Botswana
Botswana
Botswana is gearing up for a fully automated electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant as part of its ambitious eMobility program, President Mokgweetsi Masisi revealed during a press briefing in Gaborone. The unveiling of locally assembled EVs marks a major milestone in the country’s drive toward sustainable transportation. President Masisi, along with Vice President Slumber Tsogwane, top government officials, gold medalist Letsile Tebogo, and Miss Botswana, will each be driving an EV for one year to test their performance and raise awareness. The data collected will be shared with the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) to refine the EVs for local conditions. Additionally, Masisi announced the upcoming launch of an electric boat, developed in collaboration with BITRI and Aliboats. With support from Chinese EV manufacturers, over 150 individuals have been trained in Botswana to assemble electric vehicles. In the initial phase, Botswana aims to produce 50 cars and 30 buses at its current manual plant, with plans to expand into automated production of EVs, including trucks and batteries, using locally sourced materials.