Namibia’s market for hybrid and electric vehicles is showing signs of growth, with sales increasing by 127% year-on-year to 59 units in September 2026, compared with 26 units during the same period last year.
According to IJG Securities’ latest vehicle sales report, electrified vehicles, including conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric models, accounted for 3.9% of the 1,498 new vehicles sold during the month.
The figures point to growing uptake of alternative vehicle technologies in Namibia, although petrol and diesel-powered vehicles continue to dominate the local automotive market.
Toyota led electrified vehicle sales in September, recording 37 hybrid units, while Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD sold 17 vehicles across passenger and light commercial categories.
The figures highlight the growing presence of Chinese automotive technology in Namibia, particularly as manufacturers expand their offerings beyond conventional petrol and diesel vehicles.
“Chinese brands hold meaningful share in the passenger segment and new-energy models from brands such as BYD are beginning to show up in the data,” IJG Securities said.
The growth in electrified vehicle sales comes as Namibia faces rising fuel costs, which could increase consumer interest in vehicles that use less petrol or diesel.
Transport inflation accelerated to 14.9% in September, while petrol and diesel prices were 30.4% higher than a year earlier.
However, the latest figures do not establish whether rising fuel prices are directly influencing consumers to switch to hybrid and electric vehicles.
Despite the increase, electrified vehicles remain a relatively small segment of Namibia’s automotive market, with September sales accounting for fewer than four in every 100 new vehicles sold.
The report also does not provide a separate breakdown of fully electric vehicle sales, making it difficult to determine how much of the growth is being driven by battery-electric models rather than conventional hybrids.
The broader automotive market recorded strong growth in September, with total new vehicle sales increasing by 14.9% year-on-year to 1,498 units.
