The head of Hyundai in South Africa says fully electric vehicles (EVs) are “just not viable” for the local market, suggesting they won’t make a “massive impact” here…
- Hyundai’s local CEO says EVs are “just too expensive”
- Anderson instead suggests hybrids as the sweet spot
- Says motorists in South Africa “don’t like hassle” of EVs
Waiting for Hyundai Automotive South Africa to introduce its first fully electric vehicle (EV)? Well, such a move doesn’t appear to be in the brand’s immediate plans, with Hyundai’s local CEO saying battery-powered vehicles are “just not viable” for Mzansi.
Stanley Anderson, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa, was speaking during an interview conducted in Cars.co.za’s custom-built podcast booth at Naamsa’s South African Auto Week 2025 in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape at the start of October.
“Look, we [Hyundai Automotive SA] have EVs available to us – we could start ordering and bringing in EVs – but it’s just not viable. They’re just too expensive,” said Anderson, who was promoted to the CEO position in July 2025 after almost a quarter of a century with Hyundai.
In certain overseas markets, the South Korean brand sells an all-electric version of the 2nd-generation Kona, along the Ioniq range of EVs (including the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 9). There’s also the Inster, a Korean-built fully electric crossover that won the World Car Awards title for EVs earlier this year.
“One of our Chinese competitors have just launched one [an EV] between R300 000 and R400 000. It’ll be interesting to see how those sales take off,” Anderson added, making reference to the freshly introduced BYD Dolphin Surf, which starts at R339 900 and is thus SA’s most affordable EV.
“I’m still a believer [that] a full EV is not going to have a massive impact in our market. Hybrid – or plug-in hybrid – is probably the sweet spot,” he added, suggesting such technology would sidestep both range anxiety and any concerns over local charging infrastructure.
“We’re a very comfortable nation – we don’t like hassle. And when you a drive EV, you need to work out: ‘when can I charge’ and ‘where can I charge’, especially when you do longer distances. And I think that’s still a big deterrent to customers buying EVs.
“It’s never going to be your first car in the family, anyway – it’ll be your 3rd or 4th car, for short commutes. But it’s also not free to run – you still have to pay [for] electricity. Especially when you charge at the public charging stations, it’s quite expensive,” Anderson said.
Back in June 2024, the brand brought 2 units of an Ioniq product (likely the Ioniq 5) into South Africa, but didn’t ever officially launch the vehicle here. A year later, Hyundai Automotive SA introduced its very first hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) in the form of the 5th-generation Hyundai Santa Fe. It’s expected to launch the likewise hybrid 2nd-gen Palisade in 2026, too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why does the CEO of Hyundai in South Africa consider fully electric vehicles (EVs) not viable for the local market?
A: Stanley Anderson, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa, states that EVs are “just too expensive” and are not expected to make a “massive impact” in the market. He also noted that South African motorists “don’t like hassle” related to working out when and where to charge, which is a major deterrent for buyers.
Q: What vehicle technology does Hyundai’s local CEO suggest is the “sweet spot” for South African motorists?
A: Anderson suggests that hybrid or plug-in hybrid technology is the “sweet spot” for the market. He says he believes this technology would help sidestep common concerns like range anxiety and issues with the local charging infrastructure.
Q: Does Hyundai Automotive South Africa plan to introduce any fully electric vehicles soon?
A: The introduction of a fully electric vehicle does not appear to be in Hyundai Automotive SA’s immediate plans, according to CEO Stanley Anderson. The company instead recently introduced its first hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the 5th-generation Hyundai Santa Fe, and plans to launch the hybrid 2nd-gen Palisade in 2026.
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