Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa has introduced 100 locally assembled electric buses on a newly launched Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route, according to a report by Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The buses, part of the city’s effort to reduce vehicle emissions and improve public transport, were assembled domestically using components imported from China.
The vehicles were built by Belayneh Kindie Metal Engineering Complex and display the logo of Golden Dragon, a Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer. While technical specifications such as charging locations or battery capacity were not disclosed, the deployment represents a milestone in the capital’s electrification plans.
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On her official Facebook page, Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie said the electric buses are equipped with modern systems, including digital ticketing, GPS tracking, and a locally developed digital bus card system. “The buses are supported and controlled by cameras and GPS and have a system developed in the country,” she wrote.
Citing government plans, Xinhua also reported that Ethiopia aims to import 439,000 electric vehicles by 2030 and install 2,226 charging stations across the country, with over 1,100 located in Addis Ababa. The rollout comes as part of a broader clean energy strategy, supported by the nation’s substantial hydropower capacity.
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In 2024, Ethiopia also introduced a ban on petrol imports to encourage electric vehicle adoption. The move seeks to curb urban pollution, as most vehicles in circulation remain second-hand imports with high emissions.
