EKA Mobility deploys 15 electric buses in Zanzibar, targets 150-strong fleet by end-2026
Pune-based EKA Mobility has entered Tanzania’s public-transport market with 15 electric buses in Zanzibar. Backed by an order for 35 buses, the company aims to scale its local fleet to 150 vehicles by the end of 2026, alongside training partnerships.
What happened
Pune-based EKA Mobility launched 15 electric buses in Zanzibar, entering Tanzania's public-transport market. The company has an order for 35 buses and expects
Key facts
- 15 electric buses flagged off
- 35 electric buses ordered
- 150 buses targeted by year-end
- 12-metre electric buses
Why this matters
EKA Mobility’s Tanzania entry highlights Zanzibar as a strategic beachhead for partnerships in African public transport, charging infrastructure, fleet finance and workforce training.
What to watch
- Confirmation of charger installation, grid-upgrade agreements or renewable-energy supply arrangements in Zanzibar.
- Delivery milestones beyond the initial 15 buses and a disclosed timetable for the remaining 20 ordered vehicles.
- New Tanzania mainland, Kenya, Uganda or other African tender wins.
- Service, maintenance, training or local-assembly partnerships with Tanzanian entities.
- Reported fleet uptime, route utilization, operating-cost savings and passenger adoption.
- Availability of concessional finance, electric-vehicle incentives or public-transport decarbonization funding.
- Establish local charging, maintenance and spare-parts capability before accelerating fleet deliveries.
- Convert the 35-bus order into a phased deployment schedule tied to charger commissioning and route performance.
- Use Zanzibar operating data on uptime, energy consumption and total cost of ownership to pitch government and private transit tenders across East Africa.
- Expand training partnerships to create a local technician pipeline and reduce dependence on India-based support.
- Seek financing partnerships with development lenders, climate funds, utilities or leasing providers to reduce public-agency upfront costs.