Taxi driver, Mohammad Kanan, is driving his new electric vehicle through the worn streets of Damascus, hoping to earn more profit as fuel prices rise. He is one of the few individuals who have turned to purchasing electric vehicles, mostly made in China.
Impact of Civil War and Sanctions on the Car Market
Before the downfall of Bashar al-Assad, few modern cars were seen in Damascus, especially after the civil war began in 2011. The Syrian economy was severely damaged, and the import of new cars was halted due to Western sanctions. However, with the change of power in the country and the reduction of tariffs, around 100,000 cars entered the market.
However, many Syrians are still unable to afford electric vehicles, and the low percentage of these purchases reflects the country's poor economic situation. Last month, a 26% increase in gasoline prices led to protests following the government's decision to raise prices.
Changes in Driver Habits and the Car Market
Mohammad Kanan says that his old car required $26 in gasoline to travel 200 kilometers, while charging his electric vehicle through the state power grid has now reduced this cost to about $6. During the war years, Damascus faced long power outages, but electricity supply has improved in recent months.
Additionally, some electric vehicle owners have taken to creating solar charging stations to fully resolve this issue. Nevertheless, the low quality of gasoline and the problems stemming from it continue, and the Syrian Ministry of Energy has stated that this low quality is due to an "operational error."
In the meantime, Hamza Sakr, the manager of a car showroom in the outskirts of Damascus, said that demand for electric and hybrid vehicles is rapidly increasing due to rising prices and the low quality of gasoline. Currently, the price of the cheapest gasoline cars in his showroom is over $12,000, while electric vehicles start at $9,000.
Taxi drivers have also reacted to this change. Ahmad Lahham, a taxi driver who has been using an electric vehicle for three months, says that lower costs and passenger satisfaction have brought joy to him and his passengers.
