Volkswagen South Africa looks to Asia and Latin America amid Europe's shift to EVs

Three quarters of petrol and diesel cars cars produced by the country are exported, mostly to European countries

Volkswagen South Africa produced more than 129,000 vehicles last year along with more than 58,000 engines, mostly for exports. AP

Volkswagen's South Africa unit aims to develop more markets for its petrol and diesel cars in Asia and Latin America, its managing director said, as Europe restricts sales as part of a shift to electric vehicles.

Three quarters of cars produced by South Africa's car industry, which accounts for 5 per cent of gross domestic product and more than 100,000 jobs, are exported, mostly to Europe.

But with Britain planning to ban sales of new internal combustion vehicles from 2030 and the EU following suit in 2035, South Africa's government has spoken of an existential threat to the sector.

Martina Biene, Volkswagen South Africa's new managing director, told Reuters the company's manufacturing facilities in the country do not plan an immediate move to producing electric vehicles.

Instead, it would partner with the company's Indian and Brazilian manufacturing centres to produce petrol and diesel vehicles for countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa that will be likely to lag behind advanced economies in the shift to EVs.

“That is clearly our current strategy,” she said in an interview.

“I think by 2035 there will be production of electric vehicles in Africa … but in the meantime, we will export probably less to Europe than other countries.”

Volkswagen South Africa produced more than 129,000 vehicles last year along with more than 58,000 engines, mostly for export.

Ms Biene said the German car maker is also seeking to develop and exploit more of Africa's largely untapped markets.

That would focus on selling South African-manufactured petrol and diesel vehicles in most markets and imported EVs in countries like Mauritius, Cape Verde and South Africa as demand for more environmentally friendly cars picks up there.

South Africa's government last year proposed a set of measures to encourage electric vehicle manufacturing and promote EV infrastructure, but the Cabinet has yet to adopt a formal policy for EVs.

It is seeking 128 billion rand ($7.42bn) to fund a transition to EVs under a plan it is presenting at the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt.