South Africas electric vehicle EV market is gearing up for a significant shift in 2026 as two of the countrys automotive giants, Toyota and Volkswagen, prepare to enter the segment with competitively priced models that could challenge current import-dominated offerings.
According to reports, both manufacturers plan to leverage local manufacturing advantages and import duty credits to introduce more affordable EVs, potentially addressing key barriers like high prices and limited infrastructure that have previously constrained widespread EV adoption in the countrys market.
TimesLive reports that Toyota South Africa CEO Andrew Kirby confirmed plans to introduce three fully electric models in early 2026, marking the companys first entry into the battery EV segment despite its current dominance in the hybrid market.
