South Africa, 1986 to 2066
22 dated events in ten lanes, from 1995 to 2050: how road vehicles in South Africa are powered, regulated, certified, traded and used, and what is already dated ahead.
Net-zero carbon goal for 2050
The Low Emission Development Strategy (February 2020) commits to moving towards a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, guided by the 2018 Green Transport Strategy for transport.
All vehiclesunfccc.int
Where it stands on 1 November 2026
How vehicles are approved
NRCS enforces compulsory specifications largely based on UN Regulations (1958 Agreement party since 2001); used-vehicle imports are banned
Emission stages in force
Euro 2-equivalent for new light vehicles (UNRSF); CO2 tax R132 per g/km above 95 g/km (2023/24); no 2W, truck or tractor stage confirmed
Safety rules and ratings
No ESC or crash-test mandate confirmed; Global NCAP #SaferCarsForAfrica ratings since 2017, and the AA criticised weak local safety law in 2026
Zero-emission target
None official (2023 EV White Paper rules out an ICE ban in the short to medium term)
Net zero
2050 goal (Low Emission Development Strategy, 2020)
Market
2025: 597,014 new vehicles sold, production 616,466 (+2.7%), record exports 414,268 with 80.3% to Europe and the UK (naamsa)
Fuel and charging
Unleaded petrol and 500 ppm diesel since 2006; Clean Fuels 2 (10 ppm) not confirmed; over 400 grid-powered public charging stations plus first off-grid solar sites (2024)
End of life
None confirmed in sources opened
Rulebook: UN Regulations
UN Regulations under the 1958 Agreement. A party to the UN 1958 Agreement and to the 1998 Agreement.
Also on this rulebook: Albania, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
Every event, lane by lane
22 events in time order within each lane. Few dated sources were found for vehicle safety, end of life and recycling.
Powertrain and batteriesTechnology
First battery-electric Superlink truck in service
A Volvo FMX 6x4 electric tractor pulling an 18 m Superlink double trailer began work for DHL Supply Chain and Unilever on 1 August 2025, charged at Unilever sites.
Truckselectrive.com
New-energy vehicles pass 5% of new sales
Hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs reached 5.6% of new-vehicle sales in Q2 2026, above 5% for the first time, after 16,716 units (2.8%) in 2025.
Cars, vans and pickupsnaamsa.net
None for the vehicle you picked.
Software, data and automationTechnology
South Africa enacts the Protection of Personal Information Act
POPIA was enacted on 26 Nov 2013, setting conditions for lawful processing of personal information; most of its provisions did not commence until 2020.
All vehiclesdlapiperafrica.com
POPIA data protection rules take effect
POPIA's main provisions commenced on 1 Jul 2020 with a one-year grace period; public and private bodies had to comply by 1 Jul 2021.
All vehiclesdlapiperafrica.com
None for the vehicle you picked.
Energy and infrastructureTechnology
Lead removed from petrol; diesel sulphur cut to 500 ppm
The first clean-fuels programme banned lead in petrol in 2006 and cut sulphur in diesel from 3,000 ppm to 500 ppm. Clean Fuels 2, with 10 ppm sulphur, was then expected from 2017.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busesen.wikipedia.org medium confidence
First off-grid solar EV charging station opens
Zero Carbon Charge opened South Africa's first off-grid solar charging site on the N12, planning 120 car and 120 truck sites; the country had over 400 grid-powered public charging stations.
Cars, truckselectrive.com
None for the vehicle you picked.
Emissions and climateRegulation
CO2 emissions tax on new vehicles
A tax on new vehicles emitting above a set CO2 limit took effect in September 2010, at first R75 per g/km above 120 g/km for cars; by 2023/24 it was R132 per g/km above 95 g/km.
Cars, vans and pickupsunfccc.int medium confidence
Economy-wide carbon tax takes effect
Parliament passed the carbon tax in March 2019; it applied from 1 June 2019 at R120 per tonne of CO2e, with tax-free allowances of up to 95% in the first phase.
