South Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) sector has established a national industry association aimed at representing its interests in policy and regulatory discussions, alongside a partnership with Norway’s electric vehicle association to draw on its experience of EV adoption.
Left: Markus Rotevatn | Right: Hiten Parmar | image supplied
The South African Electric Mobility Association (SAEMA) launched with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Norwegian EV Association, which represents a country that has become a global leader in electric vehicle adoption.
The agreement was signed by Markus Rotevatn, head of international projects and partnerships at the Norwegian EV Association, and Hiten Parmar, SAEMA co-founder.
Representing the EV sector
SAEMA aims to bring together stakeholders across South Africa’s electric mobility ecosystem, including consumers, vehicle retailers, charging providers, infrastructure operators, investors and related industries.
The association intends to engage government and other stakeholders on policies, regulations and standards affecting the sector, as well as reforms it believes are needed to accelerate the transition to electric mobility.
Its formation gives the local industry a dedicated body to represent its collective interests as South Africa develops its electric mobility market.
The Norwegian partnership is intended to provide access to experience from a more mature EV market. At SAEMA’s launch, Rotevatn presented lessons from Norway’s adoption of electric vehicles, including the challenges it faced and the measures used to address them.
SAEMA cited battery-electric vehicles as accounting for 98% of new car sales in Norway, illustrating the scale of adoption in the country.
“This memorandum of understanding with the Norwegian EV Association, which represents the world’s most advanced EV market, is a powerful signal of our commitment,” said Parmar.
“It gives us a partner to learn from as we build an industry that serves all stakeholders of electric mobility, as we represent their needs to government.”
Building support for electric mobility
SAEMA said the association would represent the wider electric mobility ecosystem rather than focusing solely on vehicle manufacturers or retailers.
The organisation is inviting people and businesses involved in electric mobility to join. More information is available at saemobility.org
The launch comes as South Africa’s automotive sector navigates the transition towards electric vehicles, with policy, regulation and charging infrastructure among the issues affecting wider adoption.
