
More than 40 percent of South Africans are considering purchasing an electrified vehicle (*1) in the next five years according to a recent survey (*2) by Ford Motor Company, with most preferring hybrid technology.
As part of its multi-market research, Ford spoke to South African car owners and those looking to buy a new car to understand how they viewed electrified vehicles so that it could be better prepared in its pursuit of an electric future.
“This research highlights the need for continued efforts to educate the public about electrified vehicles (*1), address concerns about cost, range and infrastructure and promote the benefits of electric mobility,” says Sunil Sewmohan, executive director, Product Marketing at Ford South Africa.
The research revealed key insights into South African drivers, including:
*1 Electrified vehicle (EV) refers to hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles.
*2 The survey was conducted by global research and analytics consultancy, Escalent in April/May 2024 covering 1470 people across Australia, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.
*3 Electric vehicle refers to a vehicle with a rechargeable battery and no internal combustion engine to support it.
The latest Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition clearly showed the worldwide shift towards new-energy drivetrains like battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
Mazda has unveiled its EZ-60, an electric crossover SUV, the result of a joint venture between Mazda and Changan Automobile. It is the second electric vehicle (NEV) manufactured by Changan Mazda.
The Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition currently underway in China is pretty much an electric affair with numerous new electric and hybrid vehicles with improved technology on show.