All vehiclescarbonbrief.org
Net-zero carbon goal for 2050Dated ahead
The Low Emission Development Strategy (February 2020) commits to moving towards a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, guided by the 2018 Green Transport Strategy for transport.
All vehiclesunfccc.int
None for the vehicle you picked.
Vehicle safetyRegulation
No dated event found in the sources opened.
None for the vehicle you picked.
End of life and recyclingRegulation
No dated event found in the sources opened.
None for the vehicle you picked.
Approval, testing and qualityCertification
South Africa joins the UNECE 1958 Agreement
South Africa became contracting party 47 to the 1958 Agreement on 17 June 2001, so its compulsory vehicle specifications can adopt UN Regulations and recognise E-mark approvals.
All vehiclesen.wikipedia.org medium confidence
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications set up
The NRCS was established on 1 September 2008 under Act 5 of 2008, within the dtic's remit, to enforce compulsory specifications and technical regulations through market surveillance.
All vehiclesnrcs.org.za
Global NCAP starts crash-testing cars sold in Africa
The #SaferCarsForAfrica tests began in 2017 with the Chery QQ3, Datsun GO+, Renault Sandero, Toyota Etios and VW Polo Vivo; 34 results were listed by 2026.
Carsglobalncap.org
None for the vehicle you picked.
Trade and marketCommercial
Motor Industry Development Programme begins
The Motor Industry Development Programme ran from 1995 to 2012; the dtic calls it one of the most significant industrial policy interventions since 1994. The APDP replaced it in 2013.
Cars, vans and pickupsthedtic.gov.za
APDP replaces the MIDP
The Automotive Production and Development Programme replaced the MIDP on 1 January 2013. Its second phase, aligned with the 2035 masterplan, has applied since July 2021.
Cars, vans and pickupsthedtic.gov.za
SA Automotive Masterplan 2035 published
SAAM 2035 aims for 1% of world vehicle output (about 1.39 million units), 60% local content and double the value-chain jobs (112,000 to 224,000) by 2035.
All vehiclesthedtic.gov.za
US 25% car tariff hits exports to the United States
naamsa said cars built outside the US face a 25% tariff and SA goods 30%. The US took about 6.5% of SA vehicle exports in 2024 (about R35bn); 2025 shipments to North America fell to 6,530.
Cars, vans and pickupsnaamsa.net medium confidence
AGOA trade preferences lapse
The US African Growth and Opportunity Act, extended in 2015 to run to 2025, expired on 30 September 2025, ending its duty-free US access for eligible South African goods.
All vehiclesen.wikipedia.org medium confidence
150% tax allowance for electric and hydrogen vehicle plants
Section 12V gives a 150% deduction for plant and buildings used mainly to make battery-electric or hydrogen vehicles, for assets in use from 1 March 2026 to 1 March 2036.
Cars, vans and pickups, trucks, busespolity.org.za
None for the vehicle you picked.
Supply chain and materialsCommercial
EV White Paper sets battery and minerals localisation path
The December 2023 EV White Paper names lithium, cobalt, copper, PGMs and rare earths as critical minerals, proposes battery-pack and refining steps and a battery duty rebate, and rules out an ICE ban for now.
Cars, vans and pickupsthedtic.gov.za
Cape Town orders electric buses with locally built bodies
Cape Town ordered at least 38 Volvo BZR electric buses for delivery from 2027, with bodywork by Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre in Johannesburg, funded by the Public Transport National Grant.
Buseselectrive.com
None for the vehicle you picked.
Mobility and customersCommercial
Cape Town bus operator orders 120 BYD electric buses
Golden Arrow Bus Services ordered 120 BYD B12 electric buses after trials from 2020; the first 20 reached Cape Town by March 2025 and the rest were due by the end of 2025.
Buseselectrive.com
Uber and BYD plan an electric ride-hailing pilot
Uber and BYD added Johannesburg to their global EV partnership, with a pilot of 200 BYD electric cars on the Uber platform planned for 2025.
Carselectrive.com
None for the vehicle you picked.