All the electric cars for sale in South Africa in 2025
TechCentral regularly publishes a list of all the electric cars available for sale in South Africa, along with prices, performance figures and more.
Since we first published the list in 2022, it has seen huge changes, including a rapid expansion in the number of electric vehicles available for purchase along with – unfortunately – a series of price increases.
Again, several manufacturers have also increased the prices of their EVs leading into 2025, while some underperforming models are no longer sold in the country.
Taking the top spot as the cheapest EV in South Africa in TechCentral's list for the first half of 2025 is a new kid on the block, the Dayun Yuehu. It's really a city commuter rather than being suited for long-distance road trips, but it is officially the cheapest electric car you can buy today – although that might soon change with the imminent launch of the BYD Dolphin Mini.
Another Chinese brand entering the market in 2025 is Dongfeng, whose Dongfeng Box (the naming could be better, let's be honest) is also set to be one of the cheapest EVs available to South African consumers when it goes on sale. Pricing has yet to be confirmed, though it's possible it could launch at a sub-R500 000 price point.
BYD Dolphin
Price: R539 900 – R599 900
Power: 150kW
Time to 100km/h: 7s
Top speed: 160km/h
Range: Up to 427km (claimed)
The BYD Dolphin, backed by BYD's advance blade battery technology and advanced safety features, boasts smart connectivity, voice control and driving assistance for an enhanced electrified driving experience. At the price, this is likely to prove a hot seller.
BYD Atto 3
Power: 150kW
Time to 100km/h: 7.3s
Top speed: 160km/h
Range: Up to 423km (claimed)
Introducing a lesser-known Chinese electric vehicle from BYD that may not be on your radar. The Atto 3, a compact-to-midsized electric crossover, is a notable addition to the line-up from a company that's often described as the Chinese Tesla.
BYD Seal
Power: 390kW
Time to 100km/h: 3.8s
Top speed: 160km/h
Range:Up to 520km (claimed)
The BYD Seal is a battery electric midsized fastback sedan and the second car in the company's "Ocean Series" after the smaller BYD Dolphin hatchback. The Seal is built on BYD's e-Platform 3.0 and an 800V electrical platform and costs a fraction of similarly specced German-made sedans.