Belayneh Kindie ventures into Ethiopia’s electric mobility space with 100 e-buses

Key Points

• Belayneh Kindie’s group unveiled 100 electric buses, locally assembled with Chinese components, now operating on BRT routes to improve urban mobility in Addis Ababa.
• The new EV fleet aligns with Ethiopia’s ambitious policy to replace 95% of fuel vehicles by 2035 and scale to 500,000 electric vehicles nationwide.
• From trading honey to building a multi-sector empire, Kindie now leads one of Ethiopia’s largest private groups, employing over 5,000 people across 15 companies.

Ethiopian businessman Belayneh Kindie, known for his interests in agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics, is now steering his business into the electric vehicle (EV) space—supporting Ethiopia’s efforts to build a cleaner, more self-reliant future. It’s the latest chapter in his expanding business journey.

Through the Belayneh Kindie Metal Engineering Complex—a subsidiary of his Belayneh Kindie Group (BKG)—he recently rolled out 100 electric buses, assembled locally with parts sourced from China. The buses are already in service, operating along Addis Ababa’s new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes. Each vehicle is fitted with modern systems, including smart fare collection and intelligent transportation features.

Powering a cleaner Addis Ababa

The introduction of these buses marks a significant step in Ethiopia’s shift toward sustainable public transport. According to Transport and Logistics Minister Alemu Sime, the zero-emission fleet will not only reduce the city’s carbon emissions but also ease congestion by operating in dedicated bus lanes.

The move supports the government’s long-term goal of replacing 95 percent of fuel-powered vehicles with electric ones over the next 10 years. Backing that effort are recent policies such as the 2023 ban on gasoline and diesel car imports.

Today, there are already more than 100,000 electric vehicles on Ethiopia’s roads, and the target is to increase that number to 500,000 by 2035. Belayneh Kindie is now a key player in helping turn that vision into reality.

From trading honey to building an empire

Belayneh’s success story began with just under $1,000 in capital. He started out trading honey and butter before gradually growing his business into one of Ethiopia’s largest and most diversified private groups.

Founded in 2005, the Belayneh Kindie Group has become a major force in agriculture and export—especially known for its sesame shipments, which have earned the group over $600 million in revenue across nearly two decades. The company now spans more than 15 businesses and employs over 5,000 people.

One of its standout projects is the Phibela Industrial Complex, which houses eight integrated agro-processing plants and produces 1.4 million liters of edible oil every day—playing a vital role in ensuring national food supply.

Looking ahead

Belayneh’s move into electric mobility is more than a business decision—it’s a reflection of his drive to innovate and solve real-world problems. From farming to clean energy transport, he’s using entrepreneurship to support Ethiopia’s development while cementing his position as one of the country’s most influential business leaders.