This is a free preview of the upcoming Africa EVs Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service.
The United States will end South Africa’s duty-free market access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act in January 2027, in a move set to accelerate Pretoria’s economic realignment toward Beijing.
South Africa’s efforts to diversify export markets while safeguarding its domestic manufacturing base are drawing the country deeper into China’s industrial orbit.
Yet this shift brings a clear paradox: while Chinese capital and electric vehicle (EV) technology promise to modernize local production, an influx of low-cost Chinese imports risks undercutting domestic automakers and local employment.
South Africa illustrates the broader opportunities and tensions accompanying China’s automotive expansion across the Global South.
The competitiveness of Chinese cars threatens countries’ prospects of capturing value from automotive supply chains. The novelty of Chinese brands also means that the post-sales ecosystem is not yet fully developed. For instance, recent safety recalls involving more than 20,000 Chery and Omoda vehicles underscore growing demands for quality control and consumer protections as Chinese brands become household names.
At the same time, Chinese automakers are moving beyond simple vehicle exports to establish local manufacturing roots. Chery itself has taken over Nissan’s former Rosslyn factory as an assembly hub, expanding local jobs and supporting South Africa’s goals of capturing local manufacturing value.
Beyond South Africa, Beijing’s automotive footprint is altering the landscape of African transport. Chinese manufacturers are reshaping mobility by focusing on practical, low-cost solutions rather than luxury electric passenger cars.
In Kenya, Chinese brands have doubled their market share in under a year, driven largely by commercial trucks designed to lower fuel and logistics costs for local businesses.
Across the continent, African governments are leveraging Chinese automotive partnerships to advance distinct national strategies:
These developments point to an evolving relationship between African mobility ambitions and Chinese industrial economic priorities. African mobility solution innovators and consumers are increasingly adopting local assembly using Chinese technology. This pathway reduces reliance on imported fuel and creates industrial jobs.
Chinese automakers benefit from expanding their markets as Global South countries increasingly adopt Chinese EV tech for their mobility.
What remains to be seen now is whether these innovations can leverage China’s expanding presence to build lasting domestic industrial capacity (such as local engineering expertise, component manufacturing, and resilient supply chains) or whether the continent will simply transition from a consumer of Western vehicles to a captive market for Chinese technology.
China’s FAW Bestune has commenced mass production of the JOYEE N01 EV at its Yancheng production facility in China, with the first batch securing over 2,000 overseas orders, including 500 vehicles delivered to African customers. The JOYEE N01 is an updated version of the BESTUNE XIAOMA, whose battery is supplied by the world’s largest battery maker, CATL.
While the 500-unit delivery signals a substantial export commitment to Africa, the announcement did not name the destination countries or confirm any elements of local assembly.
Why This Matters: Small vehicles like the JOYEE No1 are becoming popular for use in ride-hailing in new markets, buoyed by drivers’ desire for alternatives to expensive fuel. FAW is a visible brand in various African markets, especially in the heavy moving machinery sector, which could become an advantage in selling the JOYEE N01.
Chinese heavy-truck manufacturer Sinotruk has announced plans to export approximately 110,000 heavy vehicles to Africa in 2026, out of a projected global export total of 220,000 vehicles. The company made the announcement at the inaugural Sinotruk West Africa Transport Ecosystem Conference in Abidjan.
The company highlighted its integration of financing, after-sales services, and driver and technician training alongside vehicle imports. Sinotruk’s West African partner, Yeshi Group, is developing Sinotruk operations in Morocco, Senegal, Cameroon, Gabon, and Congo.
Why This Matters: The scale of projected exports reinforces China’s position in African heavy commercial vehicles and its multi-pronged approach to selling vehicles in Africa, including ICE, hybrids, and EVs. By offering a comprehensive approach to vehicle ownership, the company could be moving towards making vehicles attractive to the masses who may not be financially ready to make an outright purchase.
China’s BYD has surpassed 5,000 fully electric vehicle sales in Argentina, just over a year after establishing direct operations, with the Yuan Pro EV marking the milestone. The automaker has expanded to more than 20 official dealerships and 13 certified service centers, while building a customer base exceeding 13,000 across its electric and plug-in hybrid models
Why This Matters: Argentina’s experience highlights how Chinese EV brands are building market presence through dealership expansion, certified maintenance networks, and a broader vehicle lineup—addressing concerns about servicing and consumer confidence beyond vehicle availability. For African markets and others in the Global South, the growth…
