Some good news:

ABAY 1292 cc Assembled in Ethiopia by Holland Car PLC
Holland Car Plc of Ethiopia rolled out its new car called Abay on Thursday, AFP reported from Addis. Abay with a four cylinder and five-speed manual transmission will cost $16,000 dollars, in comparison the Manufactures Suggested Retail Price for a Honda Civic LX 2007 5-speed manual is $16,710 dollars in the United States according to edmunds.com. Holland Car PLC imports the parts for the car from China, AFP wrote.

"We are bringing new technology to the country, offering customers to buy new cars instead of older and more expensive ones from Europe," Tadesse Tessema, cofounder the company, said according to AFP report. Abay is the second line car from Holland Car PLC after it assembled a smaller compact car that sells for $10,000. According to the transport ministry, Ethiopia is among Africa's largest car importers and charges up to 150 percent import tax, AFP wrote. About Holland Car PLC Holland Car is producing and distributing cars in Ethiopia. The products are fulfilling the specific needs of this market. Holland Car PLC is established in 2005 and is a joint venture between the Dutch company Trento Engineering BV in Sittard (50%) and the Ethiopian company Ethio-Holland PLC in Addis Ababa (50%). This cooperation is combining the expertise of production equipment and processes (Trento) and the knowledge of the local market (Ethio-Holland). The production-site of 20.000 square meters is situated in Modjo, about 65 km south of Addis Ababa. The sales-office and the service-dealers are located in Addis Ababa Source Holland Car PLC Related Links

source: volkskrant (dutch newspaper)

Here is a picture of the car.

http://nazret.com/blog/media/blogs/new/abay_car.jpg

Here is a picture of the car.

http://nazret.com/blog/media/blogs/new/abay_car.jpg
It's nice looking car.

mainly to expensive for the domestic market. Its good for export but the price would have to come down on these ordinary looking cars.

http://www.holland-car.com/

cool :okay:
thanks for the website Tarrex

No problem Skipperbill.

Well i think it's to expensive as you said african lion. But they wouldn't develop a new car without any reason.

Its good for export but the price would have to come down on these ordinary looking cars.
The Abay is a rebadged Chinese car (http://www.chinacarforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3344&highlight=Holland), the Lifan 520. Holland Car are simply importing them in kit form and assembling them in Ethiopia, probably to get around import tariffs. Whether Holland Car can export the Abay would be a matter for negotiation with Lifan, which may want to enter other African markets itself.

Incidentally, the Lifan 520 is based on an unauthorised copy of the Citroën ZX platform (http://www.citroenet.org.uk/foreign/china/bootleg-zx/bootleg.html). :)

The Abay is a rebadged Chinese car (http://www.chinacarforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3344&highlight=Holland), the Lifan 520. Holland Car are simply importing them in kit form and assembling them in Ethiopia, probably to get around import tariffs. Whether Holland Car can export the Abay would be a matter for negotiation with Lifan, which may want to enter other African markets itself.

Incidentally, the Lifan 520 is based on an unauthorised copy of the Citroën ZX platform (http://www.citroenet.org.uk/foreign/china/bootleg-zx/bootleg.html). :)
yes you are correct. It is a modified Chinese model.
I think the best thing about this method is the opportunity for technology transfer. Holland Plc. is an infant company but this is a good start.

The bilateral cooperation between China and Africa is
looking very promising. :)

Holland Car to Export ‘Abay’ to The Netherlands



Holland Car Plc struck a deal with Hit Zudin Investment BV enabling the export of its ‘Abay’ car to Holland. According to the agreement, Holland Car would present the vehicle to European market. Tadesse Tessema (Eng.), general Manager of Holland Car, dubbed the agreement a dream for the company. It is expecting to receive 6,400sqm of land which will boost the company’s production level to 25 cars per day. Before the launching of Abay’s production in 2007, a car designed by a company called Lifu, Holland Car was known by a car branded Docc.

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/5222/abay2we3.jpghttp://img369.imageshack.us/img369/4941/abay3ga7.jpg
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/5646/abay4av9.jpg



http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/9141/abay5iw6.jpghttp://img395.imageshack.us/img395/8695/abay6im9.jpg

^^wow. that looks like a car I could actually buy even here in the U.S. :lol:
good work to the entrepreneurs over at Holland Motors and Abay. thumbs up!!

I have to agree this is great news for Holland Car PLC producing and distributing cars and parts in Ethiopia. It is more convenient for customers to purchase new cars that are less expensive.

I read recently that the company is planning to increase locally produced parts of the car to 60 or 70 %. It used to just assemble imported parts before.

I have to agree this is great news for Holland Car PLC producing and distributing cars and parts in Ethiopia. It is more convenient for customers to purchase new cars that are less expensive.