South Africa’s EV and hybrid market keeps expanding, bringing new models within reach for more drivers. | Source: group1cars
Electric and hybrid adoption is rising in South Africa, and the country is quickly turning into one of Africa’s key launch markets for new-energy models. NEV sales (hybrids plus EVs) doubled from 7,782 in 2023 to 15,611 in 2024, and Chinese brands are doing most of the heavy lifting.
On the ground, Chinese carmakers are winning by cutting the “entry price” of electrified cars faster than legacy brands respond. Figures show that South Africa’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pricing has dropped sharply as Chinese brands rolled out new models, and it lists a wave of launches priced below (or around) R700,000—led by BYD’s Sealion 5 at R499,900.
That matters because the earlier “affordable” plug-in options sat far higher. BMW’s X1 xDrive30e, for example, has been listed at R1,050,000 in South Africa. Chinese PHEVs now undercut that by hundreds of thousands of rand, with several brands competing directly against each other on price.
The same reset is happening in full EVs. When the largest EV seller in the world market brought the BYD Dolphin Surf priced at R339,900 (Comfort) in September 2025, making it the cheapest new EV the outlet tracked at the time. 234Drive also reported that BYD is scaling its footprint in South Africa and described the Dolphin Surf as a popular entry model as the company expands dealers and charging plans.
Nevertheless, this isn’t just a South Africa story. It fits a wider “cars in Africa” push, driven partly by pressure elsewhere. Reuters says Chinese automakers are leaning into Africa as the U.S. and Europe tighten trade barriers and as Chinese firms hunt new growth markets beyond saturated, highly competitive home conditions.
In the U.S., Washington locked in 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs under Section 301 changes. In Europe, the EU imposed tariffs that Reuters said can reach 45.3% on Chinese-made EVs, and the European Commission confirmed definitive countervailing duties effective from late October 2024.China hasn’t left its home market open, either. Back in China, Chinese brands are now taking sales from European luxury names at the very top end—reports show Huawei-backed Maextro’s S800 has outsold rivals in the $100,000+ segment. With tougher barriers in the U.S. and Europe, that home-market strength gives Chinese carmakers extra momentum as they use South Africa as a gateway for wider expansion across Africa.
