STORY: Jordanian consumers gravitate towards affordable, reliable Chinese EVs
DATELINE: July 12, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:58
LOCATION: Amman
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/TECHNOLOGY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the dealership
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JIHAD ABU NASSER, Secretary and representative of the vehicle sector in the Jordan Free Zone Investor Commission
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): RAMI AL-SHAFI, Auto business professional

STORYLINE:

According to the Jordan Free Zone Investor Commission, Chinese cars are taking a majority share of Jordan's imported electric vehicle (EV) market in the first half of 2023.

Jihad Abu Nasser, secretary and representative of the vehicle sector in the commission, said that between January and June, some 16,000 foreign-made EVs have entered a major free trade zone in Jordan's central governorate of Zarqa.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JIHAD ABU NASSER, Secretary and representative of the vehicle sector in the Jordan Free Zone Investor Commission
"If we take the first six months of this year, we've noticed that almost 80 percent of the total EVs getting into the Jordanian market are of Chinese origin. So we have a variety of vehicles that are basically made in China, that's getting into the Jordanian market.
Very good. You can distinguish any car that's made in China from its counterpart that's made in other countries. It has good quality. It's a little cheaper. So it's more affordable for people in Jordan. So we thank the Chinese people for allowing the Jordanian people be able to own such quality vehicles with affordable prices."

Rami Al-Shafi, an auto business professional, said that today Jordanian families tend to choose comfortable and spacious economy cars, which are broadly available among the 13 different brands of Chinese EVs being sold in Jordan.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): RAMI AL-SHAFI, Auto business professional
"The demand for Chinese cars has become noticeable among Jordanian consumers. Their relatives or their contacts tend to return to buy similar cars after trying these cars for the first time."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Amman.
(XHTV)