The car tech taking South Africa by storm

Carmakers in South Africa have sold nearly 2,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the country since 2017, and roughly 72% of the sales have come in the past two years.

PHEVs offer motorists a unique solution for reducing driving costs and their environmental footprint by combining an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and batteries.

Unlike traditional hybrids, PHEVs can be charged through external power sources. This is also recommended, as it offers extended driving range on the electric motor.

However, like traditional hybrids, they can also top up battery capacity using their internal combustion engine and regenerative braking.

For example, Haval’s H6 GT PHEV has a 35.4kWh battery, capable of achieving a range of up to 180km when driving in electric-only mode.

Several other brands offer PHEVs capable of travelling considerable distances on electric power, making many ideal for the typical commute to work and back.

Moreover, PHEV owners who charge their PHEV-powered vehicle using solar power effectively drive in electric-only mode for free.

The technology also solves a challenge experienced with electric vehicles (EVs): their inefficiency at high speeds.

EVs generally consume a lot of power to travel at highway speeds, bringing their maximum range down significantly. Over long distances, this can require the driver to stop and recharge several times on a trip.

However, PHEVs combine their internal combustion engine with an electric motor, significantly reducing consumption and enabling motorists to drive using just the internal combustion engine at high speeds.

The technology effectively combines the best of EVs and internal combustion-powered cars in a single package.

Carmakers have sold 1,879 PHEVs in South Africa since 2017, with just under 1,350 sold since the start of 2023.

According to data from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), carmakers sold 241 PHEVs in the first quarter of 2025.

The chart below tracks the total number of PHEVs sold annually in South Africa from 2017 to 2024. Data up to Q1 2025 is included in the table further below.

PHEV prices falling in South Africa

Brands like BYD, Haval, and Chery have significantly lowered the price point of buying a PHEV in South Africa.

A June 2024 Mybroadband analysis revealed that the 10 most affordable PHEVs in the country cost from R1.05 million to nearly R2 million.

At the time, the most affordable option was the BMW X1 xDrive 30e xLine. However, South African motorists can now get a new PHEV for R450,100 less than the price of the BMW.

Chery’s Tiggo 7 CSH is the most affordable PHEV you can buy in South Africa at R599,900. According to Chery, the Tiggo 7 CSH has an electric-only range of up to 93km and a combined range of over 1,200km.

There are several other PHEV models available for under R1 million in South Africa. These include the BYD Sealion 6, BYD Shark, and the Haval H6 GT PHEV.

The BYD Sealion 6, priced from R639,900, is powered by the manufacturer’s DM-i (Dual Mode intelligence) Electric Hybrid System, which combines an 18.3kWh blade battery with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine.

According to BYD, the vehicle can achieve a combined range of 1,092km on a single tank and charge, and an electric-only range of up to 80km.

Starting from R799,900, Haval’s H6 GT PHEV offers impressive range and performance figures. It combines a 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine with a 35.4kWh battery and an electric motor.

Together, the drive train generates 321kW and 762Nm of torque, propelling the SUV from 0 to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds, putting it in Volkswagen Golf R territory regarding acceleration.

It offers a combined range of just over 1,000km on a single tank and charge. Its electric-only range is equally impressive at up to 180km.

BYD’s Shark is one of the only PHEV-powered bakkies available to South African motorists.

The BYD Shark, priced at R959,900, has a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, combined with BYD’s blade battery and dual electric motors.

It produces 321kW and 650Nm of torque, while offering a towing capacity of up to 2,500kg.

BYD Sealion 6

BYD Shark

Haval H6 GT PHEV