East Africa is rapidly emerging as a global pioneer in the transition to electric mobility, rewriting the narrative of sustainable transport for developing economies. The report investigates how Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda are leapfrogging the fossil-fuel era to build a cleaner, electrified future fuelled by abundant renewable energy and a drive to reduce costly fuel imports. These countries are adopting bold strategies and policies from Ethiopia’s unprecedented ban on internal combustion engine vehicles to Uganda’s push for domestic electric bus manufacturing. The analysis reveals a dynamic landscape where electric two-wheelers and buses are revolutionising public transport, creating new industrial value chains and green jobs rather than just importing finished goods.
The journey has just begun. The report provides a critical assessment of the opportunities and challenges ahead, including the urgent need for charging infrastructure and regional policy harmonization. It paints a vivid picture of a region poised to transform its rich mineral resources into a thriving electric vehicle ecosystem. For policymakers, investors, and climate advocates, this is a vital look at how East Africa is steering the wheel toward a zero-emission horizon.
The report was prepared by Agora Verkehrswende in collaboration with GIZ Kenya as part of the Rethinking Transport project, jointly implemented by Agora Verkehrswende and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
