South Africa’s Automotive Landscape Is Changing, And That Is A Good Thing - CleanTechnica

The South African automotive market is undergoing a significant shift with the increased introduction and sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). In 2024, PHEV sales doubled to 737 units from 368 in 2023, though they still represented only 0.14% of total vehicle sales. BMW led the market with its X1 and X3 PHEVs, the latter being locally manufactured in Pretoria, alongside the Ford Ranger PHEV. This local production is a positive development for South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector, which has traditionally focused on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Despite ongoing debates about the relevance of PHEVs given advances in battery electric vehicles (BEVs), PHEVs remain important in niches where BEVs may not fully meet user needs, offering lower pollution than conventional hybrids and diesel vehicles when used as intended. The momentum for PHEVs accelerated further in the first half of 2025, with 788 units sold—surpassing the