“We welcome the announcement by the National Treasury to allocate funds to support the local production of new-energy vehicles and batteries, as well as related manufacturing projects,” says Joubert Roux, Founder of CHARGE.
“We hope that the government will also support the development of our off-grid, solar-powered EV-charging stations, which will foster the need for new-energy vehicle sales,” Joubert tells Dealerfloor.
The National Treasury says the country is the largest automotive manufacturing hub in sub-Saharan Africa, hosting brands such as Toyota, Ford, Isuzu, Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW, among others.
Reuters reports that government incentives and policy interventions will encourage original equipment manufacturers to invest more in the production of electric vehicles in the country.
South Africa released its Electric Vehicles White Paper in 2023, outlining the country's strategy to transition the automotive industry from primarily producing internal combustion engine vehicles to a mix that includes electric vehicles by 2035.
In its annual budget review, the Treasury says the department of trade and industry, in partnership with the department of mineral resources, plans to approve and implement a regional critical minerals strategy, without giving a timeline.
Critical minerals such as copper, cobalt and lithium are needed for the production of products like electric vehicle batteries and solar panels and are key to the world's energy transition.
The Treasury says R1 billion was being set aside over the medium term for the industrial development support programme, an incentive scheme that aims to increase participation and investment in infrastructure by firms in selected manufacturing sectors such as automotive.
The purpose of the incentive is to enhance the local production and assembly of new-energy vehicles, batteries and projects focused on operational efficiency and competitiveness in new manufacturing projects. The incentive is expected to attract 30 billion rand in investment from the private sector, the Treasury adds.
Korean automaker Hyundai has been an unmitigated success in the SA new car space. The relative newcomer to the market has been a consistent top-five feature on the new-car sales charts. There are many reasons for this, including good, reliable products at competitive prices. In part, the success is also driven by innovation.
South Africa's automotive sector is set for a significant transformation as Chinese and Indian vehicle manufacturers prepare to shift from basic assembly operations to full-scale local production.
Lightstone Auto has rolled out a cutting-edge integration designed to transform how alternative lenders, rent-to-own providers and niche finance firms engage with dealerships.
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I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.
Ariel Gore
Uber announced the next phase of its low-cost mobility journey with the expansion of its Uber Moto product to include Uber Go Electric in South Africa.
Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) reached a major milestone in South Africa’s electric mobility transition with breaking ground for two off-grid, solar-powered ultra-fast EV-charging stations along the N3 corridor.
BYD, China’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, is preparing for a major international push, aiming to sell as many as 1.6 million cars outside its home market next year.
