Chinese EVs in MENA

I wasn’t planning to post about EVs today but it’s come up several times today and the topic popped up in several outlets as I was going through the news. Then over lunch this afternoon, two colleagues said they’re in the market for a new car

, and they were much more conversant on Chinese makes, brands and their various deals than I would have expected. One’s looking to replace his Range Rover and his mechanic recommended the Jetour as a better option. Different times….

How China won over the car market in the UAE - Arabian Gulf Business Insight.

This article from AGBI links the surge to a lack of inventory from other car companies during COVID, which is plausible, but we were talking about the rising tide of Chinese auto exports to MENA in 2019. In any case, it’s a much bigger story than folks outside the region recognize. My Emirati students love their Nissan Patrols for desert driving but some told me last semester that they were spending over 3000aed ($820) a month for gas, and were looking at EVs as a way to get around.