Could Chinese EV chargers be here to stay after all?

So what’s the verdict regarding Chinese EV chargers? The Industry Ministry said that it hasn’t made any official decision regarding scraping Chinese-standard EV chargers in favor of the European CCS2 standard. While no official decision has been made, the ministry has been taking part in discussions evaluating the impact of importing EVs with differing charging standards.

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REMEMBER- A government source told EnterpriseAM last month that the Madbouly government was gearing up to restrict imports of Chinese-made EVs so that only officially licensed agents are able to get their hands on them. The move follows utilities regulator Egyptera mandating all public charging stations shift to CCS2 back in April

What changed? A government source told EnterpriseAM that talks are currently underway with major Chinese EV manufacturers to localize production in Egypt with high-quality, export-grade standards. Egyptera’s directives were not based on an official decision, instead, they were part of broader efforts to address years of disorder in vehicle imports by enforcing market regulations.

Some Chinese EV brands meet high standards: The source noted that several major Chinese EV companies already manufacture to EU specifications and export to Europe. In these cases, the Chinese protocol can be deemed compliant with Egypt’s safety and quality requirements.

Ministry statement signals openness: The Industry Ministry said in its statement that it remains open to dialogue with all companies facing regulatory challenges. The goal, the ministry said, is to formulate a balanced policy that protects local industry, ensures market stability, and safeguards consumer rights. The ministry also reaffirmed China’s status as a strategic partner for Egypt in industry and transport.

Market players welcome the shift: Ahmed Zein, head of the Clean Energy Committee at the Cairo Chambers of Commerce’s auto division, told EnterpriseAM the decision not to move forward with banning the Chinese chargers would protect some EGP 2 bn worth of Chinese EV investments in the local market — with about 10k units already sold. Zein added that there is no technical justification for excluding the Chinese or American protocols.

Chinese EVs already dominate the market: Chinese EVs now outnumber their European counterparts on Egyptian streets, Zein said, adding that this should be reflected in regulatory decisions.

Local manufacturing push calls for flexibility: Zein also urged the government to allow the Chinese charging protocol in locally-manufactured models to reduce costs.