Cameroon: SONGUO MOTORS has been approved to launch the taxi project in Cameroon
https://oceans-news.com/cameroon-taxi-project-vers-un-lancement-avec-songuo-motors/
The Cameroonian government and SONGUO MOTORS signed an agreement on March 13, 2025, to launch the Cameroon Taxi Project. This partnership includes the importation of new vehicles and the establishment of an assembly plant in Cameroon.
SONGUO MOTORS has been authorized by the Cameroonian government to initiate the "Cameroon Taxi Project." On March 13, 2025, the Cameroonian Minister of Transport signed a memorandum of understanding with SONGUO MOTORS. The initiative aims to modernize taxis in Cameroon and improve urban transportation.
In the initial phase, 3,000 taxis, 5,000 motorcycles, and various models of tricycles will be imported and assembled locally. Under the 2025 Finance Law, these vehicles will benefit from tax and customs exemptions. To facilitate the project's progress, the government is implementing two mechanisms. The first is leasing, a rent-to-own scheme that allows drivers to use the vehicles and pay in monthly installments, eventually owning them after full payment. The second is a scrappage bonus, which provides financial assistance to transport operators replacing old taxis with new models.
The project aims to phase out outdated taxis, enhance safety, and offer drivers more accessible solutions for acquiring new vehicles. SONGUO MOTORS also plans to establish an assembly plant in Cameroon. The factory will produce taxis, tricycles, pickup trucks, and more, with an annual capacity of 10,000 cars and 40,000 motorcycles.
The goal is to ensure a steady supply for the local market and promote technology transfer. Some components will be imported, but the company will train local workers and collaborate with domestic subcontractors. Before the official launch, the government conducted tests to verify the vehicles' adaptability.
In November 2023, the Ministry of Transport oversaw a real-world operational test to assess the vehicles' suitability for local conditions. After a month of trials, the vehicles met all technical and regulatory requirements. "They are perfectly adapted to urban transportation," said Transport Minister Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallè Bibéhè.
Additionally, SONGUO MOTORS' taxis are fuel-efficient, equipped with video surveillance systems, and support electronic payment methods
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