NEVs in South Africa are gaining traction; though it may be a small ripple, statistics suggest that in 2025, total EV/BEV sales : as Naamsa reported 1,088 fully electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold and at the forefront of this were brands like BYD, which as of March 2026, have already reported sales of 589 units in a single month. More Mzansi residents are becoming interested in these alternative mobility vehicles. The latest to give South Africans something more to consider is Geely, with their newest small EV, the E2.
Geely has launched this new E2 as a budget friendly alternative which not only goes against the EV norms of being fairly pricey but with a starting price of R339 900 for the Aspire variant and R389 900 for the top-spec Apex model they also are gunning for the BYD Surf as the most affordable EV there is in the SA market.
The new E2 is a small hatch with what the brand says is "a modern, youthful design that reflects its role as a next-generation urban EV." On a styling front , the car gains a completely closed-off front, which immediately indicates that there is not an ICE engine in there. To ensure it isn't too plain, the face is complemented by slim LED headlamps and side venting for improved airflow to produce good flow and drag.
Powering the vehicle is an integrated 11-in-1 electric drive system, combining motor, gearbox and control systems which drives the rear wheels (on both models), this setup produces a output power of 85 kW and 150nm which makes that a bit more powerful than the BYD Surfs 55 kW and 135nm. When charged up to 100% the vehicle provides a range of up to 325 km with a consumption figure of 15.2 kWh/100 km, performance figures are 0–50 km/h: 4.6 seconds and 0–100 km/h: 11.5 seconds.
As much as charging is concerned, the car is said to be capable of charging from 10 to 100% in just 6.5 hours with AC charging whilst D/C fast charging allows for 30–80% to happen in just 25 minutes, oh and of course one can utilize the sometimes handy vehicle to load function to power up some light external appliances, don't go powering up your whole fridge now.
The interior is a typical EV space, minimalist and screen-filled. It features a two-spoke steering wheel and an 8.8-inch infotainment screen for the driver, as well as a 14.6-inch infotainment screen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The cabin also has a Flyme Auto Smart System and 4G connectivity as standard.
The car has a suite of safety sense systems Standard safety features include ABS, ESC, six airbags, traction control, hill-start assist, and tyre pressure monitoring. Separated between the model range, the E2 will feature Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Lane departure warning, Forward collision warning, Intelligent high beam control, 15-inch wheels, Fabric seats, Manual air conditioning, 4-speaker audio, Rear camera and sensors, Keyless entry and start.
The Apex model adds advanced driver assistance systems such as:
- Intelligent high beam control
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane departure warning
- Forward collision warning
Pricing
The Geely E2 is priced from R339,900 for the Aspire and R389,900 for the Apex.
Ownership benefits include:
- 4-year / 150,000 km vehicle warranty
- 8-year / 200,000 km battery warranty
- 5-year / 100,000 km service plan
- 5-year unlimited kilometre roadside assistance
All models include a wallbox home charger (T&Cs apply, subject to Geely Finance).