Egypt launches electric smart bus manufacturing system

Egypt's Arab Organisation for Industrialisation launched on Monday the electric smart bus manufacturing system in cooperation with China's Wanxiang Group Corporation and Egypt's Transport Company Mowasalat Masr.

Egyptian Environment Minister Yasmin Fouad attended the launch event alongside representatives from Shanghai Wanxiang, Mowasalat Masr, United Investment Company, and the Public Transport Authority.

The launching of the new buses is part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Arab Organisation for Industrialisation, Mowasalat Masr, and Shanghai Wanxiang in May 2019.

Shanghai Wanxiang is one of the largest Chinese companies specialised in the manufacturing of electric buses.

Mowasalat Masr is a leading company providing intelligent public transport services in accordance with international standards.

Shanghai Wanxiang praised the positive steps taken by the Egyptian state to introduce electric buses, adding that Egypt's location qualifies it to be a regional centre and exporter of electric vehicles in the coming years.

"Cooperation and partnership between Cairo and Beijing is witnessing a strategic leap in the field of transport and enabling smart electric bus technology," Wu Wei, the CEO of Wanxiang Group, said during the event.

The chairman of the Arab Organisation for Industrialisation Abdel-Moneim Al-Tarras affirmed that there is real political will to promote development in Egypt, and stressed that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is keen on implementing smart transport technology through international cooperation and partnership.

Al-Tarras also praised China's successful development efforts over the past 40 years, which he described as a "miracle."

He also said that major international Chinese companies have expressed interest in cooperation, partnership and investment in Egypt.

Last Month, two electric bus prototypes were produced in Egypt by the military production ministry as part of the first phase of an agreement to manufacture the vehicles in Egypt.

Egypt also signed an agreement with China’s Foton Motor company in April during President El-Sisi's visit to China. 

The two sides agreed that Egypt would receive the necessary technology to manufacture electric bus, and that 2,000 buses would be manufactured in an Egyptian military factory over four years.

According to the agreement, China will also provide Egypt with 50 buses. The first two arrived last month.

Electric transportation is part of the sustainable development goals that Egypt aims to achieve in accordance with the country's  Sustainable Development Strategy 2030.

More environment-friendly and less costly in maintenance, electric buses run on chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs.

Last July, Egyptian state officials inaugurated the country's first electric bus in Alexandria governorate.

Egypt's first electric vehicle charging station was opened in Cairo in February. The unit is owned by Revolta Egypt, a developer of electric charging infrastructure and other electric vehicle-related projects.