After Rwanda, South Africa becomes the second country to introduce Volkswagen electric vehicles to the African continent. 

In step to get closer to an electric mobility future, Volkswagen South Africa introduced its e-Golf to SA.

The project, in its pilot phase, is the first step in a series of events that will see the automaker roll out more electric vehicles on our roads.

Over the course of the next two years, motoring and lifestyle media will have the chance to experience six fully electric e-Golfs in an effort for the automaker to gain consumer insights "into the varying experiences of driving and living with an electric vehicle in South Africa."

                                Volkswagen e-Golf. Image: QuickPic

The experience

Mike Glendinning, sales and marketing director for Volkswagen Group South Africa, says: “At Volkswagen, we want to democratise electric mobility and that is why the e-Golf pilot project is a key initiative for the brand. With the help of our dealers, we want to get as many South Africans as possible to drive and experience an electric vehicle as this is the future of our brand.”

The e-Golf is the pilot project in a three-phase approach that will see VWSA include electric vehicles in its future product portfolio locally. The second phase will see the automaker introduce a fleet of fully electric ID.3s to market come 2021.

The third phase will come into effect in 2022, when VWSA’s electric range of cars will go on sale locally.

VW does note, however, that its e-Golf and ID.3 will not be for sale in SA, and will be used solely for the purposes of ensuring as many South Africans as possible get to experience life with an electric vehicle.

                                Volkswagen e-Golf. Image: QuickPic

Compiled by: Charlen Raymond