• Alemu Sime urges GAC Group to establish manufacturing plant in Ethiopia

• Proposal raised during GAC Juntu EV showroom launch in Addis Ababa

• New facility spans 2,300 sqm; introduces four EV models: AION UT, AION V, HYPTEC HT, HYPTEC HL

• Government targets local EV production to support industrialization policy

• Initiative aligns with shift to electric mobility and reduced fuel imports

• Local manufacturing expected to support technology transfer and job creation

why it matters?
Local EV production could reduce import dependency, support industrial policy, and strengthen Ethiopia’s position in emerging electric mobility markets.

• Deals signed with Sany International and Hangzhou Trumax

• Sany to supply wheel loaders and excavators in SKD form

• Trumax to supply batching plants and crusher plants in SKD form

• Equipment to support public and private construction projects nationwide

• Agreements include plans for parts localization and after-sales service expansion

• Trumax Ethiopia operates local branch with equipment fleet and service team

• Initiative supports industrial localization and reduced finished goods imports

Why it matters?
SKD assembly agreements support local manufacturing capacity, reduce import dependency, and improve equipment availability for Ethiopia’s construction and infrastructure sectors.

• Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd launched four EV models in Ethiopia

• New flagship GAC JUNTU showroom opened in Addis Ababa

• Showroom spans 2,300 square meters with full 4S sales and after-sales services

• EV rollout aligned with Ethiopia’s green mobility and low-carbon transition policy

• Minister Alemu Sime confirmed push toward national e-mobility shift

• GAC to provide maintenance, spare parts, and trained local technician support

• Vehicles available for sale via JUNTU dealership starting immediately

• Company plans mobile apps for vehicle management in coming years

Why it matters?

GAC’s entry strengthens EV competition and after-sales infrastructure in Ethiopia. It supports government policy on electrification while expanding local service capacity and customer confidence.

• 140,000 electric vehicles currently operating nationwide
• Only 150–200 charging stations installed across Ethiopia
• Ethiopian Electric Utility leads charging infrastructure rollout
• First phase investment estimated at $10 million
• Plan to build 40 charging stations in initial phase
• 32 stations allocated in Addis Ababa, 8 in regional cities
• One charging station construction cost reaches 170 million ETB
• 6 stations built in Addis Ababa, 3 already operational
• 34 additional charging projects under preparation
• 26 sites selected in Addis Ababa, 18 near completion
• Second phase expands to 6 cities including Adama, Hawassa, and Bishoftu
• 2,300 fast charging stations planned over 10 years
• Addis Ababa requires 1,176 fast charging stations alone
• Off-peak tariff set at 14.85 ETB per kWh (10 PM–6 AM)
• Mid-level tariff set at 16.57 ETB per kWh (10 AM–5 PM)
• Peak tariff reaches 18.28 ETB per kWh (6–10 AM, 5–10 PM)

Why it matters?

A gap between 140,000 EVs and fewer than 200 stations signals urgent infrastructure demand. Planned 2,300 stations and structured tariffs open large-scale investment and energy market opportunities.

(Source: Tikvah Ethiopia Telegram Channel)

• EVs exceeded 60 % of new car sales in Ethiopia in 2024, ranking among top global shares. 

• Ethiopia now has ~115,000 electric vehicles on the road of ~1.5 million total fleet. 

• Government banned imports of fossil-fuel private cars in January 2024. 

• EV tariffs cut to 15 % for complete, 5 % for parts, zero for CKD kits. 

• Local EV assembly underway; 9 firms assemble vehicles from SKD kits. 

• China-brand EVs form majority of imports and sales in Ethiopian market. 

• Ethiopia aims for 500,000 EVs by 2030 under national transition targets. 

  
  

Chart source: X -  @AssaadRazzouk

Ethiopia’s automotive market is being reshaped by a fuel-vehicle policy pivot that has accelerated EV adoption, reduced reliance on imported petrol/diesel cars, and spurred duty-driven cost advantages for imported EVs and locally assembled units.

• National Bank of Ethiopia to conduct USD 70 million FX auction on February 17.

• Bids accepted from commercial banks between 10:00 AM and 12:00 noon.

• Results announced at 3:00 PM; settlement scheduled end of trading day.

• Notice issued in Addis Ababa on February 16.

• Auction part of standing bi-weekly foreign exchange programme.

• Policy aligns with macroeconomic reforms launched in 2024.

Why it matters?
The USD 70 million auction continues NBE’s bi-weekly FX allocation mechanism. The programme supports market-based currency pricing and liquidity management under ongoing macroeconomic reforms.

• Nigeria signed MoU with South Korea’s AEDC to establish EV manufacturing plant on Jan 30 2026. 

• Deal signed by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry John Enoh and AEDC Chairman Yoon Suk-hun. 

• Project aligned with Nigeria’s National Energy Transition Plan and National Automotive Industry Development Plan. 

• Plant to include EV manufacturing and nationwide charging infrastructure development. 

