Car industry research firm Focus2Move questions auto rebound in Egypt: Sales of passenger cars and other light vehicles in Egypt are supposedly down 6.7% y-o-y in 1Q2018, according to international car industry research firm Focus2Move. The report contradicts the latest findings by the Automotive Information Council (AMIC), which said earlier this month that total auto sales had in fact been up 32.3% in 1Q2018, with passenger car sales rising 24% y-o-y. The firm does note that sales were up 0.4% in March. Focus2Move attributes its figures to a continued decline in the market as a result of inflation in cars.

The report remains optimistic about a rebound this year: Despite the continued slump in vehicle sales, the report projects that by the market will rebound by the end of the year. “Growth should accelerate in FY2018. Investment should expand at a rapid pace, aided by an improved regulatory environment — thanks in large part to several recent measures, such as the new investment, bankruptcy and industrial licensing laws.” It makes no mention of the recent steps to roll out of the Automotive Directive.

The breakdown of the market leaders was on par with that of the AMIC report, with Nissan topping passenger car sales with a 19.5% market share, followed by Hyundai, Chevrolet, Renault and Toyota.

Egyptians love Chinese cars: Egyptian consumers are among those most likely to purchase Chinese branded cars, according to a Nielsen research report picked up Gasgoo. Over one quarter of consumers in Mexico, America, Chile, Egypt, and the remainder of Africa consider purchasing Chinese cars. Africa is also considered to be the export market with the greatest potential for China’s automotive industry. Vehicles exported to the Belt and Road Initiative countries, of which Egypt is a member, reached 641,000, growing 23.8% y-o-y, and accounting for 60.2% of the gross vehicle export, the report said