When it comes to cars, there’s no such thing as ‘choosing local’ in Egypt. The North African country’s busy roads are inundated with motoring brands from all over the world. USA, Germany, Japan, even China. But nothing really home-grown.

Things could change soon though, as just a few kilometres away from one of the seven wonders of the world – the Great Pyramids of Giza – entrepreneur Ahmed Saeed El-Feki and 40 hard-working team members are slowly but surely welding their way into history.

They’ve produced the country’s first mini vehicle.

Despite never receiving formal training or studying motor engineering – El-Feki actually studied law and Shariah at Al-Azhar University – it was his first business venture distributing tuk-tuks, also known as rickshaws, which taught him everything he knows today.

“Like most Egyptians, I never worked with my degree. My first entrepreneurial endeavour was El Wakeel, which specialised in light transportation; selling motorcycles, tricycles and tuk-tuks,” he says. “I noticed that the demand for tuk-tuks was very high, [with Egypt] importing almost 6 million tuk-tuks a year.

“That’s when the idea came to me. I wanted to produce an enhanced version of the tuk-tuk; something that looked more uniform, was more stable, more cost efficient, and proudly Egyptian.”

ALL SYSTEMS GO

Eighteen months of extensive research later, El-Feki finally reached the winning

formula for Egypt’s first locally-made car this year. He explains: “I would monitor and analyse all the faults of tuk-tuks and tricycles and produce a prototype model. A few months later, I would find something that needed to be changed or could be improved, so I go on and produce a new and improved prototype.

“By prototype number five, and after testing the car ourselves in the streets of Cairo for six months, we reached the final model and we’re so happy with it.”

Although it has some similarities to Chinese versions, El-Feki says that ‘Mini Car Egypt’ is in a different league, asserting: “The four-wheeled vehicle is more stable, aesthetically more appealing, carries up to double the number of passengers a regular tuktuk would carry, and its 17-litre engine saves fuel.”

Now that he’s happy with his vehicle, El-Feki is onto his next goal: expansion.

The entrepreneur explains: “There’s a large demand for our cars and we’re doing our best to fulfil it. However, our goal is to double production and we’re currently working on a production line that will help us increase our productivity.”

To date, more than 40 cars have been sold for private use in Egypt, and five sold in the UAE. One client approached El-Feki to manufacture a vehicle in Mozambique. The entrepreneur declined, although he doesn’t disclose why.

SPEED BUMP

Even though the vehicle has well received by the general public – with orders being placed in 22 countries around Africa – things are still not smooth sailing. Bootstrapping his way to achieve his dreams, El-Feki hasn’t yet been able to obtain the proper licenses to sell Mini Car as a car in Egypt.

Despite following all the necessary procedures, he states: “We’re still waiting for the official governmental stamp of approval to licence Mini Car as a car and not a tricycle.

“Without this stamp, Mini Car will only be allowed on private roads in resorts or compounds, and that’s not what we want.”

DOWN THE ROAD

Looking ahead, the founder admits that he can’t predict the future with Mini Car, because to him, “It’s already exceeding all expectations.” If all goes well, various plans are on the cards.

“We’re doing everything we can to get the necessary approvals. In the meanwhile, we’re releasing a new model for a goods vehicle that can carry up to one tonne of goods.

He’s already dreaming about taking things further, though. “Better yet, down the line, we’re hoping to manufacture water-fuelled cars.”