BMW iX3 crowned World Car of the Year 2026 as EVs lead the way
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
- Industry News
- 2 April 2026
Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) is on schedule to complete construction of the next two off-grid electric vehicle (EV) charging station developments of CHARGE N3 Roadside and CHARGE N3 Tugela.
This marks a major leap forward for electric mobility by unlocking South Africa’s busiest freight and passenger vehicle corridor between Johannesburg and Durban, before June 2026, CHARGE says in a statement.
This milestone is made possible by the R100 million investment by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in CHARGE, with the N3 rollout as a prerequisite. The result will allow the N3 to be unlocked for EV travellers travelling through Johannesburg and Durban.
Commenting on the economic opportunity and further development plans, Joubert Roux, co-founder of CHARGE, says this milestone sends an unmistakable signal that EV infrastructure in South Africa is moving and moving fast. “With the N3 now unlocking for electric travel, the next priority is the N1, extending reliable, off-grid, ultra-fast charging along the country’s most critical long-distance routes.”
For EV brands, dealerships, and sales teams, this is the moment to act. The argument that electric vehicles cannot handle long-distance travel no longer holds. With dedicated, solar-powered highway charging becoming operational, EVs are now a practical, everyday choice, rather than a future concept, according to CHARGE.
These stations are first-of-their-kind in South Africa, purpose-built, operating entirely off-grid, powered solely by solar energy and battery storage. No grid dependence. No compromise on speed or reliability.
They’re also electric truck-ready. CHARGE has recently demonstrated seamless simultaneous charging of two electric trucks provided by SANY Trucks as demonstration on the 15th of January 2026, alongside four passenger EVs at its first charging station in Wolmaransstad.
As Joubert puts it: “Each charging station is not only focused on charging. It’s all about our guests enjoying the experience and feeling welcome. We no longer refer to consumers; we refer to guests. All South Africans, whether you drive an EV or are still thinking about migrating, are welcome at any CHARGE station, and to be part of the family.”
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The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
Retail new vehicle sales continue to surge in South Africa despite global and regional conflicts, local floods and droughts.
South Africa’s new vehicle market delivered a standout performance in March 2026, extending its domestic growth trajectory to the strongest level seen in nearly two decades.
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