Kiira Motors Corporation Unveils 2024 Bus Product Line at Uganda-Tanzania Business Forum
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - May 23, 2024
By John Kusolo
Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), a pioneering Ugandan mobility enterprise, has introduced its 2024 bus product line at the 2nd Uganda-Tanzania Business Forum. The event, hosted at the Johari Rotana Hotel in Dar es Salaam, is taking place from May 23 to 24, 2024. This year’s forum is themed “Enhancing Our Win-Win Partnership,” highlighting the mutual economic and commercial benefits between Uganda and Tanzania.
KMC's new 2024 bus product line features the Kayoola City Buses and Kayoola Coaches, designed and manufactured specifically for the African market. The Kayoola City Bus series offers two environmentally friendly options: the fully electric Kayoola EVS and the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Kayoola CNG. These low-floor buses cater to city mass transportation needs, with models ranging from 6 meters, accommodating 15 passengers, to 18 meters, accommodating up to 120 passengers. The electric variant boasts a range of up to 500 kilometers per charge, while the CNG version can travel over 400 kilometers on a full tank, ensuring reliability for urban transit systems.
The Kayoola Coach series also offers diverse options: a fully electric Kayoola e-Coach, a Diesel Powered Kayoola Diesel Coach, and a CNG powered Kayoola CNG Coach. These coaches range from 10 meters, seating 43 passengers, to 13 meters, seating 65 passengers. The fully electric variant similarly offers a 500-kilometer range, catering to the long-haul and intercity transport requirements across Africa.
The forum is an essential platform for strengthening the economic ties between Uganda and Tanzania. Uganda's delegation, led by Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, alongside KMC's leadership, aims to leverage this event to expand Kiira Motors’ presence in the African market. Their participation underscores Uganda’s technological advancements and commitment to providing homegrown sustainable mobility solutions.
During the forum, the Ugandan team engaged with diplomats, business leaders, and key stakeholders from both public and private sectors. Hon. Dr. Musenero highlighted the significance of the Kayoola buses in her remarks: “It is an honor for Uganda to introduce to Tanzania the wide spectrum of Kiira Motors’ city buses and coaches. These buses are a manifestation of Uganda’s technological progress and our dedication to serving the African market with sustainable, homegrown mobility solutions.”
Tanzania’s rapidly improving public transport system, particularly through the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (DART) project, represents a substantial market opportunity for Kiira Motors. Developed by the Tanzania National Roads Agency, the DART project aims to enhance public transportation through a comprehensive network of dedicated bus lanes, stations, and terminals. Since its inception in 2016, the DART system has significantly reduced travel times and reliance on private vehicles, promoting a safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly public transport solution for Dar es Salaam's over eight million residents.
Paul Isaac Musasizi, CEO of Kiira Motors, emphasized the company’s mission to lead the e-mobility revolution in East Africa: “Our initiative focuses on replacing imported mobility solutions with efficient, robust, and sustainable African-built options. By localizing the development and deployment of electric vehicles, Kiira Motors aims to drive environmental sustainability and stimulate economic growth in the region.”
Kiira Motors Corporation, established in 2018, is fully owned by the Ugandan government (96%) and Makerere University (4%). The company is dedicated to developing, manufacturing, and selling sustainable mobility solutions, including motor vehicles, parts, systems, and services. With an ambitious goal of producing over 500,000 vehicles by 2030, KMC is poised to create a scalable and sustainable automotive industry in Uganda, fostering significant enterprise value and economic growth.
The unveiling of the 2024 bus product line at the Uganda-Tanzania Business Forum marks a significant milestone for Kiira Motors Corporation. It highlights the company's commitment to providing innovative, sustainable transportation solutions designed for Africa, by Africa.
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