South Africans are showing a preference for traditional hybrid vehicles over fully electric or plug-in hybrids. More than 6,000 traditional hybrid vehicles, which combine a internal combustion engine with a battery that charges while driving, were sold in 2023. This is 10 times the number sold in 2021.

Fully electric and plug-in hybrids remain less popular, with only 1,147 sold in same period. This is up from 384 in 2021.

According to AutoTraderSA, the most popular hybrid cars available in South Africa are the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, the Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid, and the Honda Fit HEV.

The local market is far from developed by global standards. Fewer than 1% of vehicle sales in South Africa in 2023 were fully electric or plug-in hybrids (excluding traditional hybrids), while the global average was 18%.