South Africa is gearing up for a major step forward in sustainable transport with the introduction of a new fleet of locally built electric buses. The Paruk Group, which operates one of the country’s largest bus fleets with around 2,000 vehicles, has finalised a deal with MAN Truck & Bus to purchase 100 fully electric buses for delivery between 2026 and 2027.
As reported by Engineering News, this follows a letter of intent signed earlier in 2025, marking one of the most significant commercial electric vehicle (EV) orders in the country’s history. Both the chassis and bodywork of the new buses will be manufactured in South Africa, a move that underscores MAN’s commitment to localisation and industrial growth within the automotive sector.
According to MAN, the high-floor electric chassis will be assembled at its Pinetown facility in KwaZulu-Natal, while the bus bodies will be built at its Olifantsfontein plant in Gauteng. This dual-site production model will not only create jobs but also bolster South Africa’s technical capacity in the electric mobility industry.
Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, said the decision to manufacture locally ensures that the new eBuses will be optimally designed for South African conditions and seamlessly integrated into existing transport operations. As reported by TopAuto, he noted that this project sets a new benchmark for electric mobility on the African continent, highlighting collaboration between international engineering expertise and domestic manufacturing strength.
The upcoming vehicles will be the Lion’s Explorer E models, built on MAN’s Lion’s Chassis E platform. Each 12-metre bus will be equipped with a 320kWh battery system powered by four 80kWh lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery packs positioned under the floor between the axles. The system drives a 240kW motor capable of delivering a range of approximately 350 kilometres on a single charge — ideal for urban and intercity routes.
The introduction of these buses builds on the success of MAN’s pilot project with Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) in Cape Town, which received the country’s first locally developed electric city bus in 2023. The test phase, according to Fleetwatch Magazine, demonstrated that locally built eBuses can handle South Africa’s challenging operating conditions while significantly reducing emissions and running costs.
Jan Aichinger, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus South Africa, said the project cements MAN’s status as the first company in the country’s automotive sector — across both passenger and commercial segments — to localise the production of electric vehicles. He emphasised that the initiative not only contributes to the nation’s carbon reduction goals but also strengthens South Africa’s industrial base by positioning it as a potential hub for EV manufacturing in Africa.
The partnership between Paruk Group and MAN signals a transformative shift for the country’s public transport sector. With more municipalities exploring electric bus fleets and renewable energy integration, the rollout of 100 locally produced eBuses could serve as a catalyst for further investment in sustainable mobility infrastructure.
If successful, South Africa could soon join global leaders in green transportation — powered not by imported technology, but by homegrown innovation and industry collaboration.