Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD plans to significantly expand its dealership footprint in South Africa by 2026 as part of a broader strategy to boost its market share in the region, a company executive said on Wednesday.
The company expects to have around 20 dealerships in the country by the end of 2024, up from about 13 currently, and aims to grow that number to between 30 and 35 in 2025. “The aim is to expand that to about 30, 35 the next year,” said Steve Chang, General Manager of BYD South Africa, in an interview with Reuters.
BYD, which launched its all-electric Atto 3 SUV in South Africa in 2023, now offers six models in the country, including the Sealion 7 SUV, Seal sedan, Dolphin compact car, and hybrid variants such as the Shark 6 pickup and Sealion 6 SUV. The models align with BYD’s broader international strategy to market its NEV portfolio in emerging markets.
Although new energy vehicle (NEV) adoption in South Africa remains low, it is showing signs of growth. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), NEV sales rose to 15,611 units in 2024, nearly doubling from 7,782 units in 2023.
“We want to educate and cultivate the market of South Africa and make sure that the South African consumers can catch up with the rest of the world,” Chang said.
Challenges such as limited charging infrastructure, power supply instability, and higher import tariffs compared to fossil fuel vehicles continue to slow EV adoption across the continent. Nonetheless, BYD’s international momentum remains strong, with the automaker selling a record 89,047 NEVs overseas in May—marking a 137.46% increase year-on-year and its sixth straight month of record overseas sales.