[ACCI-CAVIE] At a time when China and Western countries are stepping up their efforts to promote the use of electric vehicles, the situation in Africa remains different, with petrol-powered cars continuing to predominate.

Indeed, despite initiatives to encourage the transition to more sustainable alternatives, the South African car market, which is the largest on the African continent, continues to be largely dominated by petrol-powered models.

Faced with this reality, Chinese carmakers are entering the South African market with determination. With a strategy based on exceptionally competitive prices, they are succeeding in attracting the attention of consumers and dealers alike. The latter are expressing concern about the future of established car brands, indicating that they could find themselves in difficulty in the face of the rise of Chinese brands.

So the dynamics of the market are changing, and South African consumers could soon have a much more varied range of choices, marking a new era for the car industry in South Africa, with significant implications for the economy and the environment.

The Editor