Chinese EV brands spread to Azerbaijan

Nestled at the intersection of East and West, Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, is a melting pot of architectural treasures, with many drawing inspiration from classical Greek and Roman designs as well as those incorporating Islamic and Asian influences.

Chinese architectural elements, however, are notably absent across the cityscape that dates back centuries. The same cannot be said for Chinese electric vehicles, with makers such as BYD and Nio recently announcing their intentions to enter the local market.

Before the start of the COP29 United Nations climate change conference in Baku on Nov 11, the two carmakers had no official dealerships in the city. This changed on Nov 15, when Nio and Azerbaijani company Green Car inked a partnership agreement at the Azerbaijan pavilion at COP29.

According to the agreement, Green Car will serve as Nio's distributor in Azerbaijan, with Nio expected to start delivering products in the second quarter next year.

Qin Lihong, co-founder and president of Nio, said he sees big market opportunities for new energy vehicles in Azerbaijan, as the country furthers its green transition.

He referred to the country that flanks the southern edge of the Caucasus Mountains as "a market of great symbolic significance".

The region has Russia to the north, the Middle East to the south, Europe to the west and Central Asia and China to the east. It's a crucial node in China's Belt and Road Initiative, Qin said.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Rustam Ibrahimov, chief operating officer of Green Car, said: "The global automotive industry is undergoing an exciting revolution. Nio, as a global smart EV company, is impressive in the innovation in core technologies and user experience."

Sharing Nio's vision of sustainability, Green Car looks forward to jointly promoting Azerbaijan and the Caucasus' transition to EVs, he said.

Some 140 Nio vehicles were used to transport government representatives and officials, as well as other distinguished guests during COP29, Nio said.

Nio is not the only Chinese EV brand that was used to serve the UN gathering. Some BYD electric buses transported delegates between the COP29 venue and their hotels.

According to BYD, the company won a bid in July to sell 160 electric buses to the Azerbaijani government. The buses were used to help Azerbaijan hold the conference in a green, low-carbon manner.

The Azerbaijani government will purchase 200 electric buses annually from BYD between 2025 and 2028, the company said, adding, the buses will be assembled in Azerbaijan.

A statement from the host nation's Ministry of Economy said, "Azerbaijan expects a multifaceted collaboration with China in the field of NEVs, focusing not only on the assembly of electric buses, but also on other types of vehicles within Azerbaijan."

It said the cooperation aims to achieve localization in the production of buses and other vehicles, the transfer of advanced technology and expertise, and the training of local specialists to support the industry.

"Azerbaijan seeks to position itself as a regional hub in the East-West transport corridors and integrate into the BYD supply chain, leveraging its strategic location to contribute to regional and global markets," it said.

In another development, at the COP29 China pavilion on Wednesday, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of China's State Council signed a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan Investment Holding.

The two sides aim to strengthen exchange and cooperation on green development and the social responsibility of State-owned enterprises, according to the memorandum.

Established in 2020, Azerbaijan Investment Holding aims to enhance corporate governance, attract private investments and improve the performance of the nation's SOEs.

As part of the Azerbaijan government, it is focusing on prioritizing environmental, social and governance considerations, related initiatives and carbon emissions reductions, according to Ruslan Alikhanov, CEO of Azerbaijan Investment Holding.

Addressing the event, Alikhanov stressed the importance of international cooperation in promoting climate action, and the role of China in driving global initiatives for a greener and more sustainable future.

"China is the world's largest investor in solar and wind energy, the largest by far," he emphasized.

Through its green Belt and Road Initiative, China also strives to promote sustainable infrastructure projects such as eco-friendly transportation systems and renewable energy initiatives in its partner countries, he added.