• Changan partners with Yango to expand smart mobility in Africa and the Middle East.
• Yango Motors becomes the official distributor of Changan vehicles in West Africa, starting with Côte d’Ivoire.
• The partnership could reshape the ride-hailing market and accelerate electric mobility adoption in the region.

Chinese automaker Changan Automobile has signed a strategic partnership with Yango Group, a tech company of Russian origin now based in the UAE, to drive the development of innovative mobility across Africa and the Middle East.
 The deal, formalized in Dubai on November 10, 2025, marks a key step in Changan’s global expansion strategy, with Côte d’Ivoire serving as a launch market through Yango’s established presence in urban transport.

Under this agreement, Yango Motors, Yango’s automotive division, will distribute Changan vehicles in West Africa, beginning with Côte d’Ivoire. Abidjan, already a hub for digital mobility, provides fertile ground for this venture. Yango, which launched locally in 2018, leads the market ahead of Uber and Heetch, coexisting with traditional taxis in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.

Until now, most ride-hailing fleets have relied on Suzuki Swifts imported from India for their affordability and low fuel consumption. Some operators have tested Chinese electric cars, but adoption remains limited due to gaps in the charging infrastructure. Changan’s entry could modernize fleets with more suitable urban vehicles and create integrated partnerships between manufacturers, platforms, and drivers.

Competing Models in African Mobility

This collaboration highlights a growing trend in Africa, where ride-hailing companies are seeking greater control over vehicle sourcing and financing. In Nigeria, Uber teamed up with fintech Moove to lease vehicles to drivers, while Gozem in Togo and Benin secured IFC funding to renew its fleet. Changan and Yango’s approach differs by establishing an industrial partnership in which the mobility platform serves as both distributor and ecosystem developer.

For Changan, Côte d’Ivoire serves as a test market for West African expansion. With Yango’s footprint in major regional cities, Changan can refine its offerings before scaling to Ghana, Nigeria, or Cameroon. The collaboration also aims to build an integrated, innovative mobility ecosystem, combining Chang’an’s automotive technology (connectivity, hybrid, and electric systems) with Yango’s digital data and user base.

Together, Changan and Yango seek to make vehicle access easier for African drivers, improve route efficiency, and cut urban transport emissions. If successful, their model could redefine how automakers and mobility platforms collaborate in Africa—placing Côte d’Ivoire at the forefront of sustainable, connected urban transport in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa.

By Idriss Linge, Agence Ecofin