Industry lobbies government to revisit import duties of electric trucks

SA cannot afford to fall behind in global shift to clean energy

- By Edward Moleke Makwana

SA's commercial vehicle sector is entering the electric-vehicle era.

(Supplied)

South Africa's transition to electric mobility is no longer confined to passenger cars and compact SUVs. The country's medium and heavy commercial vehicle sector - the backbone of trade, construction and logistics - is now entering the new-energy era.

From the trucks that deliver food to supermarket shelves to the rigs transporting mining equipment across provinces, heavy commercial vehicles quite literally move the economy. As global manufacturers accelerate the rollout of battery-electric trucks, local industry leaders are warning that policy bottlenecks could stall South Africa’s progress.

According to the Automotive Business Council, Naamsa, 22738 heavy trucks and buses were sold in South Africa between January and December 2025, reflecting a 3% decline compared to 2024. Medium truck and bus sales reached 8151 units, up 5.6% year-on-year.