Build Your Dreams (BYD), the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has revealed its expansion into Rwanda, marking its entry into another East African nation two years after venturing into Kenya. This strategic move by the company resonates with Rwanda‘s commitment to sustainable development, offering BYD a platform to introduce its electric models into the African market.
BYD stands out as China’s top-selling automaker and brand, with December 2023 witnessing a remarkable 45% surge in sales, totaling 3,024,417 vehicles for the year, reflecting a substantial 61.9% increase from the previous year.
In East Africa, BasiGo, a pioneering electric transit service, has integrated BYD buses into its fleet. BasiGo expanded its operations into Rwanda in July 2023 to address the country‘s fleet shortage.
Furthermore, Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA), an automobile company, disclosed plans in March 2023 to assemble 130 electric vehicles in Kenya sourced from BYD, signaling BYD’s growing presence in the region.
In January of the same year, BasiGo partnered with AVA to commence bus assembly operations in Mombasa, Kenya‘s coastal city, enhancing local manufacturing capabilities.
BYD’s footprint extended to South Africa in July 2023 with the introduction of the Standard Range and Extended Range variants of its Atto 3 model. The company initially penetrated Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces and later expanded its reach to the Northern Cape by November.
This expansion into Rwanda underscores BYD’s commitment to leveraging emerging markets in Africa, tapping into the continent’s growing interest in sustainable transportation solutions. As BYD continues to forge partnerships and expand its product offerings across the region, it aims to play a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s electric vehicle landscape while fostering economic and environmental sustainability.
Source: Techpoint