Addis Ababa to Add 500 Electric Buses as Passenger Demand Climbs

Mintesinot Nigussie

Addis Ababa City Administration plans to procure 500 additional electric buses to ease pressure on the public transport network and serve more than one million daily passengers. The move is part of a broader effort to modernise the city’s transport system and reduce emissions.

The new buses will strengthen the existing fleet operated by the Addis Ababa City Bus Service Enterprise. Officials expect the acquisition to be completed in the coming months.

Degefu Gebremedhin, deputy chief executive of the enterprise, said the buses will help accelerate transport circulation and reduce congestion during peak hours. Average daily bus rotations have already doubled to 12 from six previously due to improved corridor infrastructure.

The city currently operates about 1,200 buses and transports over one million passengers daily. Around 6,000 additional vehicles, including taxis, serve high-demand areas carrying roughly 250,000 passengers per day.

The expansion of the electric bus fleet is expected to improve service reliability and support the city’s sustainable urban mobility goals.

This development comes as passenger demand continues to rise amid ongoing urban growth and infrastructure improvements in Addis Ababa.