CFAO Mobility Rwanda inaugurated the inaugural BYD (Build Your Dreams) dealership in Eastern Africa on Thursday, January 25. The launch saw the presence of officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Rwanda Development Board, NGOs, and personnel from various public and private institutions.
BYD Auto, the automotive subsidiary of BYD Company, a publicly listed Chinese multinational manufacturing company, specialises in manufacturing passenger battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), collectively known as new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China. They also produce battery electric buses and trucks.
ALSO READ: CFAO Motors Rwanda launches the Volkswagen Virtus sedan
The BYD Atto 3 SUV was launched at the event. The company will launch two new models, namely, Dolphin and Dolphin Mini, in the near future. A pioneer in the spreading of electric solutions in the African continent, CFAO Mobility Rwanda will offer a whole ecosystem of services: set-up of charging stations, solar panels to produce electricity, maintenance, assistance and spare parts sale.
At the launch, Srinivas Cheruvu, the Chief Operating Officer of CFAO Mobility in Rwanda, said: "We are proud to be the first in Rwanda to sell those electric vehicles as well as all the associated services.
"We imagined this Kigali dealership as a welcoming place dedicated to discovering the BYD models, which combine modernity, comfort and cost savings. It makes a lot of sense for CFAO Mobility to take part in this green energy transition in Rwanda, and to offer a quality solution to our customers who are willing to go electric."
ALSO READ: Globalising Kigali, one international brand at a time
Fidele Abimana said, "Before BYD came to Rwanda, they appreciated the development we have in terms of infrastructure. Such beautiful cars should be driven on clean and very nice roads. However, we need to note that transportation has always been linked with harmful emissions and greenhouse gases, leading to poor air quality, health issues, and climate change consequences.”
"Environmental protection is crucial, and the government has in place policies. CFAO Mobility and BYD chose Rwanda to bring electric vehicles to our market because of policies that promote e-mobility. To mention a few, there’s an industrial tariff for electricity for all e-mobility initiatives infrastructure. We&039;ve alleviated import taxes, excise duties, and VAT, and the e-vehicles related infrastructure are VAT zero products,” Abimana said.
ALSO READ: Rwanda set to use locally assembled Volkswagen electric tractors
The car manufacturer first specialised in conception and manufacture of batteries and diversified into the automotive industry in 2003. In less than 20 years, BYD has become a reference player for electric vehicles. During the last 2023 quarter, the BYD brand became the first electric vehicle manufacturer globally.
Shu Remy Yao, Africa Regional Sales Director at BYD, said: "All BYD vehicles available in Rwanda will be fully electric. The BYD Atto 3 SUV we have now featured the advanced e 3.0 platform, a dedicated futuristic platform for EVs.
"Our vehicles also possess some high-end interesting features like voice command, 360 degrees panoramic camera, USB ports, smart Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) options, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, among others.”
According to CFAO Mobility, the vehicles and their batteries are crafted to withstand the diverse driving conditions in Rwanda, including heat, dust, and rain.
Regarding the average battery life of the vehicles on offer, Yao said, "The longevity of BYD vehicle batteries is well known and supported by an eight-year manufacturer warranty. Some BYD vehicles in China have already surpassed 1 million kilometres with their original batteries.”
ALSO READ: Volkswagen’s T-Cross SUV edition unveiled in Rwanda
"BYD vehicles are also backed by a 6-year/150,000-kilometer warranty, while the powertrain and battery benefit from an extended 8-year/150,000-kilometer warranty. CFAO technicians were thoroughly trained by BYD and are equipped with the necessary spare parts, tools, and technologies to provide comprehensive maintenance for BYD models.”
Marc Hirschfeld, the CEO of CFAO Mobility, added: "BYD is a giant in electric vehicles, with an innovation expertise that matches the expectations of our markets in Africa.
"It is a whole new ecosystem that needs to be built around mobility in the cities of Africa. It is a reality both for private or corporate customers, but also for public transportation networks, or administrations for instance."
About CFAO Mobility
As the largest vehicle retail network in Africa, CFAO Mobility caters to all mobility-related sectors through a diverse range of brands.
Partnering with global automotive manufacturers, CFAO Mobility offers services such as sales of new and used vehicles, short or long-term rentals, fleet management, and maintenance, among others.
Their comprehensive automotive offering covers two-wheelers, marine engines, coaches, lorries, handling equipment, tires, and spare parts. With production and assembly sites in Africa, CFAO Mobility actively contributes to industrialization in the region, creating an affordable offer to accelerate the development of new mobility solutions on the continent.
For more information, visit: https://www.cfaogroup.com