Day 1 of the eMobility Summit 2026: From Innovation to Industrial Participation

Day 1 of the eMobility Summit 2026 at Nelson Mandela University brought together representatives from government, industry, research institutions, funding agencies and development organisations to advance South Africa’s electric mobility transition.

Held under the theme, “Accelerating Electric Mobility Implementation in South Africa: From Innovation to Industrial Participation,” the Summit aimed to move the national conversation beyond ambition towards a coordinated roadmap for a greener and more inclusive mobility future.

Hosted by the Nelson Mandela University’s uYilo, eNtsa, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the Summit was focusing on identifying the practical actions needed to accelerate electric mobility implementation in South Africa. The discussions was also to contribute to the development of a Ministerial Outcomes Document for 2026–2030.

Strengthening South Africa’s eMobility Ecosystem

The Honourable Dr Nomalungelo Gina, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the critical role of research, technology development, skills development and commercialisation in enabling South Africa’s transition to electric mobility. Her address reinforced the importance of building an ecosystem in which locally developed technologies can move beyond the research and prototype stages towards commercialisation, industrial application and meaningful participation in the economy.

South Africa has already demonstrated its ability to develop high-quality research, technologies and innovations. The next step is to create the enabling environment required to scale these solutions, strengthen local manufacturing capabilities and increase participation across the electric mobility value chain.

The Goal: Coordinated Implementation

The central message emerging from Day 1 was clear: South Africa must move from innovation to coordinated implementation, industrial participation and inclusive economic growth.

The time for an isolated and fragmented ecosystem is over. Accelerating the transition will require stronger collaboration between government, industry, academia, development institutions, funders and innovation-support organisations. We have seen it through the participation through the work of the Investing in Young Businesses in Africa Supporting Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (IYBA SEED) that Propella is part of. 

The ecosystem coordination is said to align policy, infrastructure, investment, research, skills and market development. It will also help ensure that South African innovators and businesses are positioned to participate meaningfully in the opportunities created by the global shift towards electric mobility.

Building an Inclusive Green Economy

Electric mobility presents South Africa with an opportunity that extends beyond reducing carbon emissions. It offers the potential to stimulate new industries, support local manufacturing, develop future-focused skills and create sustainable jobs.

By scaling local industrial participation, South Africa can use the transition to electric mobility to advance a Just Energy Transition, one that creates opportunities for entrepreneurs, innovators, young people, workers and communities while ensuring that no one is left behind.

For Propella, the conversations from Day 1 strongly align with our commitment to supporting green and high-technology innovations, accelerating the commercialisation of locally developed solutions and enabling entrepreneurs to participate in emerging industries.

Day 1 laid an important foundation for collaboration and action. The task ahead is to translate these conversations into practical commitments, scalable projects and measurable outcomes that will help shape South Africa’s electric mobility future.