Chinese automotive group Chery Holding is set to establish an electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant in Rwanda after the Cabinet approved a strategic investment agreement between the Government of Rwanda and Chery Holding Rwanda Ltd. The agreement was approved during a Cabinet meeting on Friday, September 18. ALSO READ: Rwanda inks deal with Chinese automotive and tech group The decision moves forward plans that have been under discussion between Rwanda and the Chinese company since 2025. The proposed EV assembly plant was discussed in April 2026, when President Paul Kagame met with Xu Hui, chairman of Rich Resource International Investments and vice president and board secretary of Chery Holding, at Village Urugwiro. Their discussions included potential investment opportunities and the possible establishment of an EV assembly plant in Rwanda. In April 2025, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Chery Holding Group had signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering cooperation in electric mobility, green energy, agriculture and mining. Chery's popular brands include hybrids and fully electric cars, such as Tiggo, an SUV series, Arrizo, a sedan series. Chery Holding was established in 1997 and is a Chinese business group centred on the automotive industry. Its subsidiary, Chery Automobile, has developed electric and other new-energy vehicles. ALSO READ: A retrospective look into Rwanda-China relations The latest Cabinet decision formally approves a Strategic Investment Agreement between the Government and Chery Holding Rwanda Ltd for its establishment. The Cabinet resolutions published by the Office of the Prime Minister did not provide details on the value of the investment, the plant's location, production capacity, construction start date or expected completion date. Rwanda has been promoting electric mobility as part of efforts to reduce emissions from the transport sector. In April 2026, the Ministry of Infrastructure directed public institutions to ensure that at least 30 per cent of vehicles they procure are fully electric. Rwanda Development Board has also identified electric-car assembly among potential manufacturing investment opportunities, alongside electric trucks, motorcycles and scooters. Its investment material lists an indicative investment value of $39.25 million and 2,000 direct jobs for an electric-car assembly project, but it does not establish that these figures apply to Chery's project. Chery's investment would add to Rwanda's growing electric mobility sector, which includes electric motorcycle companies and supporting charging and battery-swapping infrastructure. The company has also established a presence in Rwanda's intellectual-property records. An April 2026 Official Gazette entry lists Chery New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd as the applicant for trademarks covering electric vehicles and related products and services. Cabinet also approved a supplemental concession agreement between the Government of Rwanda and DP World Logistics Ltd for Phase II of the Kigali Logistics Platform and the expansion of the cold-storage facility at the New Rubavu Logistics Hub.
