Electric Vehicle Adoption Accelerates Through Bold Policy Shift

Ethiopia is rapidly expanding electric vehicle use, reducing reliance on imported fuel while supporting a cleaner and more resilient transport system.

“By replacing imported fuel with domestically generated electricity, Ethiopia is strengthening its energy security position,” said Hiten Parmar, Executive Director of The Electric Mission.

After introducing a ban on the import of new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2024, Ethiopia has become one of Africa’s leading electric-vehicle markets. More than 115,000 electric vehicles are now on the country’s roads, accounting for about 8% of all cars, while imports from China more than doubled from 19,386 vehicles in 2024 to 44,358 in 2025. The transition is helping reduce exposure to fuel shortages and global oil price fluctuations in a country that spends billions of dollars annually on fuel imports. With around 90% of its electricity already generated from renewable sources and plans for up to 60 electric vehicle assembly plants by 2030, Ethiopia is combining clean energy and transport innovation to create long-term economic and environmental benefits.