Mazda MX-5 owners flying low to the Lowveld
The Mazda MX-5 has long been celebrated as one of the world’s most iconic sports cars, and in South Africa, its following has grown into a vibrant community of enthusiasts.
- Industry News
- 14 September 2026
A small South African start-up, Funky Electric, hopes to introduce an affordable electric vehicle into the market no later than early 2023.
The designer of the vehicle, Stephan Theron, and his wife Adele, came across the idea during their stay in China where they own restaurants.
“In China EVs are almost old news. The Chinese government subsidises the development of EVs. We asked ourselves why we couldn’t develop an entry-level EV for inner city and suburban use that will also educate the regular man in the street in South Africa,” explained Stephan. “At the moment, EVs are all about experts arguing about battery size while the average person doesn’t know much about these vehicles,” he continued.
Stephan then approached the KL Group in China who helped him design the Funky FE-1. The vehicle seats four persons, has a curb weight of 400kg, a 4000W motor, electric windows, a multi-function steering wheel and reaches a maximum speed of about 60km/h.
According to Stephan, it has a range of about a 100km. The battery will take about 8 to 11 hours to charge from flat to fully charged. “This is only in very unlikely cases. Because the vehicle will only be used for suburban short distance runabouts, you will most likely never use up the full capacity of the battery. That means you will only have to top it up, which can be done in between load shedding,” said Stephan.
The 60v/100Ah Lead-acid battery (an upgrade to a Lithium-Ion battery is available) can be charged at a normal three-point socket.
The vehicle must still be homologated, but Stephan does not foresee any problems.
It will retail for around R190 000.
The Mazda MX-5 has long been celebrated as one of the world’s most iconic sports cars, and in South Africa, its following has grown into a vibrant community of enthusiasts.
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
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