Chinese cars are set to continue becoming an increasingly common sight in showrooms and on Egyptian streets after the introduction of nine new models produced by Chinese auto giant Dongfeng. The automaker’s expansion in the Egyptian market is through a partnership with SN Automotive that “opens the door to a new era of quality and variety, perfectly aligned with the aspirations of the Egyptian customer,” said SN Automotive CEO Yehia A. Halim.

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)

Dongfeng has ambitions is using Egypt as its African hub: Africa Regional HQ General Manager Liao Qingli said that “We’ve chosen Egypt to be a central hub for assembly and spare parts for the entire African continent.”

Like other Chinese auto players expanding in Egypt, Dongfeng is introducing a mix of electric, hybrid, and traditional gas-powered vehicles, which they say helps appeal to a “wide range of Egyptian consumer needs.” The offerings also vary in terms of prices, with models ranging from EGP 770k all the way to EGP 6.0 mn.

One particular model caught our attention — and could significantly shake up the local EV market. Included in the list is its base Box EV model with a budget friendly price tag of just EGP 770k, likely making it one of the cheapest available EVs on the market. The comparatively high upfront costs of of new EVs has long put off lower-middle-income consumers, but the addition of the city-friendly Box EV could persuade more to go electric.

The company is planning to launch 25 sales and service locations across the country in its first year, said SN Automotive Sales and Network Development Director Tareq Mostafa Hussein

Dongfeng is no stranger to Egypt, having already sold its Aeolus E70 Pro through Misr Helwan Automotive and for years had talked about locally assembling EVs with El Nasr before the agreement fell apart in 2021.

BACKGROUND- SN Automotive? State-owned El Nasr Automotive and the privately held Al Safy Group set up the JV in November of last year to assemble global car brands locally to sell in Egypt and export to other North African nations. Al Safy — which owns a 76% stake — oversees the entire supply chain, from importing parts and securing local components to distributing cars, managing dealerships, and providing after-sales services. El Nasr — which owns the remaining 24% stake — is responsible for assembly operations.

Tags: