Above: Ethiopia has launched an electric car, despite power
shortages. It is only the second African country to do so, after
South Africa.

VOA
Peter Heinlein | Addis Ababa
04 April 2010
An Italian-Chinese business venture is opening a factory in Ethiopia to produce a practical and affordable electric car in one of the world’s poorest countries. The firm’s manager predicts a big switchover to electric vehicles within the next few years.

Carlo Pironti has small, but revolutionary ideas. The Italian electrical engineer has been traveling the world for years, studying the automobile market. Now he is ready to act.

With an investment of about $600,000, Pironti and a group of mostly Chinese backers are opening a car factory outside Addis Ababa. Using a Korean-made body and components from 57 different suppliers, Pironti hopes that his Solaris Elettra will make a “tiny” dent in the global car market. Read more.

Related:
Ethiopia launches electric car despite power shortages (BBC)