Isuzu East Africa is set to launch its first electric vehicle (EV) truck in Kenya in 2025, marking its entry into the country’s growing EV market.
This move aligns with parent company Isuzu Motors’ global goal to offer fully electric or fuel-cell vehicles across all categories by 2030.
The initiative responds to increasing demand for sustainable transport solutions in Kenya, driven by rising fuel costs and environmental concerns.
However, challenges such as limited battery life and insufficient charging infrastructure could hinder commercial adoption.
Isuzu will begin by testing market demand after the launch, leveraging its dominant position in Kenya’s commercial vehicle sector, where it holds a significant market share.
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The move is part of Kenya’s target of having 5% of newly registered vehicles be electric by 2030, bolstered by government policies like subsidized EV tariffs and plans for widespread charging stations.
The global Electric Vehicle Outlook 2024 says Kenya is among the countries whose uptake of electric vehicles has improved.
“There is encouraging progress in emerging markets and developing economies, where a focus on the co benefits of electric buses such as reduced air pollution and greater access to public transport, has boosted uptake,” the report says.
The state wants to implement bus rapid transit along some of the routes, especially in Nairobi.
Even though the project has been delayed due to a lack of resources, all the buses that will be used as pilots will be electric.
Kenya, in her updated Nationally Determined Contribution, has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent by 2030.
