Swaziland to produce electric cars?

MBABANE – TECO Electric
and Machinery Co of Taipei,
Republic of China (Taiwan)
has conducted an investment
feasibility study with the
intention of constructing
a plant in Swaziland to
manufacture electric cars for
the southern Africa market.
TECO partners with the US
electronics firm Westinghouse
to make electronic appliances
in Taiwan.
Citing minimal trade
between Swaziland and
Taiwan despite 48 years
of diplomatic ties, TECO
executives briefed Swazi King
Mswati III on their desire to
set up shop in his country.
The king was on a diplomatic
and trade visit to Taipei last
week.
Factory inputs would be
shipped to the landlocked
country via Richards Bay,
the TECO business plan
shows. Finished autos would
also be exported via Durban
or Richards Bay to African
customers.
In addition to the cars
themselves, the paraphernalia
required to run them would
be required for southern
Africa. Charging ports placed
at highway junctions and
spaced along rural and urban
locations will be needed
for the vehicles. These may
also be manufactured in
Swaziland should the venture
move forward.
No timetable was
presented for when electric
cars would start rolling off a
Swazi assembly line, or how
much the factory investment
would be. However, the
TECO team told King
Mswati that planning was at
an advanced stage.