Shock at the pump drives Syrians electric as cheap Chinese cars hit the streets of Damascus

Damascus, October 30 — Taxi driver Mohammed Kanaan has traded his petrol-powered vehicle for an electric car, hoping to improve his earnings amid soaring fuel prices. Kanaan, 42, is among many Syrians who are turning to electric cars, largely Chinese-made, after enduring fuel shortages and price hikes during Syria's civil war and the recent Middle East conflict.

"I used to have a petrol car, but fuel quality has been poor and prices have skyrocketed," Kanaan explained. After the fall of President Bashar al-Assad nearly two years ago, it was uncommon to see modern cars in Damascus due to the ensuing civil war and Western sanctions, which have largely been lifted since the new authorities took power.

With tariffs reduced and quality concerns leading to a halt in used car imports, around 100,000 cars were imported before they were halted. However, not all Syrians can afford the switch to electric, as most still live in poverty. Earlier this month, petrol costs in Damascus surged by 26 percent, prompting protests and causing taxi driver Ahmed al-Lahham to switch to an electric car.

He noted that his old gas-guzzler required $26 worth of petrol to cover 200km, whereas his new electric car costs around $6 for the same distance. During the civil war, Damascus experienced frequent power cuts, but supply has improved recently as authorities aim to revive the economy and infrastructure. However, some electric car owners have set up solar charging stations to avoid power outages.

Despite challenges, the growing demand for electric vehicles has accelerated, with taxi companies and ride-hailing apps reporting a 20 percent increase in electric car registrations in recent months. Taxi driver Hamza Sukkar explained that the cheap price of petrol-powered cars, starting at $9,000, compared to $12,000 for the cheapest petrol car in his showroom, makes electric cars an increasingly appealing choice.

While Syria as a whole is far from the global average of one in four new cars being electric, the market for electric vehicles is growing rapidly.