🏭 Egypt is no longer just a consumer market for vehicles — it is gradually transforming into a regional manufacturing hub. This shift is driven by global supply chain realignments, evolving investor strategies, and government policies to deepen local manufacturing, according to a BMI Research report. The transition is bolstered by accelerating industrial localization, an expanding production base, and renewed interest from global and regional players.

Industrial localization anchors this investment wave, with interest expanding beyond passenger cars to include local components, commercial vehicles, and buses. The National Automotive Industry Development Program (AIDP) is the primary driver, tying incentives to manufacturing depth and export volume. This framework may allow 60-80% cost recovery upon meeting targets, Egyptian Automobile Manufacturers Association Secretary-General Khaled Saad tells EnterpriseAM.

The government’s decision to reverse restrictions on spare-part imports for agents in Port Said has eased cost pressures and boosted competition. The state has allocated EGP 1.5 bn to support localization, with seven companies joining the national program to date.

Domestic demand is recovering: Egypt’s automotive sales climbed 69.9% y-o-y in 2025, reaching some 173.8k vehicles — including a 53.6% jump in bus sales, a 64.4% increase in passenger car sales, and a hefty 108.4% increase in truck sales — according to data from the Automotive Marketing Information Council. This coincides with plans to raise local component integration to 60%, in line with AIDP targets.

Where Egypt stands in the region: While some regional markets still rely on assembly or imports, BMI believes Egypt benefits from its large market size, industrial labor, and a scalable local supplier base, affording it an advantage in the medium- to long-term. By contrast, other regional players such as Morocco continue to attract investments directed toward European exports, while Gulf nations focus on advanced technologies and EVs.

Egypt finds itself in a unique position as a comprehensive manufacturing market serving both local and regional demand. Chinese expansion further solidifies the country’s role as a production and re-export hub for Africa and the Middle East, Saad tells us.

On EVs: Despite a slight delay compared to our neighbors across the region, we are now in the foundation phase for EVs. The Industry Ministry discussed with Bulgaria’s Sin Cars the manufacturing of EVs in partnership with a local entity — potentially El Nasr Automotive — including the establishment of an R&D and technology transfer center. The state is also focused on partnering with existing manufacturers to reduce time to market and achieve price competitiveness for both traditional and electric locally assembled models.

The Chinese wave: While traditional players like Nissan and Geely are strengthening their presence, Chinese companies are leading the new wave of deep manufacturing and EVs:

  • Guide Automotive Technology signed a USD 63.9 mn agreement in the Suez Canal Economic Zone to manufacture EVs, batteries, and technical components;
  • Jinbei began local assembly at the Ezz El Arab El Sewedy factory with an initial capacity of 3k light trucks and future plans for EVs;
  • Al Amal Group is investing USD 20 mn to assemble three Forthing models, including an EV model, by late 2026, with an export rate target of 30-50%;
  • Kaiyi signed a local assembly agreement to leverage Egypt as a gateway to European and African markets under freetrade agreements.

Nissan is wagering on Egypt: Following the sale of Nissan’s factory in South Africa, its plant in Egypt has become its only passenger vehicle manufacturing base on the continent. Nissan has poured USD 55.9 mn to date and is accelerating localization in Egypt, targeting returns exceeding USD 120 mn by end-2026.

There’s growing interest from Europe. Italy’s Piaggio chose Abou Ghaly Motors as its official representative in Egypt and is looking to localize some models. The move reflects European manufacturers’ growing interest in Egyptian localization.

What we’ll be watching: The Egyptian model faces a true test with the activation of the African Continental Freetrade Area and the ability of battery projects — like Guide’s — to elevate the industry’s technical standards. The primary challenge remains deepening local value chains and attracting more component suppliers to build a fully integrated industrial ecosystem.

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