Chery Q Sets Monthly EV Sales Record
The Chery Q recorded 438 units sold in October, the highest monthly figure for electric vehicle sales in South Africa.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
Live Poll
Given rising fuel prices, would you consider buying an electric car in your next purchase?
Chery Q sold 438 units in October, setting a new monthly record for electric vehicle sales in South Africa. The figure surpassed the previous high of 302 units set by the BYD Dolphin Surf in April.
Why it matters
Soaring fuel prices and more affordable all-electric cars have pushed motorists toward new energy vehicles to avoid higher fuel costs. The shift is reshaping which brands lead the local electric market.
Chery Q sold 438 units in October, ahead of the BYD Dolphin Surf's 248 units that month. Chery Q's lead over combined Honda and Mazda sales was 52 cars, though Geely E2 figures remain unreported.
The players
Chery
Chery is a Chinese automaker whose Chery Q has entered the South African electric vehicle market at a starting price of R349 900.
BYD
BYD is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer whose Dolphin Surf held the previous monthly EV sales record in South Africa.
Geely
Geely is a Chinese automaker whose E2 electric model competes on price with the Chery Q and BYD Dolphin Surf in South Africa.
The details
The Chery Q has a bigger battery and better range than the Geely E2 and BYD Dolphin Surf, and its starting price of R349 900 rises to R389 900. The Geely E2 ranges from R339 900 to R389 900 and the BYD Dolphin Surf from R341 900 to R395 900, placing all three within a R10 000 band at the entry level.
Timeline
April: BYD Dolphin Surf set the prior monthly EV sales record with 302 units, and Geely E2 overtook it as the cheapest local EV.
October: Chery Q set a new monthly EV sales record with 438 units.
Roadmap
The record follows a run of affordable electric entrants from Chinese manufacturers reshaping the South African market after the April benchmark. The October figures extend that trend as fuel costs push buyers toward new energy vehicles.
Buyers comparing entry-level electric cars now have three options priced within R10 000 of each other, with the Chery Q offering the largest battery and best range. Shoppers weighing fuel costs against purchase price can use these starting prices as a baseline.
The takeaway
Buyers weighing an electric car should compare starting prices, battery size and range across models rather than relying on price alone. Rising fuel costs are making the upfront premium easier to justify for many drivers.
Further reading
For more on the shift in local demand, see Electric Vehicles coverage across South Africa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Citizen.
Live Poll
Given rising fuel prices, would you consider buying an electric car in your next purchase?
