Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) has unveiled the all-electric Kayoola EVS Model 2024 at the 2nd Uganda-Tanzania Business Forum held at Johari Rotana Hotel in Dar es Salaam from May 23rd to 24th, 2024.
The Kayoola EVS is a fully electric low-floor bus specifically designed for urban mass transportation.
The Kayoola EVS Model 2024 offers models ranging from 6 meters (with a seating capacity of 15) to 18 meters (with a seating capacity of 120).
At full charge, the Kayoola EVS can cover a range of 200 to 300 kilometers, making it capable of seamlessly handling the daily urban mass transportation duty cycle.
It has a large seating capacity, which offers great returns for the bus operator while reducing congestion on city roads.
KMC’s Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Paul Isaac Musasizi, stated that the organization’s value proposition centers 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 added that another product from Kiira Motors Corporation is the 17m/400km and 12m/250km Articulated Kayoola Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus, with carrying capacities of 120 (30 seated / 90 standing) and 83 (43 seated / 40 standing) respectively.
The Kayoola Coach is an electric or diesel intercity bus with models ranging from 10m (39 PAX) to 13m (63 PAX). The electric buses, when fully charged, can cover up to 500 km.
Meanwhile, the Uganda-Tanzania Business Forum provides a platform to enhance the economic and commercial ties between Uganda and Tanzania.
This year, the forum’s theme is “Enhancing Our Win-Win Partnership,” and the team from Uganda is looking to leverage the high-level deliberations to build the African market for Kiira Motors. The delegation from Uganda is led by Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation – Office of the President, along with the leadership of Kiira Motors Corporation.
During the forum, the team engaged with diplomats, businesspeople, and key players from both the public and private sectors, aiming to showcase Kiira Motors’ extensive portfolio of products and services.
Speaking to the press on the forum’s sidelines, Hon. Dr. Musenero remarked, “It is an honor for Uganda to introduce to Tanzania the Kayoola EVS – a manifestation of Uganda’s technological advancement to serve the African market with sustainable mobility solutions. We look forward to fostering synergies between our nations, the East African Community, and Africa as a whole.”
Tanzania represents a significant market for Kiira Motors due to substantial improvements in the country’s 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 significant impact: it reduced a 20 km journey from three hours to 45 minutes, thereby decreasing reliance on private cars, cutting emissions, and offering 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 the region.
