Minister of Military Production Mohamed Al-Assar discussed with Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Sharawi the updates of the government’s plan to localise electric buses manufacture, a Monday ministerial statement said.
Ministry of Military Production has agreed, last year, with China’s Foton Motor to jointly manufacture e-buses in Egypt using the latest technologies in the field.
Egypt aims to be a regional centre for electric vehicle (EV) industry, Al-Assar said, adding that this type of vehicles will spread in the local market and the country will also export to Arab and African countries.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has directed the government to take steps towards localising EV manufacture, given its importance in the world automotive industry future, Al-Assar said.
He continued that promoting the use of EV is a rational measure to improve the atmosphere and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels which also saves the state foreign exchange needed to import petroleum products, not to mention its low operation and maintenance costs.
For his part, Minister Sharawi said EV localisation was part of the government’ plan that aims to rehabilitate public transportation in Cairo and Alexandria, ease traffic congestion in major cities, and provide better services to citizens.
EV manufacturing comes in line with the country’s plan to expand in establishing smart cities, including the New Administrative Capital, which requires introducing eco-friendly vehicles in these cities, Sharawi noted.
The meeting was also attended by Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel Aal and Alexandria Governor Mohamed El-Sherif.
