Through a Ghanaian distributor, Vietnam's VinFast joins the African EV market

As it attempts to enter a fourth continent, VinFast has partnered with a Ghanaian company to distribute its electric cars, potentially giving the Vietnamese manufacturer an early-mover advantage.

The firm, which is controlled by Vietnam's richest man, revealed late Friday that it will supply electric vehicles, including buses, e-scooters, e-bikes, and cars, to Ghana and other West African countries in a joint venture with the Jospong Group. VinFast intends to have its EVs in 50 markets by the end of the year, and in the past month alone, it has inked contracts in six countries.

According to the International Energy Agency, the smallest EV market by continent is led by Hyundai, Nissan, and Porsche in Africa. According to an IEA analysis from the previous year, drivers are discouraged by the scarcity of affordable models, charging stations, and mechanics.

Having a "diverse" lineup is VinFast's approach, the company told Nikkei Asia. Eight motorcycle types, lorries, and minicars are included in this.

They are the only ones doing this on such a large scale, according to Chairwoman Le Thi Thu Thuy, who made this statement at a recent Nikkei-Financial Times summit.

The six SUVs her company offers range in price from $19,500 to $79,800. The launch date of sales in Ghana was not specified by the corporation. 

The majority of electric vehicles (EVs) in Ghana are imported from China. According to a 2022 poll conducted for Accra's Energy Commission, 54% of Ghanaian consumers would not spend more than $20,000, and 53.6% of purchasers would prefer electric over gas-powered automobiles.