The Current Ep 8 | Shifting gear: SA’s electric vehicle transition

Loading player...
Two in three cars sold globally will be electric by 2035, says the International Energy Agency. And in Europe - South Africa's largest automobile export market, one in four cars sold are already EVs. SA is way behind this adoption curve, but it's quickly picked up pace in the last two years.
In episode 8 of The Current, we look at what needs to be amped up for SA drivers to shift their mindsets and benefit from the cost and carbon savings of electric vehicles. Host, Iman Rappetti, is joined by Mark Raine, co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa; Ndia Magadagela, CEO of Everlectric and Investec's head of Sustainable Solutions, Melanie Humphries.
00:00: Intro
01:54: Meet the guests
03:03: Overview of electric vehicle landscape in South Africa
03:38: SA destined to be an electric vehicle market
05:17: Preferential financing of EVs
05:44: Bringing prices tags on EVs down
08:07: “Range anxiety” and number of charging stations in SA
10:43: Are EV’s really greener than ICE vehicles?
13:36: Recycling of EV’s batteries
15:48: B2B businesses – Leasing of electric vehicles
17:13: Leased EVs and their ESG credentials
18:12: The larger the electric vehicle, the more the cost saving
20:38: Evolution of EVs in public transport, like SA taxis
20:38: EV’s in public transport like SA taxis
21:35: Incorporating your EV battery into a home energy solution
22:27: Automotive manufacturing sector in SA must change to survive
23:47: Stimulating EV manufacturing in SA
25:30: The electric vehicles white paper lays out SA’s roadmap
26:18: Mercedes-Benz’s CEO predicts 10,000 EVs to be sold in 2027
27:35: Closing comments – The EVolution is here
4 Jun 2024 English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Macro Monday Ep135: The two sides to the AI investment boom

The AI story has been great for investors so far, but it may be making the Fed feel uncomfortable. AI investment is helping to fuel growth and inflation, potentially forcing the Fed to maintain a tighter policy stance – even though, says Global Chief Investment Officer Chris Holdsworth, the sectors…
12 Oct 5 min

No Ordinary Wednesday | Mini-Budget 2026: More revenue, less borrowing?

Stronger revenue offers an opportunity to reduce borrowing. Will spending pressures limit the gains? Ahead of the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), Investec’s Annabel Bishop and Tertia Jacobs to examine the choices facing National Treasury. Higher precious metals prices offer the prospect of better-than-budgeted tax revenue. But weaker growth,…
11 Oct 26 min

Macro Monday Ep134: Fixed income investors are having a tough time

There’s been an almost universal rise in bond yields around the world over the past few months. According to Global Chief Investment Officer Chris Holdsworth, developed markets have seen the biggest rises, with France one of the hardest hit, as it grapples with a worsening fiscal situation.
5 Oct 9 min

Macro Monday ep 133 | US growth is running hot

The US economy is running hot, with the latest indicators pointing to 5% GDP growth, ahead of market forecasts for third-quarter growth of 2.8%. This comes despite high oil prices and rising inflation and has implications for the US dollar and the prospects of the US being able to grow…
28 Sep 8 min

No Ordinary Wednesday | South Africa’s race to get connected

South Africa’s digital infrastructure is expanding rapidly, from data centres and fibre networks to satellites. But can the country provide the power, capital and regulatory certainty needed to turn digital investment into lasting growth? On No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs speaks to Investec CIB’s Louise Pillay, a telecoms and media…
23 Sep 19 min