Kayan could begin assembling SEAT in Egypt by 2020

Kayan Egypt could begin assembling SEAT cars locally by 2020, CEO Karim El Naggar tells Al Mal. The company has recently reached an agreement with the Spanish automaker and is in “serious negotiations” to see SEAT models assembled by Bavarian Auto, Arab American Vehicles Co., and Egyptian German Automotives, El Naggar said adding that he expects local assembly to drive SEAT car prices down by 25-30%. El Naggar had said last year that the decision to assemble SEAT locally depends entirely on the issuance of the Automotive Directive. The bill — which will offer incentives to encourage the local auto industry to move further up the value chain into manufacturing — has had European car makers, including Renault and Volkswagen, shopping for potential industrial opportunities in Egypt at the same time as they pressure their lobbyists to have the Egyptian government kill the bill. Kayan has, meanwhile, won distribution rights for SEAT in Libya and Sudan.