Chief Executive Officer of Zonda Tec Ghana, Yang Yang, says China's success in the automobile industry is the result of government policies implemented more than 30 years ago.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, July 31, 2026, Yang Yang said the Chinese government developed a long-term plan to build a strong domestic automobile industry.

According to her, the government invited global car manufacturers such as Toyota and Volkswagen to establish factories in China and supported them with incentives including free land, tax holidays and access to the local market.

“The condition was they send their engineers to China to train our engineers, and we give them 15 years tax-free,” she explained.

She said the policies enabled Chinese engineers to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to develop local technologies, stressing that China's automotive success did not happen overnight.

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“It's like everybody said, ‘Oh wow, how come China's auto industry got prosperous in one day?’ No, it's not in one day. It's 30 years,” she said.

Yang said the government later introduced policies to encourage local companies to develop their own technologies, particularly in response to China's dependence on imported oil.

“I think it was like 10 years ago, our government came out with a new policy. Because of its energy needs, China was a country in short supply of oil. Our government went to BYD, went to GWM, to Geely, and told them that, okay, you need to have your own technology,” she said.

According to Yang, sustained government support helped Chinese automakers become globally competitive.

She said companies such as GWM invested heavily in research and innovation to develop their own hybrid technologies and produce affordable vehicles.

“Look now, he has all his own technology. GWM has been dominating the Chinese market for 17 years. It was also because the price is nearly half that of Toyota or VW. That is so affordable and quality,” she added.

Yang said the same policies that helped Chinese manufacturers grow have also created opportunities for companies such as Zonda Tec to bring quality and affordable Chinese vehicles to markets such as Ghana.

ANAS/MA

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