SCAI and Yutong Sign Strategic Partnership to Localise Vehicle Manufacturing in Syria

The Syrian Company for Automotive Industry (SCAI), a subsidiary of the Syrian Sovereign Fund, and China’s Yutong have signed a strategic partnership agreement to establish a modern vehicle manufacturing base in Syria, localise technology and technical knowledge, and develop sustainable national engineering and production capabilities.

The agreement was signed on 21 July 2026 at the Syrian Sovereign Fund’s headquarters in Damascus, with SCAI represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Walid Sahari. The partnership supports a long-term shift from reliance on imported vehicles and limited assembly operations towards a more integrated industrial model based on local manufacturing, technology transfer and Syrian workforce development.

Yutong will contribute international expertise in bus engineering and manufacturing, quality management, supply chains and electric vehicle technologies, while SCAI will bring technical capabilities in electric vehicles, electronic systems, software and systems engineering, alongside its role in leading localisation.

The agreement places knowledge transfer and workforce development at its core, including training Syrian professionals in engineering, manufacturing, quality control, production management, maintenance and after-sales services.

SCAI and the Syrian Sovereign Fund view the project as the foundation for an integrated automotive ecosystem, including local suppliers, supporting industries, engineering services and digital systems. Through phased implementation, the partnership aims to expand local value creation, support direct and indirect job opportunities, and build lasting Syrian industrial and technological capability.