AS the southern hemisphere starts the growing season, there is also a spring into action with electric vehicles, as evidenced by the large showcase at the Festival of Motoring. A total of 19 battery-electric vehicle (EV) models from 12 different brands were showcased at the event.

The result was the widest range of EV models ever assembled at a single local motor show.

“The showdown of current and future models is a reality check,” says Hiten Parmar, Executive Director of The Electric Mission. “It is both an indication of the growth of the EV industry, and also shows the growing appetite for electric mobility. Manufacturers wouldn’t showcase this technology if there was no consumer appetite on our local soil.”

Held over three days at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand, the ninth edition of the Festival of Motoring - themed "Driven by Purpose, Defined by Legacy" - drew 24 automotive brands in total. Of these, BAIC, Changan, Chery, Dongfeng, Forthing, Geely, GWM, iCAUR, Jaecoo, Kaiyi, Lepas and Suzuki collectively displayed 19 distinct battery electric nameplates.

The line-up ranged from established players to brands that have only recently entered, or are preparing to enter, the local market. The models included BAIC's ARCFOX T1, Changan's Deepal S07, Chery's Q EV400, the Dongfeng 007, Box and Vigo, Forthing's Friday, Geely's E2, E5 and Riddara, GWM's ORA 5, iCAUR's V23 and 03T, Jaecoo's J5, Kaiyi's X3 and e-Qute04, the Lepas L4 and L6, and Suzuki's eVitara.

The showcase lands at a pivotal moment, signalling a deepening of South Africa's electrification transition. According to naamsa – The Automotive Business Council, new energy vehicle sales in the first seven months of this year equaled 97.5% of the total new energy vehicle sales of 2025. Electrified commercial vehicles are also beginning to emerge across light, medium and extra-heavy applications, extending the transition beyond the passenger vehicle market. While South African’s wanting a fully electric vehicle once had only a handful of models to choose from, that list has steadily grown in 2026 as new market entrants have accelerated their local rollouts.

"South African buyers are transitioning to EVs, and the growing number of models on offer proves what manufacturers already know," says Parmar. "Local appetite for EVs is growing rapidly, and this needs to be converted to local manufacturing.”

For an industry that just a few years ago offered only a narrow choice of EVs, the 2026 Festival of Motoring line-up is a visible marker of how far — and how fast — the local market has moved. As global sales of internal combustion engine vehicles peaked in 2017, today, more evidently, South African’s are looking for greater energy independence from volatile fuel prices.