Borkena
Toronto – BYD, the leading Chinese Electric Vehicle Maker, announced Thursday that it has entered the Ethiopian Market.
According to a FBC, state owned media outlet, a brand launch event was organized in Addis Ababa in partnership with Moenco subsidiary to Inchcape PLC , a London-based company specializing in global distribution & retail services for premium and luxury automotive sectors.
“BYD has officially entered the Ethiopian market in partnership with Moenco, an Inchcape company, to provide a comprehensive sales network and extensive after sales service for consumers,” the company said in a social media update shared Tuesday.
It is introducing five electric car models to the market in the Horn of African country. It is offering vehicles “ranging from the compact BYD SEAGUALL to the spacious performance SUV, the BYD TANG,” as disclosed on the social media page of the company.
It has launched a showroom in the capital Addis Ababa in Bole Sub City.
FBC quoted Yao Shu, BYD’s Sales Director for Africa and the Middle East, as saying “Our entry into the Ethiopian market signifies a pivotal step in BYD’s expansion in East Africa. Ethiopia’s vision for electrification resonates with BYD’s objectives. We are confident in propelling electric mobility forward in Ethiopia.”
Early this year, Ethiopia announced legislation banning the importation of vehicles except for electric cars – which was introduced as part of “Ethiopia’s Logistics Master Plan” when the Minister for Transport, Alemu Sime, presented a report to the Ethiopian parliament.
In what appears to be a move to implement the policy the Ethiopian government invited Chinese Electric Vehicle Manufacturers to explore opportunities to assemble and produce electric cars in the country. The invitation was made in March 2024, as reported by Chinese News Source – Xinhua.
There was widespread criticism when the Ethiopian government announced a ban on importing non-electric vehicles. The concern was, among other things, that there is no adequate infrastructure for the operation of electric cars in Ethiopia.
The country still faces challenges related to electricity distribution. Intermittent power outages are common. Over 60 percent of the population does not have access to electricity.
Despite the grim economic realities of the majority of Ethiopians who are struggling with the rising cost of living with meager or no regular income, the entry of the Chinese electric car manufacturer offers an opportunity for those who can afford to buy a car.
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What happened the electric cars supposedly being made in Eritrea? Why to go thousands of miles away to China and they are being made right next door? I don’t get it.
I heard the electric vehicles made in Eritrea go 1,256 miles on a single charge and it takes only 15 minutes to fully recharge.