Netcare Diagnostics is introducing its first fully electric vehicles to its transport fleet, with Geely Auto South Africa handing over a number of Geely E2 Aspire hatchbacks at Netcare’s head office in Sandton on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. The vehicles, purchased by Netcare Diagnostics, will be used on shorter urban routes for collecting patient pathology specimens in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, giving the Geely E2 a working role in a South African healthcare fleet.
The vehicles were received by Dr Richard Friedland, chief executive officer of the Netcare Group, and Marc van Heerden, managing director of Netcare Diagnostics.
Why the Geely E2 Aspire was chosen
The E2 Aspire was selected with pathology transport needs in mind, including the distances travelled on collection routes and the opportunities to recharge between journeys. Netcare Diagnostics has installed dedicated charging units at the hospitals and pathology laboratories where the vehicles will operate from, allowing them to recharge while awaiting specimens.
Greg Maruszewski, chief operating officer of Geely Auto South Africa, said the initiative “demonstrates the practical role electric mobility can play in organisations that serve people every day.”
Netcare plans to assess electric vehicle performance
Van Heerden said the move is another way the Netcare Group is building sustainability into its daily operations. “In pathology, our first responsibility is to ensure specimens reach our laboratories reliably and on time. This initial deployment will enable us to assess how it performs in daily use and where electric vehicles may be suitable elsewhere in our fleet,” he said.
Netcare sustainability programme background
Netcare introduced its environmental sustainability programme in 2013, and its work has since received local and international recognition. The programme also includes My Walk Made with Soul, which turns PVC safely collected from Netcare hospitals into school shoes for children.
About the Geely E2 and Netcare Diagnostics
The Geely E2 is a compact, fully electric five-door hatchback designed for everyday urban travel. Netcare Diagnostics provides the equipment, infrastructure, logistics and operational support for Dr Esihle Nomlomo Inc. pathology services across Netcare facilities, supported by a central laboratory in Gauteng and regional laboratories in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Polokwane, Tshwane and the Western Cape. The E2 Aspire vehicles now enter service on urban collection routes in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
Supplied by QuickPic (Geely)
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