Forum on China-Africa Co-operation | China’s New Energy Vehicles Help Africa’s Transportation Transformation

In Africa, two- and three-wheeled motorcycles, known as “boda-boda” and “tuk-tuk”, have long been the typical image of local transportation.Now, with the progress of the times and technological development, new energy vehicles from China have landed in Africa and are gradually changing the face of local streets.

“If someone is considering whether to buy this car, my advice is not to hesitate and buy it immediately!”In a Chinese-branded new energy vehicle store in Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city, Juma, a local cab driver, told Xinhua that he test-drove a Chinese electric car and felt that it was powerful and comfortable to drive.”These electric cars will surely pave our roads.”

The conclusion of many international observers is the same as Zhu Ma’s intuition, more and more Chinese new energy vehicle enterprises are deeply cultivating the African market, and their cost-effective products are welcomed by African consumers and governments.

In the Rwandan capital, Kigali, Chinese electric car maker BYD, together with local partners, opened the first BYD electric car dealership in East Africa.Local sales staff said that Chinese electric vehicles have won positive feedback from the market in terms of driving experience, technological innovation, safety and affordability.

In South Africa, electric vehicles from Chinese automakers such as Great Wall, Haval, BYD and others have been put on the market in large numbers and are sought after by consumers.This year, major bus operators in South Africa also signed orders with Chinese companies to buy electric buses.

In Egypt, the number of electric cars licensed in the first quarter of this year reached one-third of the total in the past three years, most of which were produced in China.Egyptian sellers said that Chinese electric cars are of high quality and low price, which fully meet the needs of the Egyptian market.

Many analysts said that one of the important reasons for China’s new energy vehicles to continue to heat up in the African market is the high cost performance.

Walter Madira, principal analyst for automotive forecasting in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at S&P Global Transportation and Mobility, said cost-effective Chinese brands offer more choices for EV consumers.Mubeswane Mahilo, a visiting researcher at the Southern Center for Inequality Studies at the University of Kingsford in South Africa, agrees that, all things being equal, the price advantage gives Chinese brands a leading position in Africa.

Gad Senyuzom, executive director of AfricaNEV, an electric vehicle promotion organization, said Chinese companies are leveraging their technological and market advantages to continuously drive development in Africa and meet local market demand.

At present, many African countries have introduced policies to support the domestic green transition, and actively build relevant infrastructure, but also for the popularization of new energy vehicles to create the conditions.For example, the Egyptian government has implemented “zero tariff” on electric vehicles to promote the sale of related products.At the same time, the number of charging stations in Egypt has grown exponentially over the years.

In addition, China is a global leader in new energy vehicles, power batteries, intelligent cockpits, in-vehicle software, industry chain completeness and manufacturing cost economics, which has attracted many local enterprises to cooperate with Chinese partners to introduce technology and promote localized production, with considerable development potential.South China Morning Post recently reported that some Kenyan enterprises have already started cooperation with the Chinese side to purchase batteries and engines and ship them back to Africa for assembly, fully combining China’s technological advantages in this field and the development opportunities brought by relevant local preferential policies.

“Electric transportation revolution!”When reporting on China’s deep penetration into the African market for electric vehicles, the U.S. media used this expression.With technological advantages and policy opportunities, China’s new energy vehicles have broad prospects and great potential for development in Africa, and will also continue to make greater contributions to local green transportation development.

This article originated from: Auto Export Pass