SADC Automobile Futures: Towards Just E-Mobility Transitions

This report examines the potential for electric vehicle (EV) adoption within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting the opportunities presented by low-speed electric vehicles (LSEVs) and the systemic barriers to a just transition.

• The global electric vehicle industry is expected to outperform internal combustion engine vehicles despite the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. For Africa, the fastest-growing sector is low-speed electric vehicles (LSEVs) and micromobility, including two, three, and small four-wheelers, which could provide affordable access to millions.
• Widespread adoption of e-mobility in the region is hindered by basic infrastructure deficits, specifically the lack of safe, well-maintained roads and stable, affordable electricity. Overcoming these barriers requires proactive government policies such as financial incentives, public procurement programmes, zero-emission vehicle mandates, and stricter fuel-economy and pollutant emission standards.
• SADC member states possess significant global bargaining power due to their holdings of strategic EV minerals and metals. However, this potential for social-ecological investment is currently undermined by a lack of willingness among member states to implement e-mobility adoption strategies at national and regional levels.
• Micromobility and micro-shared mobility offer a shift toward 'car-less drivers' by integrating people with transit systems and reducing reliance on private cars. When linked to decentralized renewable energy smart grids, these solutions can provide last-mile transportation for marginalized rural and urban communities and catalyze community-driven job creation.
• The report identifies specific policy levers for acceleration, including the SADC Green Economy Strategy and Action Plan and the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–30. Additionally, it suggests the South African Department of Minerals, Resources and Energy join the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) to support the national Green Transport Strategy (GTS).

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2020). SADC Automobile Futures: Towards Just E-Mobility Transitions. https://saiia.org.za/research/sadc-automobile-futures-towards-just-e-mobility-transitions/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. SADC Automobile Futures: Towards Just E-Mobility Transitions. 2020. https://saiia.org.za/research/sadc-automobile-futures-towards-just-e-mobility-transitions/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=SADC Automobile Futures: Towards Just E-Mobility Transitions |date=30 October 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/sadc-automobile-futures-towards-just-e-mobility-transitions/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2020sadc, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{SADC Automobile Futures: Towards Just E-Mobility Transitions}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/sadc-automobile-futures-towards-just-e-mobility-transitions/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }