Chinese automakers dominate Erbil international fair

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Car companies from 16 countries took part in Erbil’s 9th International Auto Show, attracting around 65,000 visitors. Half of the companies who took part in the four-day event were Chinese.

One advantage of the Chinese cars is that they are offered with instalment options, which, combined with their lower prices, has helped them dominate the Kurdish and Iraqi market.

Karbin Darwish, a local from Erbil, previously used to own a second-hand car. He told Rudaw that he bought a brand new Chinese car once he learned about their affordable prices and installments offer.

“Chinese cars are of good quality and have many features,” Darwish said while driving his car on Erbil’s streets.

MG, formerly a British car brand that was later acquired by a Chinese company, has imported 12,000 cars to the Kurdistan Region in 2024, accounting for nearly 10 percent of all cars imported to the Region this year.

Badr Mohammed who represents the Chinese brand told Rudaw the affordable prices and the fact people would prefer to pay in monthly installments has helped increase their sales, adding that their clients also appreciate their after-sale services.

The Chinese giant Geely Auto was also present at the event.

Standing next to a black 4 by 4 Jetour, a flagship SUV from the Chinese state-owned Chery auto company, Razwan Mohammed said that the unique design plays a large role in piquing the interest of the buyers. 

“One of the factors is their design. The design is attractive. And you know people choose the product based on what they see,” Mohammed said in reference to the Chinese vehicles.

While Chinese cars have made a name for being pocket friendly for ordinary people, the likes of Range Rover, Land Rover, and Mercedes have also made headlines for their skyrocketing prices.

A representative for Land Rover said they sold at least ten Range Rovers at the exhibition, each for about $300,000.  He said people are prepared to pay the high prices for a personalized experience, knowing that they could tailor the colors and some of the interior details to meet the buyer’s choices.

A local from Iraq’s southern city of Basra bought a 2024 Mercedes Benz S580 for 286 million Iraqi dinars, about $210,000. 

The four-day event, which wrapped up on Sunday, saw its peak attendance on Friday, with 20,000 visiting the exhibit.