Facing global headwinds, Chinese automakers make a play for Africa

BYD vehicles on display at a dealership in Sandton, South Africa on June 5, 2025.

Photo credit: Reuters

Chinese automakers are pushing to unlock Africa’s underdeveloped potential, with a focus on electric and hybrid vehicles, as restrictions on exports to the United States and Europe send them on a global quest for new markets.

Though home to over a billion people, low incomes and high import duties have long hampered manufacturers’ efforts to sell more cars in Africa. Unreliable power availability and a lack of charging infrastructure have meanwhile held back electric vehicles (EV) uptake.