Ethiopia’s new transport roadmap could make it one of Africa’s biggest EV hubs

Ethiopia has launched a national electric mobility roadmap aimed at transforming its transport sector, reducing emissions, and building a domestic clean-technology industry over the next five years.

• Ethiopia has unveiled its National Electric Mobility Strategy and Implementation Plan for 2025–2030.
• The roadmap seeks to accelerate electric vehicle adoption through infrastructure investment, policy reforms, and private-sector participation.
• Authorities also aim to develop local vehicle assembly, battery value chains, and technical training programmes.
• The move positions Ethiopia among a growing number of African countries investing in clean transport and low-emission economic growth.

The National Electric Mobility Strategy and Implementation Plan (2025–2030), unveiled in Addis Ababa, outlines how the East African nation plans to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles while strengthening the infrastructure and industries needed to support them.

Government officials described the initiative as more than an electric vehicle programme, calling it a broader effort to modernise Ethiopia’s transport ecosystem and position the country for a low-carbon future.

The strategy includes plans for regulatory reforms, expansion of charging infrastructure, integration of electric mobility into public transport systems, investment incentives, and greater participation from private-sector players.

Authorities also see the transition as an industrial opportunity. The roadmap prioritises the development of local vehicle assembly capacity, battery value chains, technology transfer programmes, consumer protection standards, and specialised training centres designed to build technical expertise.

The launch comes as demand for electric vehicles and clean transport solutions gains momentum across Africa. Governments are increasingly looking to reduce dependence on imported fuel, improve energy security, and meet climate commitments while creating new manufacturing and technology jobs.

Ethiopia’s strategy aligns with broader continental efforts to promote sustainable mobility following the African Union’s endorsement of a framework for electric vehicles and green transport systems.

Officials said electric mobility will also support wider environmental and urban development goals, including greener cities, expanded eco-friendly transport services, and improved non-motorised transport options.

With the new roadmap now in place, Ethiopia is positioning itself among a growing group of African countries seeking to turn the transition to clean transport into both an economic and environmental opportunity.