Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are swiftly expanding their presence across Africa, as trade barriers in Western markets encourage them to seek new customers on the continent. African demand for electric and hybrid vehicles has risen steadily, driven by urbanisation, higher fuel prices and government incentives for greener mobility.
Major cities such as Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg and Cairo are experiencing early adoption of EVs in private, commercial and ride-hailing fleets, despite infrastructure challenges like limited charging networks. The market is further buoyed by a surge in affordable models from Chinese automakers, which blend competitive pricing with plug-in hybrid technology to meet local needs.
Analysts note that Africa’s EV market remains small compared to global sales, but growth rates are among the fastest in emerging regions. This positions the continent as a critical frontier for automakers looking to diversify beyond traditional markets.
In this context, Hong Kong-based Tiazhou Okla Automotive Co., known as Okla Global, has announced a strategic partnership with Treadway Investment Bank to accelerate its expansion across Africa. Treadway will provide corporate finance expertise, facilitate government and private sector partnerships, and help Okla navigate regulatory frameworks in key African markets.
Under the agreement, Okla plans to establish manufacturing and assembly plants in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt. These facilities will serve as regional hubs: Zimbabwe and South Africa for the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Nigeria for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Kenya for East Africa, and Egypt for North Africa.
Okla stated that this collaboration marks a significant step in its mission to become a leading player in Africa’s electric vehicle industry. Treadway’s role will be central in securing financing, navigating regulatory frameworks and leveraging government relationships to accelerate Okla’s rollout. The partnership is also expected to boost local economies by creating jobs and strengthening industrial ecosystems through localised assembly and production.
Okla’s entry comes amid rapid expansion by Chinese automakers across Africa over the past five years. Companies such as Build Your Dreams (BYD), Chery, Geely, Foton, Great Wall Motor, Haval and Sinotruk have pursued opportunities across the continent, focusing on affordable vehicles as they build local presence. Their growth has been supported by local assembly plants, accessible financing models and strong after-sales support, reshaping consumer expectations and the broader automotive market.
Simultaneously, local players are cultivating their own EV ecosystems. For example, MojaEV Kenya, a Nairobi-based EV distributor, is set to begin local assembly of electric vehicles in partnership with domestic assemblers later this year. This shift from imports to in-country assembly is seen as critical to lowering costs and meeting rising demand for sustainable transport in Kenya and neighbouring markets.
In a related development, Jiangsu Yunyi Electric Company, a high-tech Chinese manufacturer specialising in automotive electronic components, has announced plans to invest approximately R1,2-billion in a production site in Tangier, Morocco’s automotive hub. The company said the Tangier plant will serve as a key overseas production base, leveraging local resources to enhance its global competitiveness and support medium- to long-term strategic goals. Jiangsu Yunyi Electric provides innovative solutions for new energy vehicles, including voltage regulators, rectifiers, diodes, sensors and intelligent wiper systems.
Morocco is emerging as a global automotive powerhouse, attributed to its political stability, geostrategic location, economic performance and incentives for investors. The country’s automotive ecosystem employs over 222 000 skilled workers. This strategic sector has grown exponentially over the past decade, making Morocco the leader in Africa for automotive manufacturing and exports.
In 2025, Morocco’s automotive market was valued at approximately R89,82-billion and is projected to reach around R158,94-billion by 2030, according to expert forecasts. The sector is export-oriented, with 1-million cars produced in 2025. Morocco, which has increased its target to 1,5-million vehicles by 2026, produced 560 000 cars in 2024 and 250 000 in 2020.
https://bit.ly/4qM3OVc
No comments:
Post a Comment