JAC Motors launches electric truck in South Africa

From the newsletter

Chinese automaker JAC Motors has unveiled the X200 EV, a 1.9 tonne single-cab electric truck, in South Africa. The truck, priced at $36,800, is the third in JAC’s lineup of EV trucks, following the introduction of the 4 tonne N75 EV & 2.5 tonne N55 EV. With a fully charged battery, the X200 EV offers a range of up to 230 km. 

• South Africa is experiencing increased demand for EV trucks - whose operational costs are up to 80% cheaper - across all sizes. The X200 EV is targeted at companies that need smaller, cost-effective trucks than JAC’s larger existing EV trucks.

• EV truck manufacturers are expanding their range of options to give buyers more choices amid increased competition. In South Africa, JAC’s main rivals in electric logistics solutions are Foton and SAIC.

More details

• JAC’s latest offering, the X200 EV, has a 63.75 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery that supports both AC and DC charging. A DC charger can top up from 20% to 80% in about 35 minutes while a full charge from 0% to 100% takes about 90 minutes.

• Founded in 1964 as a truck manufacturer, JAC expanded into passenger vehicles and bakkies in 2007. Since 2014, it has produced battery-electric trucks ranging from 2.5 to 12 tonnes.

• Following the global launch of the popular N75 EV 4-tonne in 2019, the company has sold over 2,500 units to date to major worldwide transport and logistics operators like Amazon and DHL. In South Africa, its customers include the country’s biggest online retailer Takealot, which deployed ten JAC N75 electric trucks in late 2023. 

• In South Africa, the company’s main rivals in the electric truck segment are Foton and SAIC, which are also Chinese-owned companies. The Foton eTruckMate EV is slightly more affordable at $31,100, but features a less powerful 60 kW motor and 500kg lower payload. SAIC Maxus is selling its eDeliver 3 forward cab and van for $49,800.

• More established companies that have sold electric trucks in South Africa include Volvo, Scania, and Mercedes-Benz. Their models are for heavy-duty applications and cost millions of rand with substantial battery capacities of more than 300kWh and ranges around 300 km to 500 km, more suited for long-distance logistics.

• South Africa, a leading manufacturing and trade hub, has one of the most robust logistics sectors in Africa. The sector generated a revenue of $92.7 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $137.4 billion by 2030, an attractive proposition for electric truck manufacturers.

• These manufacturers are now making big investments into new models, targeting both the last-mile delivery segment as well as the long-haul logistics business. Electric trucks make economic sense due to fuel savings and lower operational costs. JAC for instance says its trucks save buyers 50% of their energy costs and 70% of their operational costs. 

Our take

• Investing in electric trucks is a risky bet in South Africa at the moment due to the load shedding issues the country is facing. Companies that decide to buy electric trucks should therefore also invest in their own charging stations with backup power sources such as standby generators and solar PV.

• That notwithstanding, the future of electric trucks in South Africa looks bright. The country’s economy will likely get back on track once the power supply issues are fixed. With South Africa’s strong consumer culture, coupled with the continued rise in e-commerce, demand for trucks to do last-mile drops will grow.

• The higher upfront cost of electric trucks can be a barrier for many businesses, especially smaller operators. However, smaller trucks like the JAC X200 EV are cheaper, therefore more affordable for buyers. Going ahead, we could see the introduction of even smaller trucks to suit businesses with less load demands.