European new car registrations jumped 15.2% in July, the 12th consecutive month of growth as the auto industry recovers from pandemic-related supply chain issues, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showed on Wednesday, 30 August.
In South Africa, naamsa (the automotive business council) recently announced that NEV sales increased by 47.1% to 3 146 units in the first half of this year from the 2 139 units sold in the corresponding period last year after increasing by 421.7% to 4 674 units in 2022 off a low base in 2021.
And naamsa also announced that between 100 and 120 new charging stations would be added to the existing 305 that had been installed on major road routes in the country by the end of last year.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the sales of electric vehicles jumped 60.6%, continuing a rise buoyed by subsidies in a number of European Union countries. Full EVs accounted for 13.6% of all new car sales, up from under 10% in July 2022.
Plug-in hybrids, which have both a combustion engine and a large battery, accounted for 7.9% of sales, while one in four vehicles sold in the EU was a full hybrid.
Between them, petrol and diesel engine models made up just under 50% of sales. Diesel vehicles, which alone comprised more than 50% of new car sales as recently as 2015, accounted for just over 14% of sales in July.
Europe's top car seller, Volkswagen, posted a 17.9% increase in sales in July, while BMW and Renault saw sales rise 22.5% and 16.9% respectively.
But Stellantis, which has struggled with logistics problems and car deliveries in Europe, posted a 6.1% drop in sales in July.
The Mazda brand has gained a solid footing in the Lowveld thanks to the dedicated customer care and service provided by Mazda Nelspruit to owners of the legacy Japanese brand in this part of the country over many decades.
GWM South Africa has introduced a new 3.0 litre turbodiesel engine across its line-up, fitting it to both the P500 bakkie and the Tank 500 SUV. The P500 becomes the first vehicle in the range to receive the new powertrain, while the Tank 500 gains a diesel alternative to its existing HEV derivative.
Affordability is driving a structural shift in South Africa’s vehicle market, with SUVs gaining significant ground as consumers increasingly seek competitively priced, well-equipped vehicles.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
Toyota is sharpening its focus on hydrogen as a practical route to cleaner heavy-duty transport, using IAA Transportation 2026 to showcase new fuel cell technology and partnerships with leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.
To mark World EV Day, Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) has launched the N3 EV Real-World Test. The initiative will turn everyday electric vehicle journeys between Johannesburg and Durban into a growing source of real-world data for South African motorists and fleet operators considering the switch to electric.
Electric and hybrid vehicles are changing more than what South Africans drive. They are changing what happens behind the workshop doors, too.