• Initial focus on vehicle assembly with future expansion to full local production. 

• Facility projected to produce up to 300,000 EVs annually once fully operational. 

• Initiative expected to create about 10,000 direct jobs and additional indirect jobs. 

Why it matters?

The agreement marks a development in African automotive production, creating potential regional manufacturing links and technology transfer. It may influence EV supply chains in Africa.

1. CATL officially introduced the Tianxing II battery series on January 22, 2026, highlighting a new sodium-ion variant. 

2. The 45 kWh sodium-ion battery is designed specifically for small vans, micro vans, and light trucks. 

3. The battery achieves energy density of 175 Wh/kg and a cycle life exceeding 10,000 cycles. 

4. It is the industry’s first mass-produced sodium-ion battery for commercial vehicles. 

5. The battery received GB 38031-2025 certification, China’s new national EV battery standard. 

6. In extreme cold of -40 °C, the battery retains about 90 % usable capacity. 

7. The pack supports immediate charging at -30 °C, addressing winter operation challenges. 

8. The Tianxing II lineup includes four versions: low-temperature (sodium), fast-charging, long-range, and high-temperature fast-charging variants. 

9. The long-range variant offers up to 253 kWh capacity with ≈800 km range for logistics use. 

10. Sodium is >1,000× more abundant and ~1/20 the extraction cost of lithium, implying future cost advantages. 

    
    

    Implications of CATL’s mass-produced sodium-ion battery announcement for the Ethiopian market:

    1. Potential cost reduction in EV fleets: Sodium-ion batteries use abundant sodium instead of lithium, which could lower battery and thus EV costs if adopted regionally. 

    2. Enhanced cold-weather performance: The new battery’s ability to retain performance in low temperatures could benefit logistics and commercial EV use in highland and variable climates. 

    3. Acceleration of commercial EV adoption: With Ethiopia rapidly increasing electric vehicle numbers (over 115,000 EVs) and policy support for EVs, more affordable, durable batteries support this growth trajectory. 

    4. Encouragement for local infrastructure investment: The technology spotlight may incentivize expansion of charging and service networks, addressing current shortages that limit EV use outside Addis Ababa. 

    5. Opportunity for domestic participation: As Ethiopia explores local EV and battery industries and assembly initiatives, sodium-ion technology can present a simpler, potentially more accessible entry point for manufacturing and skills development. 

1. BYD has phased out the Song Plus globally.
   The model, contributing to the Song family’s sales of 788,003 units in 2025, has been removed from BYD’s global lineup as part of product streamlining.

2. Song Plus remains a top-selling EV in Ethiopia.
   It continues to perform strongly in the Ethiopian market. Commonly listed at about 5.1–6.5 million ETB in local market prices

3. The model is being repositioned, not fully discontinued.
   BYD is shifting Song Plus within its portfolio rather than ending production entirely.

4. This reflects BYD’s broader global strategy shift.
   Product decisions are driven by global alignment, not individual market performance.

• Established in 2023 with more than 500 million birr in capital, Suweys Motors started with 30 assembled cars and has since become a leading player in the Somali Region’s automotive industry
• Suweys Motors manages both CKD and SKD operations, assembling models including Jetour, Suzuki Desire, Hyundai, Toyota, and TATA
• Its facility can produce up to 10 vehicles a day, with capacity to assemble eight Jetour cars from start to finish daily

• The company unveiled its AION Y and ES9 models
• The Ethiopian government has already banned the production, import, and assembly of gas-powered cars
• more than 100,000 EVs are currently on the road across Ethiopia, which aims to have up to 500,000 EVs in the next 10 years
• GAC, through its partner Huajian Group, will sell electric vehicles, establish charging infrastructure, and initiate local assembly operations in Ethiopia

• Charging equipment for electric vehicles will be exempt from tax
• The draft policy widens that tax gap by imposing an additional 20% excise tax on every new passenger car or light commercial vehicle that lands in CBU at the port
• Importers will also have to present emissions and road-worthiness certificates before shipment
• Ministry wants to close another gap between consumers and lenders by introducing an asset-based vehicle loan (car as collateral)
• Multiverse Enterprise Plc teaming up with the Defense Engineering Industry Corporation to assemble and finance about 5,000 diesel and electric taxis.
• Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) endorsed the plan, earmarking 17% of a 35-billion-Br fund for down payments.
• Multiverse wants to swap 15,000 cabs and claims to have supplier credit in forex.
• The draft’s export section eyes the African Continental Free Trade Area

• Golden Dragon’s presence in the country has expanded steadily, with nearly 900 new energy buses now in operation across Ethiopia
• Golden Dragon and BKG began constructing a seven-hectare assembly plant in 2019 and the facility was completed in 2023 and began producing electric bus kits in 2024

- This expansion into Ethiopia, Green Motion’s 80th destination, follows a two-year negotiation process to align the company’s international standards with local regulations.

- After three months of discussions, an agreement was reached, allowing Green Motion to charge a 1% service fee for bookings in Ethiopia.