Pay Asap!, SkyNet, Spar2U, and Takealot.

Aside from being more sustainable, the MellowVan aims to offer the best of both worlds in last-mile delivery — the manoeuvrability and low operating costs of motorcycles and the comfort and cargo space of small delivery vans.

It offers 2.4m³ of cargo space — equal to 2,400 litres — which is about 10 times the delivery capacity of a regular motorcycle cargo container.

The storage space can also be customised with various racking options.

With this capacity, MellowVans said the vehicle could serve the same demand as two or three motorcycles.

MellowVans has estimated the operating cost to be around R0.15 per kilometer and the average cost per delivery and driver at R16.94.

For reference, many on-demand grocery delivery services charge R35 per delivery. Based on MellowVan’s calculations, that delivery fee would consist of more than 50% profit.

The MellowVan boasts up to 140km range, which the company and its partners reckon is more than sufficient for daily inner-city delivery rounds.

The purpose-built lithium-ion battery pack s connected to an onboard charger for easy top-ups with a regular wall socket, so there is no need to use a dedicated charging station.

The MellowVan boasts a 4kW, 48V motor that supports speeds of up to 80km/h but is legally limited to 60km/h in South Africa.

The window and shell also protect drivers from the elements, while the seat offers back support that is completely absent from a motorcycle.

From passengers to cargo

MellowVans was founded by former commodities trader Neil du Preez in 2014.

Du Preez wanted to develop an eco-friendly alternative to the three-wheel tuk-tuks popular in Asian countries and some parts of Africa.

The initial product was dubbed the MellowCab and transported passengers, but with the e-commerce explosion in recent years, Du Preez quickly pivoted towards delivery services.

The company overcame significant funding obstacles in its initial years but now has the backing of the Industrial Development Corporation and a major bank.

MellowVans likely stands to benefit from the 150% tax rebate for investments into EV manufacturing infrastructure that will come into effect in 2026.

Although the cells used for the MellowVan’s battery come from Asia, it said 70% of the vehicle’s components are locally manufactured.

The vehicle’s shell is made in Strand, while the chassis and final assembly are completed at the Stellenbosh factory.

In August 2024, Du Preez told Sunday Times that MellowVans produced between four and five units per day, working out to somewhere around 80 to 110 units in a month.

That represents a big increase over its targeted production capacity of 30 to 40 units per month in 2020.

Du Preez said in addition to Belgium and the Netherlands, MellowVans was sending vehicles to Italy, Germany, the Benelux, and Spain.

He hopes to expand MellowVans into the Middle East and potentially make a comeback with the MellowCab in the North American market.

As it stands, MellowVans can only be acquired on a lease, wherein the company replaces the vehicle every two to three years and includes a full maintenance plan.