Overview:

Kiira Motors responds to market demand by designing a new Hybrid SUV with a 1,100 kilometer range. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs.

JINJA, UGANDA — Uganda’s Kiira Motors Corporation is developing a hybrid sport utility vehicle, marking a significant expansion into the passenger car market following its success with electric and diesel buses. The company plans to introduce the five-seater vehicle, named the Kiira Hybrid SUV, which will utilize a combination of electricity and clean diesel power.

The announcement comes shortly after the manufacturer’s Kayoola electric coach completed a notable road journey to South Africa. The new SUV is currently being designed at the Kiira Motors plant in Jinja district.

According to project specifications, the Kiira Hybrid SUV is designed to offer drivers substantial range and efficiency.

  • The vehicle will have an overall range of 1,100 kilometers (about 680 miles).
  • On electricity alone, the SUV will be able to travel a distance of 150 kilometers (about 93 miles) on a single charge.

Lateefa Shibah Tusuubira, a senior electrics and electronics system engineer at Kiira Motors Corporation, confirmed the move was driven by public interest.

“People have been asking, ‘what else, apart from the buses?’ We are now developing an SUV and will speak to the market demands,” Tusuubira said, noting the vehicle will feature a unique, smooth transition acceleration performance.

The company’s decision to move beyond its successful bus line is supported by its proven track record in manufacturing. Eng. Ian John Kavuma, managing director of E-Bus Xpress, a subsidiary of Kiira Motors Corporation, noted the quality and acceptance of their existing products.

“Our products have been tested and proven to be good. We have produced about 70 buses, both electric and diesel-powered, and over 70% of them have been bought,” Kavuma said.

Kiira Motors Corporation has successfully produced 13 different bus models, including the fully electric Kayoola EVS 6M, designed for urban commuter taxi operators, and larger 90-passenger models like the Kayoola EVS 12M.

The Kiira Motors project is projected to create a substantial number of jobs across Uganda’s emerging automotive industry. The initiative is expected to directly create over 2,000 jobs and an additional 12,000 indirect jobs.

Company projections also forecast the creation of another 100,000 jobs in the vehicle parts supply chain alone, which is expected to account for 85 percent of the employment opportunities in the sector. To meet its production goals, the company has called for the local manufacturing of 65 percent of its parts, equaling approximately 19,500 of the 30,000 vehicle components required.