This article has been supplied and will be available for a limited time only on this website. South Africa's new energy vehicle (NEV) market continues to accelerate, with electrified vehicles now accounting for 6% of all new light vehicle sales - roughly one in every 17 new vehicles sold. NAAMSA's latest new vehicle sales data released on the 3rdof August, shows the sector has more than doubled over the past year, reinforcing the country's steady move towards mainstream adoption.
"The significance of these figures isn't just the number of vehicles sold in a single month," said Joubert Roux, Co-founder and Chair of Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE). "It's that they confirm a trend we've been watching for several years. Electric mobility is moving beyond early adopters and becoming an increasingly mainstream choice for South African consumers and businesses."
According to NAAMSA, 3,045 NEVs were sold during June 2026 alone, representing a 104.2% increase on the 1,491 units recorded in the corresponding period in 2025. Year-to-date, South Africa has recorded 13,193 NEV sales, comprising 6,667 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), 4,623 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and 1,903 battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The figures also show that hybrid technologies continue to lead the market, reflecting affordability considerations, charging infrastructure availability and consumer driving patterns.
