Chinese news about climbing to Africa : BYD plans to build a network of 300 electric vehicle charging stations in South Africa

¬ BYD plans to install 200-300 electric vehicle charging stations in South Africa by 2026

¬ Fast charging stations powered by solar energy and other sources provide power in areas far from the grid

¬ This move marks BYD's strong entry into Africa's largest automotive market

According to a report by technology media TechCentral on Thursday, citing Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD, the Chinese automaker plans to install 200 to 300 fast charging stations in South Africa by the end of 2026.

The investment cost has not been disclosed, but the charging stations will be powered by the national grid, or by solar photovoltaic systems in off-grid areas. These charging stations will allow users to charge their vehicles in as little as five minutes with a range of up to 400 kilometers.

With increasing competition, this statement by BYD marks its active entry into Africa's largest automotive market. As a major global competitor of Tesla, BYD faces established international competitors such as Volkswagen, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as about 15 Chinese competitors including BAIC, Great Wall Motor, and Chery. Chery announced plans to establish a production base in South Africa in July, and its monthly sales in South Africa are currently approaching 3,000 units.

Although Li pointed out that the construction of BYD's dealership network in South Africa is still in its early stages, the company has viewed South Africa as a strategic starting point for its expansion in Africa.

"This is the largest automotive market on the entire African continent, [so] we need to focus here," Li said. "Once we get started here, we can replicate this story in other African countries."

In September 2025, BYD South Africa Automobile Company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Eskom, the state-owned power company in South Africa, to promote electric vehicles. The company recently launched a new electric vehicle, claiming it is the most affordable model in the South African market.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846938239159296/

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