South Africans are showing growing curiosity about electric vehicles (EVs), with new research revealing that Chinese manufacturer BYD dominates local online searches while Tesla’s much-talked-about Cybertruck is the only model from Elon Musk’s company to crack the country’s top five.
The trend comes as South Africa’s EV market gathers pace. A recent industry report from MyBroadband indicates that electric vehicle sales during the first half of 2026 were already 75% higher than the total recorded for the whole of 2025, signalling increasing interest in alternative forms of transport as fuel prices continue to climb.
Fresh data released by MoneySuperMarket, which analysed Google search volumes for more than 200 electric vehicle models across over 200 countries, found that the BYD Dolphin Surf was South Africa’s most searched-for EV between April 2025 and April 2026, attracting 74 350 annual searches.
Chinese brands dominate local interest
The study shows BYD accounts for half of South Africa’s 10 most searched electric vehicles, underlining the growing influence of Chinese manufacturers in the local market. The BMW i7 ranked second with 57 600 searches, followed closely by the BYD Aealion 6.
Despite Tesla founder Elon Musk’s South African roots, only the Tesla Cybertruck featured among the country’s top five, generating 45 300 searches. The remainder of the top 10 includes the Volvo EX30, BYD Seal, BYD Sealion 7, Rolls-Royce Spectre and Porsche Taycan.
Globally, MoneySuperMarket found searches for ‘electric vehicles’ increased by 168% year on year. The Tesla Model Y topped worldwide interest with more than 25 million Google searches, followed by the Tesla Model 3 and the BYD Seal.
Across the 200 countries included in the research, Tesla models ranked as the most searched vehicles in 75 countries, while BYD claimed the top spot in 50 countries, illustrating the growing rivalry between the two manufacturers.
MoneySuperMarket car insurance expert Alicia Hempsted said expanding model choices were helping drive consumer interest.
‘Globally, the EV market has expanded rapidly over the last few years, and so has the range of affordable electric options for drivers.’
She added: ‘With global searches for ‘electric vehicles’ up 168% year on year, it is clear that drivers everywhere are actively exploring their choices. Whether you are researching your first electric car or planning an upgrade, the most important thing is finding the right make and model for your needs and ensuring you have the right insurance in place before you get behind the wheel.’
While online searches do not necessarily translate directly into vehicle sales, they offer a snapshot of where consumer attention is shifting.
As more manufacturers introduce electric models to South Africa and charging infrastructure continues to expand, interest in EVs appears set to remain firmly in the spotlight.
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