Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) has unveiled the all-electric Kayoola EVS Model 2024 at the 2nd Uganda-Tanzania Business Forum, held at the Johari Rotana Hotel in Dar es Salaam on May 23-24, 2024.
The Kayoola EVS is a fully electric, low-floor bus designed specifically for urban mass transportation. This model ranges in size from six meters (15 seating capacity) to 18 meters (120 seating capacity). With a full charge, the Kayoola EVS can travel between 200 to 300 kilometers, making it well-suited for daily urban mass transportation needs. Its ample seating capacity offers significant returns for bus operators while helping to reduce congestion on city roads.
The Uganda-Tanzania Business Forum provides a platform to strengthen economic and commercial ties between Uganda and Tanzania. This year’s theme, “Enhancing Our Win-Win Partnership,” reflects the goal of leveraging high-level discussions to expand the African market for Kiira Motors.
Uganda’s delegation, led by Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation in the Office of the President, and the leadership of Kiira Motors Corporation, engaged with diplomats, businesspeople, and key public and private sector players during the forum. Dr. Musenero, speaking to the press, remarked:
“It is an honor for Uganda to introduce the Kayoola EVS to Tanzania – a testament to Uganda’s technological advancements in providing sustainable mobility solutions for the African market. We look forward to fostering synergies between our nations, the East African Community, and Africa as a whole.”
Tanzania is a significant market for Kiira Motors due to notable improvements in its public transport system, particularly through the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (DART) project. This large-scale infrastructure initiative, developed by the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), aims to enhance public transportation with a network of dedicated bus lanes, stations, and terminals.
According to the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), the DART system, which began its first phase in 2016 with twenty-nine buses and five terminals, quickly made a substantial impact: it reduced a 20-kilometer journey from three hours to 45 minutes, decreasing reliance on private cars, cutting emissions, and providing a safe and affordable travel solution for the city’s over eight million residents.
Kiira Motors aims to leverage this development to expand its market reach within East Africa and beyond.
KMC’s Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Paul Isaac Musasizi, stated that the organization’s value proposition focuses on replacing imported mobility solutions with an African-built electric vehicle platform to improve public transport efficiency.
“This initiative aims to lead the e-mobility revolution and the decarbonization of transportation in East Africa. By localizing the development and deployment of electric vehicles, Kiira Motors Corporation seeks to enhance environmental sustainability and stimulate economic growth within the region,” he said.
He also highlighted that another product from Kiira Motors Corporation is the articulated Kayoola Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus, available in 17 meters (400 km range) and 12 meters (250 km range) models, with capacities of 120 passengers (30 seated / 90 standing) and 83 passengers (43 seated / 40 standing) respectively.
The Kayoola Coach, available as an electric or diesel intercity bus, offers models ranging from 10 meters (39 passengers) to 13 meters (63 passengers). The electric buses can cover up to 500 kilometers on a full charge.
Comments are closed.