German car-making giant Volkswagen is preparing for the introduction of its electric vehicle line-up on South African roads through the local launch of the e-Golf pilot project.
The project will see six fully electric vehicles tested by motoring and lifestyle media, selected dealers and Volkswagen employees to “gain valuable consumer insights into the varying experiences of driving and living with an electric vehicle in South Africa”, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Through the involvement of selected Volkswagen dealers in Gauteng and the Western Cape, the e-Golf pilot project seeks to drive customer awareness and education regarding electric vehicles. The e-Golfs will be used as shuttles and courtesy cars for Volkswagen customers,” it said.
So no sales yet until about 2022 but I still smile at the irony of it. VW, Hyundai and Kia are probably the best bets for EVs fro South Africans but at a motor show at Grand West last year I still vividly recall asking the VW stand why no e-Golfs seeing the second iteration was launched ans the VW guy there emphatically said they would "never launch" in South Africa (not we are still looking at it, or yes it needs to actually arrive here). It sort of summed up the mindset for me of many dealers who fear EVs for lower maintenance and running costs.
See VW gearing up to launch electric cars in South Africa – TechCentral
German car-making giant Volkswagen is preparing for the introduction of its electric vehicle line-up on South African roads through the local launch of the e-Golf pilot project.