---
title: "No cars, no jobs – Chinese auto industry venture in Gqeberha shows little activity seven years after launch"
description: "Close economic and political ties have triumphed over national interests, business ethics and proper investment protocols as the South African government continues to keep mum despite the R11-billion Chinese auto investment at the Coega Special Economic Zone outside Gqeberha not gaining any traction since its launch in 2016."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "ENGINE FAILURE"
author: "Max Matavire"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/max-matavire-2/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-11-chinese-cars-venture-in-gqeberha-shows-little-activity-7-years-on/"
published: "2023-04-11T20:15:45"
updated: "2023-04-13T21:05:33"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 44
---

# No cars, no jobs – Chinese auto industry venture in Gqeberha shows little activity seven years after launch

> Close economic and political ties have triumphed over national interests, business ethics and proper investment protocols as the South African government continues to keep mum despite the R11-billion Chinese auto investment at the Coega Special Economic Zone outside Gqeberha not gaining any traction since its launch in 2016.

By Max Matavire · Published 11 April 2023, 22:15 SAST · Updated 13 April 2023, 23:05 SAST

## Key points
- Seven years on, the much-hyped Baic investment has failed to deliver on its promise of creating jobs and producing vehicles in Gqeberha. Despite numerous attempts to get to the bottom of it, there is still no word from either Baic or the IDC on what is causing the delays.
- Beijing Auto Industrial Corporation (Baic) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) launched a joint venture in 2016, expected to create 20,000 jobs and manufacture 100,000 vehicles a year
- To date, no vehicles have been produced and the project is shrouded in secrecy
- Covid-19 has been blamed for delays but the project was launched before the pandemic
- The IDC admits the project is experiencing difficulties

## Content

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