Chinese automaker partners with Kenyan firm to build EV assembly plant


NAIROBI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese vehicle firm Chery on Saturday signed a partnership deal with Kenyan firm Afrigreen Automobile to build an assembly plant to produce electric vehicles (EVs) in the East African country.

The event attracted a high-level delegation from east China's Anhui Province as well as senior Kenyan government officials.

Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, principal secretary in the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, said the cooperation is expected to boost the uptake of EVs in the country by making them more affordable and accessible.

"The assembly plant will help the transport sector to become greener as we currently have about 4,000 e-vehicles against a population of about 1.7 million cars on the roads," Hassan said.

He added that a 20-million-U.S.-dollar investment is expected to create about 3,000 direct and indirect jobs in the country.

Hai Wei, director of Chery International Central Africa Region, said Kenya was selected for the establishment of the assembly plant because of its skilled workforce and position as an economic hub in Africa.

Hai added that Chery has 26 years of innovative research that can help produce cars suited for the local market.

Shan Xiangqian, vice-governor of Anhui Province, said the cooperation between the two firms will help enhance Kenya's image as a center for e-mobility.

Shan revealed that Chery's entry into the Kenyan market is a result of the cordial and long-standing relations between the two countries.

Nishant Mishra, global head of Future Mobility of Afrigreen Automobile, said the assembly plant should be operational in the next one month with a capacity to produce between 5000 and 6000 EVs annually.

Mishra added that they will begin production of the Omoda sport utility model because it is suited for both urban and rural terrain and branch out to pickups next year.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

4 dead, 10 missing as minibus plunges into canal in Egypt's Asyut
Libya approves national strategy to achieve food self-sufficiency
Trump vows to pardon Jan. 6 defendants on Day One
Factbox-Syrian rebel supporters hoist flags at embassies abroad
Syria's Assad is in Moscow after deal on military bases, says Russian state media
US to work with partners in Syria to manage risk after Assad toppled, Biden says
Syria's Assad and his family are in Moscow after Russia granted them asylum, say Russian news agencies
Ukraine says Assad's fall underscores Russian weakness
Assad loyalists shaken by his fall, some relieved by lack of violence
Global climate financing conference opens in south China

Others Also Read