Volkswagen Launches The All-New Caravelle PHEV In South Africa - CleanTechnica

Volkswagen has announced the launch of the all-new Caravelle plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in South Africa, set to arrive mid-2026. The Caravelle PHEV, built on Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, offers seating for up to seven passengers and features an advanced electric all-wheel-drive system with one electric motor on each axle. It is equipped with a 19.7 kWh battery pack capable of fast charging, enabling a purely electric driving range of up to 91 kilometers (57 miles). The vehicle supports AC charging up to 11 kW and DC rapid charging up to 50 kW, allowing the battery to charge from 10% to 80% in approximately 26 minutes. This launch comes amid a significant shift in South Africa’s automotive market, where sales of plug-in hybrids surged by 280% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 2,808 units sold, though still representing a small market