On June 15, China West Africa Eco-Drive New Energy Vehicle (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. (“West Africa Eco-Drive”), Ghana’s Ministry of Trade, Agriculture and Industry, and Shenzhen Gecko New Energy Vehicle Technology Co., Ltd. (“Gecko”) signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Investment in Ghana’s New Energy Vehicle Assembly Plant in Shenzhen, China.

This agreement advances Ghana’s NEV industry development while supporting Chinese enterprises in expanding their African market presence.

As the first investment cooperation project by a Chinese NEV enterprise in Ghana, this initiative marks a new phase in China-Africa green industrial capacity cooperation.

Attendees at the signing ceremony included: Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, Agriculture and Industry, Ghana; Wang Qian, Chairman of West Africa Eco-Drive; Li Chunhui, CEO of West Africa Eco-Drive, and Peng Jinzhou, CEO of Gecko.

Practising the Belt and Road Initiative – Building an Exemplary Model of China-Africa Cooperation

With the deepening implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, China-Africa economic and trade cooperation continues to strengthen.

As a key enterprise of the national BRI, West Africa Eco-Drive remains committed to promoting cooperation in the field of green transportation between China and Africa.

Through its wholly-owned Ghanaian subsidiary FUTURE CAR LTD., the company has established integrated facilities for sales, maintenance, and leasing in collaboration with leading Chinese industrial partners including Alibaba, Tmall Auto Service, Dongfeng Motor, Geely Auto, Gecko, DST, and DiDi, which facilitates the export, operation, and servicing of China-manufactured pre-owned NEVs by established comprehensive end-to-end deployment spanning sales, after-sales, leasing, and operations.

Chairman Wang Qian stated at the signing ceremony: “As a pioneering enterprise of the BRI, our core mission is establishing Green Transport Corridors to deliver eco-friendly, intelligent, and efficient NEV mobility solutions across African markets.

With China’s NEV sector now commanding globally leading technological and production capacity advantages, we are strategically expanding overseas with industrial chain partner Gecko, aiming to synergise Chinese innovation and manufacturing excellence with Africa’s market needs and create mutual benefits.”

“Net-Zero” Strategy Drives Global Transformation – Green Mobility Empowers African Markets

Under the global net-zero Strategic background, NEVs have become the dominant trajectory for automotive industry transformation. West Africa Eco-Drive proactively advances national strategic objectives while expanding across African and South American markets.

Through initiatives including EV-for-petrol-vehicle replacements and global carbon credit trading, the company has facilitated over 10,000 metric tons of automotive carbon emission reductions.

The launch of the Ghana project will accelerate Africa’s energy structure transition and automotive industry green upgrade, generating local employment opportunities while establishing comprehensive NEV industrial and service systems.

CEO Li Chunhui elaborated: “Responding to the Tro Tro Traditional Transport Association’s requirements, we will introduce Gecko new energy commercial vehicles for localised assembly and production in Ghana, which will progressively replace Tro Tro’s existing fossil-fuel fleets.

Beyond advancing Ghana’s green transportation transition, this cooperation establishes a valuable reference framework for Chinese automakers pursuing high-calibre global expansion and localised adaptation.”

Gecko is an NEV commercial vehicle manufacturer centred on advanced digital chassis technology. Leveraging its modular, digital, and ecosystem-oriented strategic platform, the company empowers global automotive OEMs and fleet operators through integrated vehicle manufacturing and delivery capabilities.

Guided by its “Hardware-Software Co-creation and Co-development with Partners” philosophy, Gecko provides forward-developed chassis and commercial vehicles for global customers, which especially suits for Ghana’s Tro Tro public transport system.

CEO Peng Jinzhou stated: “Gecko possesses world-leading skateboard chassis technology and commercial vehicle solutions, co-developed with global partners for continuous scenario-based optimisation.

Introducing our EV48, EV70, and All-Speed Series NEV commercial vehicles to Ghana will propel local transportation and logistics toward sustainable and green development.”

At present, West Africa Eco-Drive has also established a strategic partnership with YANGO, Ghana’s leading online ride-hailing platform, to fully integrate into its passenger and freight service lines.

This collaboration aims to drive large-scale adoption of NEVs in Ghana’s shared mobility sector.

Expanding Global Footprint: Building Green Mobility Ecosystems Across Africa and South America

The launch of Ghana’s NEV assembly plant marks a pivotal first step in West Africa Eco-Drive’s global strategy, demonstrating China’s high-calibre manufacturing exports in action to empower worldwide green mobility transformation.

Moving forward, the company will leverage this Ghanaian project as a reference model to replicate its “localised production + green technology transfer” framework across African and South American markets in collaboration with upstream and downstream industrial chain partners, and also establish end-to-end NEV ecosystems encompassing R&D, manufacturing, sales and after-sales services.

“Ghana is positioned as the first milestone in the company’s global strategic footprint”, emphasised Wang Qian, Chairman of West Africa Eco-Drive.

“Over the coming three years, the company aims to establish comparable operations in five African countries and three South American nations, collectively covering the key African and South American markets to position China’s advanced NEV technology as an Accelerator for green transitions in developing nations.”