Chinese-made electric tricycles sell well in Cape Verde as new energy vehicles gain local favor

In recent years, Chinese-made three-wheeled vehicles have become increasingly common on the streets of Cape Verde, primarily used for transporting tourists and short-distance cargo. These vehicles, marked with the characters “Su Ang,” are manufactured by Mezida Motorcycle (Xuzhou) Co., Ltd. Over 200 units were exported to Cape Verde in 2023 alone—mostly fully electric models—with sales figures showing steady annual growth. In Cape Verde, these three-wheelers face no restrictions on where they can operate; owners only need to register the vehicle, purchase insurance, and follow the same traffic regulations as motorcycles, including wearing helmets while riding. The Cape Verdean market offers two main types of three-wheelers: cargo models used by small businesses for local deliveries, and passenger models equipped with enclosed cabins for tourist sightseeing. The country introduced a duty-free import policy for electric vehicles three years ago, significantly lowering purchase costs and accelerating the adoption of new-energy vehicles. Although there is currently no official BYD 4S dealership in Cape Verde, Chinese brands such as BYD, Geely, and Great Wall enjoy widespread popularity. Among them, Great Wall’s large-size SUVs are particularly favored. As the usage of domestically produced Chinese vehicles continues to rise locally, brand recognition and trust in Chinese automakers are steadily growing.