Buying & Export

Are Chinese EVs available in South Africa?

Q: Are Chinese EVs available in South Africa?

Yes — BAIC, GWM Ora, Chery Omoda, BYD, Zeekr and DFSK all sell officially in South Africa. Import duty is 25% + 15% VAT + ad valorem excise duty which can add another 25% — total cost is significantly higher than European or Chinese pricing.

Updated 2026-05-186 min read

South Africa protects its local vehicle assembly industry with high tariffs, so Chinese EVs cost significantly more than in more open markets.

Cost structure

25% import duty on completed cars from non-SADC/non-preferential origins.

15% VAT.

Ad valorem excise duty scales with price — up to 25% on premium models.

Brands active

Volume: BAIC, GWM (Great Wall), Chery Omoda, DFSK.

EV-specific: BYD (Auto Investments), Zeekr (from 2025).

Charging

GridCars network is the largest DC provider.

All export Chinese EVs use CCS2.

Key takeaways

01High-tariff market — pricing is not competitive vs Europe.
02Growing brand availability nonetheless.
03Local assembly (BAIC) reduces effective tariff.

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Cost structure

Brands active

Charging

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