BYD, the pioneering Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer known as Build Your Dreams, is making a significant leap into the African market by establishing a presence in Zambia. This move is made possible through a strategic alliance with Pilatus Electric Mobility Zambia Limited (PEM). The doors of the new BYD Zambia showroom are set to open on September 5, 2024, signaling a new era of electric mobility in the region.
The company is poised to introduce three of its esteemed models to the Zambian market. The lineup includes the Dolphin, a stylish sedan that promises a range of 420 km, perfect for city commuting and long-distance travel. The ATTO 3, an SUV that combines space and comfort with the same 420 km range, caters to families and adventure-seekers alike. Completing the trio is the SEAL, a model that extends the boundaries of travel with a remarkable 570 km range, ensuring an uninterrupted journey.
In preparation for the showroom’s inauguration, BYD has been proactively training a local team to deliver exceptional customer service. This team will be instrumental in assisting customers with their post-purchase needs, ensuring a smooth and satisfying ownership experience.
BYD’s expansion into Zambia is backed by its impressive track record as China’s best-selling automaker and brand. The company celebrated a 45% increase in sales in December 2023, which contributed to an annual total of 3,024,417 vehicles, marking a significant growth of 61.9% from the previous year. The company’s growth trajectory continued with a record-breaking 373,083 New Energy Vehicles sold in August 2024 alone.
Zambia is not the first African nation to welcome BYD. The company previously announced its expansion into Rwanda in January 2024, which followed its successful entry into the Kenyan market two years prior. Additionally, BYD made its debut in the South African market in July 2023, where it introduced the Standard Range and Extended Range variants of the ATTO 3 model, further demonstrating its commitment to driving the EV revolution across the continent.
Complementing its market expansion in Africa, BYD has been forging strategic partnerships with local electric vehicle (EV) companies to bolster the region’s EV ecosystem. Among these collaborations are significant partnerships with BasiGo and Ampersand, two prominent players in the African EV landscape.
BasiGo, an innovative EV company operating within Africa, has integrated BYD buses into its fleet, demonstrating the versatility and reliability of BYD’s electric bus technology. In a significant development for local manufacturing, Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA), a prominent automobile assembly company, announced in March 2023 its plans to assemble 130 electric vehicles in Kenya using BYD’s technology.
Furthering its commitment to sustainable transportation, BYD joined forces with Ampersand, a Kigali-based EV company, in June 2024. This partnership aims to revolutionize the electric motorbike market, with Ampersand set to purchase batteries from BYD. This collaboration is expected to yield around 40,000 electric motorcycles by the end of 2026, marking a substantial contribution to the clean mobility movement in the region.
Reflecting on BYD’s venture into the Zambian market, Tue Nyboe Andersen, Executive Director of BYD, shared his personal narrative behind the expansion.
The endeavor to introduce BYD to Zambia commenced four years ago, inspired by my wife Angelika and bolstered by the support of my father-in-law, Joe Huwiler, from Pilatus. Together, we established PEM, Pilatus Electric Mobility Zambia Limited, as the electric mobility branch of Pilatus Engineering. Witnessing the arrival of the first BYD vehicle in Zambia was an exhilarating milestone that has only intensified my enthusiasm and resolve to propel BYD’s vision forward in this dynamic country.
