While South Africa’s overall new-energy vehicle (NEV) market grew 31.5% year on year in Q1 2026, sales in the local PHEV segment surged a whopping 430%. Here are the details…
- SA’s EV sales up 97.1% year on year in Q1 2026
- PHEV sales surge 429.9% compared to Q1 2025
- Traditional HEV registrations in Mzansi dip 6.9%
Industry-representative body Naamsa has released official sales figures for new-energy vehicles (NEVs) – that is, fully electric vehicles (EVs), traditional hybrids (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) – in South Africa for the opening quarter of the year. And these Q1 2026 numbers make for fascinating reading.
According to Naamsa, total NEV sales in Mzansi in Q1 2026 increased 31.5% year on year to 4 585 units. According to our maths, that NEV total translates to 2.8% of South Africa’s overall new-vehicle market (some 161 978 units) for the opening 3 months of the year. Interestingly, that’s precisely the same share achieved over the course of 2025.
Naamsa’s figures suggest EV sales in Q1 2026 came in at 544 units, up 97.1% compared to the opening quarter of the prior year. Take note, however, that BYD – which currently markets as many as 5 fully electric models locally, including the popular Dolphin Surf – started reporting sales only in March 2026 (the final month of the quarter). In addition, keep in mind the likes of Geely and Dongfeng don’t currently report figures to Naamsa.
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Meanwhile, PHEV sales in South Africa surged 429.9% year on year in Q1 2026, rocketing to 1 277 units (from just 241 units in Q1 2025) – and far outstripping local EV registrations in the process. Again, note this figure includes only one month (March) of sales from BYD, which currently offers a quartet of PHEV models in Mzansi.
Finally, Naamsa’s dataset suggests HEV sales yet again accounted for the majority of local NEV registrations in Q1 2026, though it’s interesting to note this traditional hybrid segment’s share dropped to 60.3% (from a heady 85.2% in Q1 2025). In the end, 2 764 units were sold in the local HEV class, a year-on-year decrease of 6.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How did South Africa’s overall new-energy vehicle (NEV) market perform in Q1 2026?
A: Total NEV sales in Mzansi grew by 31.5% year-on-year during the first quarter of 2026, reaching 4 585 units. This total accounted for 2.8% of South Africa’s overall new-vehicle market (161,978 units) for the opening three months of the year, perfectly matching the market share achieved throughout 2025.
Q: What drove the massive surge in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric vehicle (EV) sales?
A: PHEV sales rocketed by a massive 429.9% year-on-year, surging to 1 277 units from just 241 units in Q1 2025. Fully electric vehicles (EVs) also saw strong growth, increasing 97.1% to 544 units. These figures include the initial impact of brands like BYD, which officially began reporting sales to Naamsa in March 2026 across its EV and PHEV model ranges.
Q: How did traditional hybrids (HEVs) fare compared to other NEV segments in Q1 2026?
A: Traditional hybrids remained the volume leaders, accounting for the majority of NEV registrations with 2 764 units sold. However, the segment dipped 6.9% year on year and its total share of the NEV market dropped significantly to 60.3%, down from a dominant 85.2% recorded in Q1 2025.
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