The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has signed an investment agreement with Ecofleet Solutions Ltd and Chery Holding Rwanda Ltd to establish an electric vehicle assembly plant in Rwanda, marking further progress in the country’s efforts to expand automotive manufacturing.
The agreement was signed by RDB Chief Executive Officer Jean-Guy Afrika, Ecofleet Solutions CEO Aubin Rukera and Chery Holding Rwanda Ltd CEO Mohammed Hady N. Tabriz.
According to RDB, the project is expected to contribute to the development of environmentally friendly transport, reduce carbon emissions and strengthen Rwanda’s industrial capacity.
The signing follows a Cabinet decision on September 18, 2026, approving an investment agreement between the Government of Rwanda and Chery Holding Rwanda Ltd.
Although the project has advanced through several stages of negotiations, its financial details and construction timeline have not yet been disclosed.
The latest agreement also confirms the involvement of Ecofleet Solutions Ltd, although the specific responsibilities and financial contributions of the participating companies remain unclear.
Plans to establish the facility began taking shape in April 2025, when RDB and China’s Chery Holding Group signed a memorandum of understanding to explore investment opportunities in Rwanda.
Further discussions took place in April 2026, when President Paul Kagame met Xu Hui, Vice President of Chery Holding Group and Chief Executive Officer of Rich Resource International Investment.
Their discussions focused on potential investments in Rwanda, including the establishment of a facility to assemble electric vehicles.
The planned factory would support Rwanda’s efforts to expand local manufacturing while encouraging the adoption of cleaner transport technologies.
Local vehicle assembly could also create opportunities for technical employment, specialised training and businesses providing automotive components and related services.
For Chery, the proposed investment would expand its presence in Rwanda beyond vehicle sales, introducing local assembly operations.
Founded in 1997, Chery is headquartered in Wuhu, Anhui Province, China, and has expanded its vehicle manufacturing and export operations into international markets.
The company produces several automotive brands, including Chery, Jetour, Exeed and iCar, which is marketed as iCaur in Rwanda and certain other international markets.
Its range includes petrol-powered vehicles, hybrid models and fully electric cars.
The proposed facility would align with Rwanda’s broader efforts to attract manufacturing investment and promote cleaner transport options.
However, RDB has not announced the project’s total investment value, the proposed factory’s location, its expected annual production capacity or the specific vehicle models that would be assembled.
Details concerning the number of jobs the facility could generate have also not been provided.
The timeline for beginning construction and commencing vehicle assembly operations remains undisclosed.
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