Delay in new-energy vehicle plan may favour SA, says Toyota president (BL)

Pushing back the strategy could allow the country to avoid pitfalls being encountered elsewhere.

Delays in designing a new-energy vehicle (NEV) strategy for SA might not be a bad thing if it allows the country to avoid pitfalls being encountered elsewhere, says Toyota SA president Andrew Kirby. The department of trade, industry & competition had hoped to publish a white paper late in 2021, outlining its strategy for encouraging the local sale and manufacture of electric vehicles (EV) and other alternative sources of automotive power, such as hydrogen. However Kirby, who has played a central role in NEV policy discussions with the government, said in an interview on Thursday that the white paper is probably six months from completion. “We expect it later this year. Click here to read full article