China’s BYD, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric cars, is set to make the biggest single investment yet in South Africa’s nascent electric vehicle (EV) sector. In an exclusive interview with TechCentral in Johannesburg, BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li disclosed the company’s plans to roll out a national network of ultra-high-speed charging stations.
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This ambitious move clearly signals the growing intent of Chinese automakers to capture a significant share of the local new-vehicle market, directly challenging established players like Toyota, Volkswagen, and Ford. Li emphasized that South Africa is considered the most important market on the African continent, serving as the launchpad for future expansion across the region.
The core of the investment centres on BYD’s proprietary Megawatt Flash Chargers, a technology currently being deployed in China. With a power output of up to 1MW per vehicle, these stations will be the fastest EV chargers ever deployed in South Africa. Their capability is transformative for driver convenience, offering up to 400km of range in approximately five minutes, effectively matching the refuelling time of a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle.
The charging stations will utilize a combination of standard grid electricity and supplementary clean solar power. While the exact investment amount was not disclosed, this follows a recent memorandum of cooperation signed between BYD and Eskom aimed at advancing electric mobility in the country. The chargers, which will begin installation in April or May 2026, are initially designed to leverage the full speed capabilities of the very latest EV models, including those from BYD, while still providing significantly improved charging speeds for all EV owners.
BYD plans a rapid deployment schedule, starting the roll-out at its fast-expanding dealer network. The company intends to nearly triple its dealership presence by the end of next year, expanding beyond major metros into smaller towns and cities. Li stated a goal to “cover 100% of the country,” aiming for 200 to 300 Flash charging stations across South Africa by the end of 2027.
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Following the dealership phase, the network will be expanded to strategic locations along the nation’s main highways, offering megawatt-scale charging in transit. Li also highlighted BYD’s broader strategy, which includes offering residential solar and battery solutions to South African homeowners, allowing EV owners to minimize reliance on grid power for both their vehicles and homes.
While currently too new to the market to commit to local manufacturing, Li did encourage the South African government to address the high import duties on EVs, which effectively “punish” buyers compared to the lower duties applied to internal combustion engine vehicles. She urged the government to consider incentives and subsidies to accelerate national EV adoption.
