Briefing Paper

SADC Automobile Futures: Towards Just e-Mobility Transitions

This policy insight reviews the pathways toward enabling just e-mobility transitions in SADC member states. The future of e-mobility in SADC depends on the prioritisation of e-mobility to the poor and vulnerable, while embracing and adapting to the key driving forces of the electric vehicle revolution (e-volution). Yet the SADC Green Economy Strategy and Action Plan, with its policies that focus specifically on transport and electric vehicles, has seen little progress in implementation by SADC member states. There is thus a need for a paradigm shift – from monomodal mobility to multimodal mobilities, including micromobility, which should be at the heart of the post-COVID-19 economic response and green recovery plan. This policy insight outlines core constituents of achieving a just regional e-volution. The post-COVID-19 response is a great opportunity to use e-mobility as a catalyst for prioritising the systemic equity of mobility of both urban and marginalised rural communities.