Ethiopia Bans Combustion Engines, Expands Electric Vehicle Fleet

The electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing significant growth and transformation globally, highlighted by the upcoming Evolve Future Mobility Show 2025 in Sharjah, UAE, which will showcase innovations and foster investment in sustainable transport aligned with the UAE's Net Zero 2050 Strategy. Meanwhile, the EV landscape is diversifying beyond standardized models, with new concepts emphasizing personality, practicality, and excitement, such as the Dacia Manifesto that caters to outdoor lifestyles. Ethiopia provides a compelling case study of EV adoption in a challenging environment, having banned combustion engine imports and rapidly increasing its EV fleet despite frequent power outages and infrastructural hurdles. The recent completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is expected to double the country's electricity output, supporting further EV growth, although rural electrification remains costly and complex. These developments underscore a global shift toward electric mobility driven by environmental goals, technological innovation, and changing consumer expectations.