Made-in-Africa:Kiira Motors Corporation

Kiira Motors Corporation is a State Enterprise established to champion value addition in the nascent Motor Vehicle Industry in Uganda through Technology Transfer, Contract Manufacturing and Supply Chain Localization. This strategic intervention is poised to contribute to the industrialization agenda envisaged to aid the transformation of Uganda into an upper middle-income economy by 2040.

Kiira Motors Corporation is developing long-term technology partnership(s) to build core capabilities to Develop, Make, and Sell motor vehicles and components in Africa on a Mission to build a better Uganda through Automotive Technology. The Strategic Technology Partnership(s) are premised on 4+1 pillars of People, Plant, Products, Mobility Infrastructure and Policy founded on strategies developed and shaped by the realities and characteristics of the target market in Uganda and Africa.

The sustainability of the KMC operations is premised on optimal utilisation of infrastructure, facilities and resources seasoned with relevant application of Industry 4.0+ tools and technologies within the context of a circular economy.The Shareholders of Kiira Motors Corporation are: The Government of the Republic of Uganda represented by the Ministry responsible for Science, Technology and Innovation, Office of the President (96%) and Makerere University (4%).

Africa’s first electric vehicle was developed under the Kiira Electric Vehicle Project in 2011.

KMC developed Africa’s first hybrid vehicle, the Kiira EVS, in 2014 and Africa’s first solar electric bus, the Kayoola Solar Bus in 2016. KMC’s market entry products are the Kayoola EVS a Fully Electric Low Floor City Bus with a range of 300 kilometers on a full charge and the Kayoola Coach, a premium highway coach available in both electric and diesel powertrains.

“Kayoola” Buses rely on lithium-ion batteries that power the electric motor. They are currently produced in the facilities of Luwero Industries Limited pending the commissioning of its own assembly site in the town of JINJA, Uganda’s second commercial hub.

The introduction of these buses is in line with repeated initiatives in favor of the environment, the company having already introduced two eco-efficient Airbus 330neo which show a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. CO2 per seat, 60% of noise footprint.

Besides Kayoola buses, KMC also offers the “Kiira EV Smack”, a hybrid electric vehicle and a fully electric vehicle, “Kiira EV POC”. It is estimated that Uganda spends up to $2 billion each year on spare parts for fossil fuel vehicles and a large amount of this money can be saved as electric mobility becomes popular.

At full charge, the Kayoola EVS has a range of up to 300 kilometers making it capable of handling the daily duty cycle. With a sitting capacity of up to 90 passengers. KMC was awarded as the African Company of the Year in the 2021 African Business Leadership Awards