Vehicle manufacturers in South Africa are to receive incentives for producing electric cars in the country.
“South Africa must not be left behind in greening initiatives and technology,” City Press quoted Rob Davies, trade and industry minister, as saying.
He addressed reporters in Johannesburg yesterday (Friday) as part of an announcement on South Africa’s electric vehicle industry road map.
The government plans to reimburse manufacturers with 35 per cent of their production costs over three years.
In order to receive this reimbursement however, manufacturers will have to produce 5,000 electric vehicles.
According to Davies, the road map’s intention is to encourage the development of infrastructure to support the production of the electric vehicles locally.
“What will make these vehicles sellable in South Africa will be entirely dependant on whether these cars are made in South Africa,” said Davies.
He added production was the priority currently, but the government is also considering consumer incentives.
“These are the very early stages for the cars in manufacturing. There are zero of these cars being produced in the country, that is why we need to get the programmes going.”
Edna Molewa, water and environmental affairs minister, was also present and said currently there are three charging stations for electric vehicles in South Africa run entirely on solar power.
“We aim to have 50 charging stations in the country for the cars by 2015,” said Molewa.
