From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

Following the launch of MyCiti’s first electric bus (e-bus), in Cape Town, as well as the increasing diesel price, more bus operators have started inquiring about the possibility of adopting e-buses. Creamer Media’s Sabrina Jardim has the story.

Sabrina Jardim:

According to bus manufacturer Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre (GBCC) finance head Dirk van der Merwe, the e-buses being piloted by MyCiti are paving the way for increased confidence in the technology.

GBCC was selected as the local body manufacturer for the City of Cape Town’s 12m-long Volvo BZRLE electric fleet. As previously reported in Engineering News, Cape Town is set to take delivery of 38 e-buses this year, with the first bus expected to start operating by July 1, 2027.

GBCC finance head Dirk van der Merwe…

Sabrina Jardim:

Following December 2025 regulation amendments, GBCC registered its assembly facility, in Johannesburg, Gauteng, with the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) to expand its offering to electric chassis assembly for fleet operators and municipalities.

With a focus on local content, the planned addition of electric chassis assembly will enable GBCC to further develop local skills and increase localisation, while also helping to lower the buying cost, as opposed to e-buses that are fully imported.

GBCC CEO and founder Riaan Bouwer explains that the company’s objective is not simply to assemble buses locally, but to develop a South African manufacturing capability around the design, engineering and production of buses.

He expressed that local content must translate into real local skills, engineering capability and value creation.

GBCC finance head Dirk van der Merwe…

Sabrina Jardim:

Van der Merwe explained that, while the cost of ownership for e-buses was an initial barrier to entry for bus operators, the recent high prices of diesel have led operators to start considering e-buses as a more viable alternative.

He noted, however, that one of the challenges hindering the adopting of e-buses is the change in refuelling infrastructure needed for operators.

Moving forward, the company aims to scale e-bus manufacturing and CKD electric chassis assembly.

Bouwer said the transition to electric mobility gives South Africa an opportunity to develop its own solutions rather than simply importing finished vehicles.

He noted that the company is designing and building electric bus bodies specifically for South African operating conditions, while ensuring that the engineering, safety, quality and performance standards are comparable with anything being produced internationally.

Bouwer added that the company’s ambition is to demonstrate that a bus designed and built in South Africa can meet international standards while being better suited to the conditions in which it will operate.

GBCC finance head Dirk van der Merwe…

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.