It’s no secret that the automotive world is moving to electric propulsion. It’s been a known fact for years and, as we are slowly but surely moving towards 2030 (and beyond), several car manufacturers’ portfolio’s will comprise only electrified vehicles, whether is hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or EV.
However, the South African market’s adoption of especially EVs does seem to be somewhat — and understandably so — slow, with the main reasons arguably being loadshedding, price premiums, and all-electric range.
But what if you want to embrace this mode of personal transport? Which car should you buy? Well, there are several you can choose from. Yet, it seems that there is one brand of vehicles South Africans prefer when wanting to immerse themselves into plug-in hybrid and all-electric mobility. The answer: Volvo.
It’s no wonder why, though. Volvo’s plug-in-hybrid vehicle (PHEV) and EV offerings are commendable. Take, for example, the C40 Recharge. This coupé-styled crossover has impressed us when we sampled it on the local launch and when we had it on test.
Yet, however good this emissions-free crossover/SUV is, that was not the best-selling EV in SA for 2023. It was still a Volvo, however. The car in question is the fully electric XC40, an equally commendable offering from the Gothenburg-based brand. According to the local arm of the Swedish automaker, sales of the battery powered XC40 more than tripled, resulting in a 16.6% market share of the EV segment.
However, that’s not all. Volvo also recorded the highest number of PHEV sales. The car with which the company achieved this? Well, it was the XC60 PHEV. The latter model recorded a 37.5% year-on-year increase in sales in 2023.
“South Africa’s new-energy vehicle market continues to gain traction, with Volvo’s plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars at the very forefront of that growth. Our sustained sales dominance in these two segments is particularly encouraging when one considers the recent influx of new competitors to this space. With the EX30 set to launch very soon, we have big ambitions for 2024,” said Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa.