Chinese automakers are transforming their presence across the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye, shifting from simple vehicle exporters to strategic industrial partners that are accelerating local economic development and defining a new model of South-South cooperation grounded in shared growth and technology transfer. This integration involves establishing localized manufacturing, co-developing region-specific models, and aligning investments with national industrial agendas, positioning China as a key player in the region’s automotive future.
Across the region, Chinese vehicles are gaining massive traction, primarily for their affordability and increasingly reliable quality. Mohamed Mostafa, a 44-year-old Egyptian Uber driver and owner of a Chery Tiggo, noted that the brand’s popularity stems from meeting local financial and quality expectations.
This success is rooted in a strategic shift: Chinese firms are now moving far beyond the “Made in China” paradigm. Brian Bian, Chief Marketing Officer for ROX Motor, which serves over ten Middle Eastern countries, explained that companies are transitioning to “Intelligent Manufacturing in China,” focusing on deep integration rather than mere sales.
Tailored Designs Meet Local Demands
Affordability remains a selling point, but Chinese brands are increasingly winning customers through customization designed to meet the rigorous demands of the regional climate and consumer preferences. For instance, ROX Motor has engineered specialized cooling systems for extreme heat and developed customized smart cockpits featuring Arabic-language support and local applications. Ammar Al Jabari, a ROX dealer in Saudi Arabia, credits Chinese cars for being “clearly ahead” in areas like electrification, intelligent driving, and advanced smart cockpits.
Israeli vehicle importer Avi Kenet stated that Chinese automakers have successfully demonstrated innovation, reliability, and strong value-for-money performance over time, affirming their long-term viability in competitive markets.
Industrial Partnerships Foster Local Growth
Beyond sales, Chinese investment is catalyzing industrial transformation through local manufacturing. Initiatives such as Completely Knocked Down (CKD) plants, joint ventures, and R&D centers are creating high-value jobs and expanding regional supply chains.
In Egypt’s Giza province, a $123 million joint venture between China’s Jetour and the Kasrawy Group showcases this model. According to factory supervisors, vehicles produced there incorporate up to 40% locally manufactured components, demonstrating a commitment to local content and talent cultivation.
The impact is set to deepen in Türkiye, where BYD plans a $1 billion electric vehicle (EV) plant and R&D center, projected to create 5,000 jobs by 2026. Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir emphasized that Chinese investment will be a “key driver of transformation” for Türkiye’s automotive sector, accelerating new-energy adoption and expanding export capacity.
Other companies, such as SWM Motors, are establishing complexes aimed at increasing local content beyond 50% by 2029, allowing vehicles to qualify as “Made in Türkiye” for broader export markets.
This trend reflects a growing regional expectation. Gulf nations, in particular, are actively demanding more than surface-level trade; they seek technology transfer, industrial maturation, and cooperation to achieve their own national transformation objectives.
Chinese automakers are successfully leveraging technology, tailored products, and deep industrial cooperation to entrench themselves in emerging markets, signaling a fundamental shift in global automotive power dynamics and setting a template for mutually beneficial industrial cooperation between the Global South.