Chinese electric car makers shift to Africa as Western markets closeCEFR B2
22 Oct 2025
Adapted from Jean Sovon, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Michael Myers, Unsplash
Chinese electric vehicle makers moved abroad after an oversaturated domestic market and fierce price competition made profits harder to sustain. Beijing encouraged overseas expansion, combining innovation with low prices for green products. That strategy met success until tariffs and trade controls in the United States and Europe restricted access to those markets.
In September 2024 President Joe Biden imposed 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EVs, and in June 2025 President Donald Trump raised them to 154 percent. The European Union began investigations into subsidies and put trade barriers in place in October 2024. Faced with this resistance, many Chinese EV firms have shifted their attention to the Global South, with Africa as a key focus.
Moves on the ground show the shift. BYD plans to nearly triple its dealership network in South Africa by 2026. Chery is expanding in South Africa and Kenya, targeting middle-class buyers. Gotion High Tech is building what is described as Africa’s first EV gigafactory in Kenitra, Morocco, with an opening set for June 2026. Morocco already exports an estimated 80–90 percent of its vehicle output to Europe and plans for as much as 60 percent of exported cars to be electric by 2030. China sees Morocco as strategic to keep Western market access and to expand influence across Africa.
Governments in Africa are not passive: WowAfrica divides countries into established producers, like South Africa, Morocco and Egypt, and newcomers, like Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, that aim to leapfrog into cleaner manufacturing. Kenya has used tax incentives, fast-charging rollout and state support, and Nairobi launched electric buses; Roam Motors received financing from the US DFC and GIZ works with the Kenyan government. Uganda introduced a National Electric Mobility Policy in 2018 with VAT and duty exemptions, and aims for full electrification of public transport by 2030 and passenger vehicles by 2040.
Analysts warn of real risks: Africa could remain on the lower rungs of the EV value chain, focused on assembly rather than advanced manufacturing, and the gains could be uneven. Reports note concerns about Chinese-controlled networks, sovereignty, and the environmental and social costs of mineral extraction. Advocates call for stronger governance and local inclusion to ensure the green transition delivers fair jobs and sustainable development.
Difficult words
- oversaturated — having more supply than demand
- fierce — very strong or intense competition
- tariff — tax charged on imported goodstariffs
- subsidy — money government gives to support industrysubsidies
- gigafactory — very large factory that makes batteries
- export — sell goods to other countriesexports
- electrification — process of using electric power instead of fossil fuels
- sovereignty — country's right to control its own affairs
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What benefits and challenges might African countries face by hosting Chinese EV factories such as gigafactories? Give reasons and examples from the article.
- What policies could African governments use to move beyond assembly and build higher-value EV manufacturing jobs?
- How can countries balance attracting foreign investment in EVs with concerns about sovereignty and environmental costs?
