Why a robotaxi would struggle to make money in Sandton

TechCentral analysis: robotaxis are unlikely to be profitable in South Africa — after Uber's ~25% commission a ride yields about R6.47/km, versus Morgan Stanley's R7.55/km estimate for Tesla and R13.87/km for Waymo. Imported EVs face a 25% duty and only 2,622 battery-electric cars were sold in the first eight months of 2026.

• Uber Electric in Johannesburg charges riders about R8.63/km, with Uber taking roughly 25%
• Morgan Stanley estimates R7.55/km for Tesla and R13.87/km for Waymo
• Imported EVs face a 25% customs duty in South Africa versus 18% for EU combustion cars
• 2,622 BEVs sold in eight months of 2026, versus 1,088 in all of 2025