INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology
Uganda based Kiira
Motors recognised by
Frost & Sullivan
Based on its recent analysis of the
sustainable mobility market, Frost &
Sullivan recognises Kiira Motors with the
2016 Uganda Frost & Sullivan Award
for Visionary Innovation Leadership.
The company’s vision extends far
beyond that of standard vehicle
manufacturing processes. Its sustainable
mobility solutions provide massive
opportunity for vehicle development
and commercialisation in a country that
is lagging behind in African and global
automotive indices.
“The focus on developing sustainable
electric, hybrid, and solar vehicles
will allow Kiira Motors to capture the
leadership position in an uncontested
market space,” said Frost & Sullivan
Research Analyst Ziyaad Hanware.
“Furthermore, the establishment of a
local manufacturing plant gives it the
added benefit of economies of scale, a
first-mover advantage, and import cost
avoidance, which in turn will raise entry
barriers in the industry.”
From an environmental perspective, Kiira
Motors’ vehicles are proving to be game
changers in the Ugandan market. The
fleet of 9,000 14-seater buses operating
daily in Uganda’s capital city of Kampala
produces 96,715 tons of carbon
emissions annually. The Kayoola Solar
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Bus will greatly lower these emissions
and help the country move toward costeffective, sustainable mobility with zero
tail pipe emissions.
The Kayoola Solar Bus is a 35-seater
electric bus with a real-time on-board
solar charging system. The bus is fitted
with two autonomous battery banks
installed on either side enabling usage of
one battery bank to power the propulsion
motor while the other is charged. The bus
has a mileage of approximately 50 miles
per charge and 7.5 miles range extension
harnessed from solar power in transit,
with the batteries requiring only an hour
to recharge.
This makes the Kayoola Solar Bus a green,
clean, and noise free transport solution
for urban mass mobility representing Kiira
Motor’s commitment to transportation
technologies that are enhancing
environmental stewardship.
The Kiira Vehicle Technology Innovation
Programme has also produced three
locally manufactured concept vehicles:
• Kiira EV 2011, 2-seater electric car
• Kiira EV SMACK 2014, 5-seater hybrid
electric sedan
• Kayoola Solar Bus 2016, electric battery
vehicle with a real-time solar charging
system for range extension
These vehicles are important in a market
that has been dominated by used imports
and beset by a consequent lack of spare
parts and service centres.
“The rapid urbanisation in Uganda
has created a vast market for urban
mobility solutions, and the Kiira Motors
product range makes optimal use of
these opportunities,” noted Ziyaad.
“Kiira Motors’ larger goal is to position
Uganda as an economic force by using
the automotive industry as a catalyst for
industrial development.”
The availability of funding for
renewable energy projects, rapid
project construction timelines, and
suitability for remote electrification have
fostered an environment conducive to
environment-friendly vehicles in Uganda.
Kiira Motors’s solar-powered buses are
an example of the way in which the
renewable energy Mega Trend can be
leveraged to resolve the needs of today
by using the infrastructure of tomorrow.
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents
this award to the company that has
demonstrated the ability to understand
and leverage global mega trends,
integrating this vision into processes to
achieve strategic excellence. The award
recognizes the efficacy of the recipient’s
innovative process and the impact it has
on business and society at large.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards
recognise companies in a variety
of regional and global markets for
demonstrating outstanding achievement
and superior performance in areas such
as leadership, technological innovation,
customer service, and strategic product
development. Industry analysts compare
market participants and measure
performance through in-depth interviews,
analysis, and extensive secondary research
to identify best practices in the industry.
Established in 2014, Kiira Motors
Corporation, a brain child of Makerere
University, is a presidential initiative
for automotive manufacturing in
Uganda. Kiira Motors is owned by
Uganda Development Corporation, the
public investment arm of the Uganda
Government and Makerere University.
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