Features / 11 September 2022 / Albert du Toit

Most affordable electric cars in South Africa

Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo have over the past year gone all-in on the South African electric vehicle (EV) scene, leading to over a dozen battery-powered cars being introduced.

Audi in February launched six new EVs in the market, comprising four SUVs and two Fastbacks, with this event at the time marking “the biggest EV launch in one country that any manufacturer has ever done,” said the brand with the four rings.

BMW soon followed suit in July by making its all-electric i4 and iX3 available to local buyers, both slotting in below the flagship iX which reached the country in December of last year.

Volvo also saw an opportunity in July and the Swedish car builder debuted “the most affordable all-electric luxury vehicle in South Africa” – the front-wheel-drive XC40 P6.

The EV was so popular it sold out in 24 hours, similar to its pricier brother, the all-wheel-drive XC40 P8, which sold out in four days in May 2021.

Mercedes-Benz is then the latest manufacturer to bring its EVs to domestic showrooms.

The range of electrically-motivated EQ models went on sale in August with two crossovers and one SUV on offer, while an ultra-luxurious sedan is to become available before the end of the year, too.

Affordable EVs

These new electric autos have significantly increased the variety for any potential EV buyers in the country, as previously they only had Mini, Jaguar, and Porsche to choose from.

For those forward-looking individuals who see themselves in a set of electric wheels in the not-so-distant future, this is what you can expect to pay.

Click on the underlined prices for more information.