Massive rise in EV searches in South Africa

With the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) fast increasing in leading markets across the world, a new study reveals capturing fascinating insights into how South African buyers view this increasingly important segment of the market.

The 2021 South African EV Buyers Survey, by AutoTrader, and in partnership with Smarter Mobility Africa, shines a spotlight on the discrepancies between consumer perception and industry assumptions regarding the use and ownership of EVs.

AutoTrader CEO George Mienie released the results of the survey during his keynote address at the 2021 Smarter Mobility Africa Summit today. He pointed out that data from SA’s largest digital automotive marketplace was proof that local EV appetite had grown significantly year-on-year.

“South African shoppers are actively looking for opportunities to buy electric vehicles, though the major challenge is still the initial purchase price,” he said. “According to AutoTrader’s data, there has been a 210% increase in searches for available EVs in South Africa.”  

This is echoed by the number of respondents in the survey stating they were likely or very likely to consider purchasing an electric vehicle in the future, which increased to a significant 70% in 2021. Still, as Mienie pointed out, cost remains one of the chief barriers to broader adoption, with the survey indicating such vehicles are still out of financial reach of around two-thirds of consumers. 

Almost half of the respondents indicated they would consider purchasing a used EV over a new one, listing lower prices as the key motivating factor.

The perceived lack of national charging infrastructure, meanwhile, was again the most cited disadvantage of EV ownership, though the percentage fell two points from 2020’s figure to 59% in 2021, just ahead of charging time (likewise down two points to 58%) in second and initial cost of purchase (55%) in third.

Despite being often anecdotally cited, range anxiety (26%) was way down the list of the perceived largest drawbacks of running an EV, behind the potential impact of load-shedding (38%) and inconvenient charging options (34%).

Though 75% of respondents identified BMW as a brand with an EV option in its line-up locally, Tesla remained top of mind in terms of product availability, despite its wares still not being commercially available in SA. It’s a similar case when it comes to the most trusted EV manufacturer, with 52% of respondents selecting the Bavarian firm and an astonishing 40% opting for Tesla.

“One of the major insights identified in the report is the fact that consumer perception, sentiment and expectations have not shifted markedly in the past year,” said Minnie. “This indicates the automotive industry needs to do more to educate the consumer, as many potential buyers are simply not aware of the EV products and infrastructure available in SA. For instance, while BMW is highly rated, South Africans place their highest trust in Tesla as a brand – even though it’s not available in South Africa.”

Ben Pullen, Chairman of Smarter Mobility Africa, said: “It’s great to see that many of the key metrics from the EV buyers survey are heading in the right direction, despite not a huge amount of activity around electric vehicles in South Africa during 2021. There haven’t been many new electric vehicle launches or announcements, neither have there been physical events which showcase the vehicles, yet the results are heading in the right direction. That is positive.”