How a Japanese entrepreneur built Ethiopia’s fastest-growing EV maker

In energy-starved Ethiopia, where electricity reaches less than half of the population, a local startup’s unconventional bet on battery-powered motorcycles has hit the spot.

In less than a year of launch, Dodai has emerged as the East African nation’s fastest-growing electric vehicle maker, selling 850 units in the face of regulatory and supply-chain challenges. The company’s two-wheelers have become the preferred mode of transport for businesses with delivery needs because of their ability to run as many as 150 kilometers (93 miles) on a single charge.


Dodai is building 300 battery-swapping stations to cut costs and make EVs more accessible.


Comments