This industry brief is written for South African businesses and organisations operating or depending on last-mile delivery fleets. This includes delivery platforms, retailers with in-house logistics, courier, and fleet management firms.
It provides insights for transitioning to electric last-mile fleets, focusing on the total cost of ownership optimisation, operational feasibility, and emissions reduction.
South Africa’s shift toward electric last-mile delivery – with motorcycle sales reaching a ten-year high of 43 144 units in 2025, 70% of which were for commercial use – presents a growing manufacturing opportunity. The Western Cape is positioning itself to benefit from this growth. The province is developing the foundations of a micro-EV manufacturing cluster centred around the Atlantis Special Economic Zone, with support from industry, investors, development organisations, and academic institutions. The aim is to move from importing electric two- and three-wheelers to becoming a competitive hub for their design, assembly, and support. The opportunity extends beyond vehicle assembly to include battery integration, maintenance and repair networks, battery recycling, and materials reuse. As the ecosystem develops, it could improve spare parts availability, servicing capacity, and supply chain resilience for fleet operators. Rising demand from delivery platforms, retailers, and courier fleets strengthens the case for local manufacturing. Producing vehicles, batteries, and charging infrastructure locally could lower costs, reduce lead times, and improve supply chain reliability. For fleet operators and delivery businesses, this is a development worth watching. As local manufacturing capacity grows, it could improve affordability, maintenance support, spare parts access, and financing options tailored to South African conditions. Electric micro-mobility is already commercially viable in many use cases, and a stronger local industry would make it even more compelling.
This industry brief was made possible with the support of ClimateWorks.