To fortify their presence in North Africa, Geely, Chery, and JAC have announced plans to establish car manufacturing facilities in Algeria. This was revealed by Li Jian, the Chinese Ambassador to Algeria. The move is a strategic response to Algeria’s import restrictions, which were implemented in 2023 to bolster the domestic automotive industry.
Algeria’s economy has been on a decline for several consecutive years, prompting local authorities to adopt measures aimed at revitalizing the industry. By restricting automobile imports, the Algerian government hoped to incentivize car companies to set up manufacturing plants within the country. The strategy seems to be bearing fruit, as confirmed by the Chinese Ambassador, with three automakers now poised to assemble cars in North Africa.
According to an interview with Li Jian, the three Chinese automakers — Geely, Chery, and JAC — will soon establish car manufacturing operations in Algeria. It is noteworthy that JAC already has a light truck KD plant in the country. In contrast, Geely and Chery do not have any industrial footprint in North Africa yet.
While details about JAC’s upcoming manufacturing facility in Algeria remain scarce, Chery officials shared in November 2023 that they intend to build a plant in Bordj Bou Arreridji. This facility will initially have a production capacity of 24,000 units per year, which is expected to increase to 100,000 vehicles per year within the next three years. The factory will also serve as an export hub for other North African countries.
Geely’s plans in Algeria were unveiled by its local partner, Sovidem. The company’s General Manager reported that the Chinese automaker intends to invest $200 million to construct an automotive assembly plant in the country. The plant is expected to have an initial production capacity of 50,000 units per year and will commence operations in 2026. The first model to be produced at the Geely Algeria plant will be the GX3 Pro, a small crossover that was launched in China in 2017 under the joint Livan (Ruilan) brand of Geely and Lifan. The GX3 Pro, which measures 4005/1760/1575 mm, is powered by a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine paired with a CVT, and is sold in various regions including Latin America, Central Asia, and Africa.
