Features / 9 June 2026 / Warren Hawkins

13 cars the average Eskom employee can afford

The average Eskom employee earns more than R1 million per year, giving them access to some of the country’s most popular and sought-after new cars.

At the end of 2025, the average Eskom employee earned R1.06 million annually, and is likely to reach as much as R1.1 million this year.

If we consider that this annual remuneration is spent on monthly salaries only, and no extra company benefits or bonuses are paid, Eskom spends R91,666 per month on each of its 42,000 employees.

As a result, the average Eskom employee pays around R27,500 per month in PAYE tax, leaving them with a take-home salary of up to R65,000 per month.

Because experts recommend that you do not spend more than 20% of your gross monthly salary on vehicle payments, these employees can comfortably spend up to R18,333 per month on car repayments.

Considering a 60-term repayment plan at the current prime lending rate of 10.5%, with no deposit or balloon payment, the average Eskom employee can afford to finance a car that retails for up to R850,000.

This price unlocks some of the country’s most popular passenger cars without worrying about saving up for a deposit or having to plan for an eventual balloon payment.

At this price point, buyers can afford to shop in any segment they wish, because the options range from hatchbacks to bakkies, and everything in between, as well as a range of powertrains, including electric cars.

That being said, there are a few standout options that are barely out of reach of these buyers, including the Isuzu Mu-X 3.0TD LS, Lexus ES 250 EX, and the BMW X1 SDrive18d XLine, all of which retail for slightly more than R850,000.

Within the average Eskom employee’s reach

Putting aside the disappointment of missing out on some of the country’s most exclusive and expensive new cars, Eskom employees looking to spend 20% of their salary on car loan repayments can choose from any of the cars below.

Of course, employees can choose to opt for cheaper options, or even finance multiple cars, but the following vehicles fall into the bracket that would demand their entire monthly car budget.

Click on their underlined prices to learn more about each model.