In UAE, Chinese carmakers are gunning for market share as BYD, Exeed, Geely sign dealers

In UAE, Chinese carmakers are gunning for market share as BYD, Exeed, Geely sign dealers

Dubai; The full weight of Chinese car brands will be felt in the UAE market this year, with three leading manufacturers confirming their dealerships in recent days. If the , then the SUV-focused Exeed aligned with Al Ghurair Investment, and there is Geely who has partnered AGMC, the Dubai and Northern Emirates dealership for BMW, Rolls-Royce Motors and the MINI. And then, just recently, there was the Saudi dealer who launched the premium Chinese make Hongqi with a showroom in Abu Dhabi. They will look to build on gains already made by the likes of MG Motors (the British brand that has China’s SAIC Motor as the owner) and Changan, whose SUVs are proving quite popular. “Chinese-made new car sales in the UAE made up about 4-5 per cent of the overall in 2022,” said the CEO of one of the biggest dealerships in the YAE. “They have now a good base and network to build on, especially if car buyers in the UAE turn to more affordable EVs and hybrids.” Aggressive on pricing, the Chinese car makes and their dealerships will be. Hongqi sales, for instance, will be backed by 7-year warranties. “Chinese models are no longer about pricing