Cars.co.za report offers interesting insights
Cars.co.za recently launched Industry Report 2026 at its DealerCon summit, offers insight into the forces shaping South Africa’s vehicle market.
- Dealer News
- 22 September 2026
In a dramatic departure from bulky rooftop solar panels, Mercedes-Benz has engineered an almost impossibly thin photovoltaic coating that blankets entire vehicle surfaces, potentially adding thousands of kilometres to electric vehicles’ range annually without compromising design aesthetics.
The breakthrough technology, showcased on the Vision Iconic concept car, measures a mere 5 micrometres, making it thinner than a human hair yet capable of transforming every curve and panel into an electricity generator.
Unlike conventional approaches that mount rigid solar cells onto limited roof space, this innovative film integrates directly into the vehicle's structure, positioned between body panels and the glossy exterior finish. The coating operates invisibly, with specially formulated nanoparticle paint allowing 94 percent of solar energy to penetrate and reach the photovoltaic layer below.
Environmental sustainability drives the technology's design philosophy. Mercedes engineers deliberately avoided silicon and rare-earth materials common in traditional solar panels, instead developing recyclable nanoparticle-based components that minimise ecological impact throughout the product life cycle.
The system's versatility extends beyond aesthetics. It generates power continuously, whether vehicles are actively driving, sitting in parking lots, or stored in garages, potentially providing passive charging that reduces dependence on grid infrastructure.
Real-world applications appear promising. Mercedes projects that an 11-square-metre installation, typical for midsize SUVs, could deliver energy equivalent to 12 000 kilometres of annual driving in Stuttgart's climate conditions. Sunnier regions show even greater potential, with Los Angeles projections reaching 20 000 kilometres yearly.
"Automotive solar concepts have existed for years, but practical implementation across complex vehicle shapes remained elusive," Jochen Schmid, senior manager for future electric drive at Mercedes-Benz, explained to Automotive News Europe.
The engineering challenge is centred on material flexibility. "Developing a coating that conforms to intricate three-dimensional contours while maintaining efficiency was our breakthrough moment," Jochen says.
Cost management remains crucial for commercialisation. The development team continues to refine application processes to ensure affordability. "Our research must yield solutions that don't burden customers with additional €10,000 costs, which would negate ownership advantages," he emphasises.
Aesthetic versatility may expand beyond the current black finish. Engineers are exploring colour options: blues, reds and greens, using light-filtering technologies that preserve substantial energy collection capabilities, though performance correlates inversely with colour brightness.
"Blue finishes might sacrifice roughly 5 percent efficiency compared to black," Jochen notes. "White presents the steepest performance penalty."
This innovation exemplifies Mercedes-Benz's strategic commitment to advancing electric vehicle efficiency and sustainability, potentially influencing industry-wide approaches to renewable energy integration in automotive manufacturing.
Cars.co.za recently launched Industry Report 2026 at its DealerCon summit, offers insight into the forces shaping South Africa’s vehicle market.
Nissan has introduced the Tekton, a new compact SUV for the South African market. The model is built on the Renault‑Nissan alliance’s CMF‑B platform and is closely related to the Renault Duster, sharing engines and mechanical components.
At the recent DealerCon 2026, hosted by Cars.co.za automotive excellence was celebrated by honouring top executives in the automotive retails industry.
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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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For most of driving history, the sound of excitement has been orchestrated by the internal combustion engine (ICE).
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.