Sustainable Mobility Market Analysis and Opportunity Report

The Sustainable Mobility Market Analysis and Opportunity Report by GreenCape evaluates the potential for establishing an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub at the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) in the Western Cape, South Africa. It identifies strategic opportunities across various EV segments—from micro-mobility and public transport to heavy trucks—and emphasizes the need to move from simple assembly to local component manufacturing, particularly in battery cells and semi-conductors, to ensure economic sustainability and competitiveness.

• High import taxes create a significant barrier to EV adoption in South Africa, with imported EVs facing a combined tax rate of at least 42%, consisting of a 25% import tax and a Luxury Goods Tax (Ad Valorem) of up to 17%.
• There is a strategic opportunity to establish an EV industry at the ASEZ targeting public transport, as the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) requires 80% locally manufactured components for buses and taxis, with a potential market of 65,000 buses and 350,000 minibus taxis.
• South Africa's existing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle export market is threatened by upcoming bans on ICE vehicle sales in the European Union by 2030 and the UK by 2025.
• The Western Cape has an emerging micro-mobility ecosystem with several local OEMs, including Electric Life Rides (kick-scooters), Green Riders (electric bicycles), Go-Electric (mopeds), and MellowVans (electric 3-wheelers).
• South Africa lacks the capacity to produce lithium-ion battery cells despite possessing reserves of critical minerals like manganese; the report suggests leveraging this position, similar to Indonesia's nickel-based strategy, to attract global manufacturers like CATL, LG Chem, and Panasonic.
• The report identifies several high-potential component manufacturing opportunities for the ASEZ, including EV 'skateboard' platforms, semi-conductors, automotive glass (via Shatterprufe), and specialized EV tyres from brands such as Continental and Michelin.
• The ASEZ offers specific financial incentives for OEMs and component manufacturers, including non-taxable cash grants of 20% for OEMs and 25% for component manufacturers and tooling companies, as approved by the dtic.
• The report contrasts 'Gigafactories' with 'Micro-factories,' noting that the latter—such as those used by Arrival UK—are faster to build (6 months vs 2 years) and significantly cheaper (USD 40 million vs USD 1 billion), making them a viable option for the ASEZ.

APA

GreenCape (n.d.). Sustainable Mobility Market Analysis and Opportunity Report. https://greencape.co.za/assets/Sustainable-Mobility-Market-Analysis-and-Opportunity-Report.pdf

Chicago

GreenCape. Sustainable Mobility Market Analysis and Opportunity Report. n.d. https://greencape.co.za/assets/Sustainable-Mobility-Market-Analysis-and-Opportunity-Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenCape |title=Sustainable Mobility Market Analysis and Opportunity Report |url=https://greencape.co.za/assets/Sustainable-Mobility-Market-Analysis-and-Opportunity-Report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greencapendsustainable, author = {{GreenCape}}, title = {{Sustainable Mobility Market Analysis and Opportunity Report}}, institution = {GreenCape}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/assets/Sustainable-Mobility-Market-Analysis-and-Opportunity-Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }