Egypt manufactures its first electric car with Chinese assistance: 445 km of range and 45% local components.
10/11/2026 19:00
Updated to
10/11/2026 19:00
Egypt has taken a significant step forward in its automotive industry with the start of production of its first fully electric sedan assembled domestically. It is the Dongfeng Mage EV, a Chinese-made SUV equipped with a 50.8 kWh battery and claiming a range of up to 445 kilometers. Production has begun at the state-owned El Nasr Automotive facility, with local component participation reaching 45%, according to Egyptian authorities. This project is part of a broader strategy aimed at producing 100,000 electric cars annually by 2032.
An electric SUV with 163 HP and a range of up to 445 kilometers
The vehicle chosen to kick off this new industrial phase is the Dongfeng Mage EV, an electric SUV that is already available in China under the name Fengshen Sky EV01.
It measures 4.67 meters in length, 1.90 meters in width, and 1.61 meters in height, with a wheelbase of 2.78 meters. Its propulsion system features a front electric motor with 120 kW of power, equivalent to 163 horsepower, and a maximum torque of 240 Nm.
It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and is equipped with a 50.8 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery. The advertised range is 445 kilometers according to the Chinese CLTC cycle, a figure that should not be confused with the European WLTP standard. As for charging, the manufacturer claims 28 minutes to restore 30% to 80% of the battery capacity using direct current.
The interior features a 10.25-inch digital dashboard, a 10.4-inch vertical central screen, and a 360-liter trunk space.
China is behind the first electric car manufactured in Egypt
Production takes place at El Nasr Automotive’s facilities in Helwan, south of Cairo. The project brings together the Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng, the local distributor SN Automotive, and the Egyptian group Safi, utilizing existing industrial infrastructure.
According to the Egyptian government, the vehicle achieves 45% local content from the start of production. However, this does not mean that all its key components, including the battery, are manufactured in Egypt.
The goal is to gradually increase domestic production of components and develop an industry capable of reducing reliance on imports. The commercial launch of the Mage EV is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, though its price in Egypt has not yet been announced.
Egypt aims to produce 100,000 electric cars per year
This launch is part of an industrial strategy that goes beyond this single model. The Egyptian government intends to achieve annual production of up to 100,000 electric vehicles by 2032, leveraging its geographical location to supply both the domestic market and other countries in Africa and the Middle East.
To encourage such investments, the country has an incentive program for the automotive industry aimed at attracting international manufacturers and increasing local content.
This project is not the first attempt at collaboration with Dongfeng either. In 2021, El Nasr considered manufacturing the electric E70 locally, but that initiative did not result in commercial production. Now, the Dongfeng Mage EV represents a more concrete step forward.
Its significance lies not only in its technical specifications but also in demonstrating that Chinese automakers’ international expansion is driving the establishment of new production facilities outside Asia and Europe.
The next challenge for Egypt will be to increase industrial capacity, develop local suppliers, and turn this initial launch into a sustainable and competitive business.