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RDB signs agreement for a Chery electric vehicle assembly plant in Rwanda

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A bright factory hall with a stainless-steel production line and stacked boxes Investments
A bright factory hall with a stainless-steel production line and stacked boxes

The deal with Ecofleet Solutions and Chery Holding Rwanda follows Cabinet approval on 18 September and includes an offtake agreement for 300 electric buses.

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) signed a strategic investment agreement with Ecofleet Solutions Ltd and Chery Holding Rwanda Ltd on 30 October 2026 to establish an electric vehicle assembly plant in Rwanda, The New Times reported, as carried by UG Diplomat.

The agreement was signed by RDB chief executive Jean-Guy Afrika, Ecofleet Solutions chief executive Aubin Rukera and Chery Holding Rwanda chief executive Mohammed Hady N. Tabriz. MarkLines reported that Ecofleet Solutions also signed an offtake agreement with Chery Holding Rwanda for 300 electric buses.

The Cabinet approved the strategic investment agreement between the Government of Rwanda and Chery Holding Rwanda for the assembly plant at its meeting on 18 September 2026. The project was first discussed in April 2026, when President Paul Kagame met Xu Hui, vice president and board secretary of Chery Holding.

Chery Holding is a Chinese automotive group founded in 1997 whose brands include Tiggo sport utility vehicles and Arrizo sedans, alongside hybrid and electric models. RDB said the project supports Rwanda's plans to cut transport emissions and build domestic manufacturing capacity.

Investment, capacity and start dates for the plant have not been published. For parts suppliers, charging and fleet businesses, the bus offtake points to demand for local assembly, maintenance and charging services.

Sources