Ethiopian company, Belayab Car Assembly plc, introduced a new model vehicle assembled in Ethiopia. The company based in Adama, Ethiopia is in partnership with First Automobile Workshop a Chinese company.
The new model vehicle, named Vela, is expected to retail for 315, 000 birr with an initial promotional discount rate of 290,000 birr to 298,000 birr.
Belayab reached an agreement with the First Automobile Workshop a year before it began production on the Vela according to Solomon Habtamu Manager of Belayab.
The quality of production and transfer of technology was overseen by 15 Chinese consultants explained Solomon. The Chinese consultants have fulfilled their role and are only to be part of follow up inspections allowing the production to be completely conducted by local personnel he said.Belayab has been assembling and marketing Lufong vehicles in partnership with another Chinese Car maker, Lung Fong Nissan Group since it began operations in 2010.
Alak Simbiro Deputy Mayor of Adama pledged the support of the regional government for any initative of Belayab to locally manufacture cars.
13 vehicle and tractor assembly plants are licensed and operating in Ethiopia as of February of 2011.
Locally assembled cars have an advantage over imported second hand vehicles as there are readily available spare parts and the cars tend to be more environmentally friendly explained Fikru Hailemariam, Deputy Manager of Belayab.
Source: Addis Fortune
