Botswana targets EV production scale-up by June

Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:13

This was revealed at the Second Metallurgy Hub Consultative Forum held recently in Selebi-Phikwe.

Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Baratiwa Mathoothe, said the country has already moved beyond planning stages and is now entering full operational execution in the electric mobility sector.

“One of the most significant developments since our first Forum is the formal establishment of eMobility Botswana (Pty) Ltd, a 100% state-owned company created to anchor the country 's transition into electric mobility and green industrialisation,” he said.

Mathoothe explained that the company will serve as the national anchor institution for the Electric Vehicle Hub and industrial scale-up programme, marking a major transition from policy discussions to practical implementation.

Botswana’s electric vehicle ambitions are already taking shape on the ground. Already, a Semi Knock Down (SKD) assembly plant is operational, while Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partnerships with global manufacturers including SKYWELL and CHTC have been secured through long-term agreements.

New-generation electric buses capable of travelling up to 620 kilometres on a single charge are also being introduced as the country prepares for immediate production expansion.

The assistant minister said by June, they aim to achieve a production capacity of 20 electric SUVs per day and five electric buses per day, while simultaneously retrofitting government fleet vehicles into electric vehicles.

“The eMobility Botswana is not merely an automotive initiative,” he added. “It is a strategic industrial platform designed to catalyse manufacturing, technology transfer, skills development, beneficiation and regional export competitiveness.”

He added that Botswana is no longer discussing electric mobility as a future aspiration, but is already operational and attracting market confidence.

Mathoothe further revealed that sales orders and quotations have already been issued both locally and regionally, including electric buses destined for South Africa, electric SUVs for Zambia, and government fleet allocations within Botswana.

“This demonstrates one thing clearly, that the market is responding, that confidence is growing and that Botswana is positioning itself as a credible regional EV manufacturing and export base,” he said.

The forum also reflected on discussions held in October 2025 under the theme, “Unlocking the Potential of Metallurgy, specifically for the Electric Vehicle and Parts Manufacturing,” which laid the foundation for the current industrial vision.

That vision seeks to establish a fully integrated Metallurgical and Electric Mobility Hub in Selebi-Phikwe, where Botswana not only mines minerals, but also processes them, manufactures components, assembles vehicles, develops battery systems, trains technicians and exports high-value industrial products to regional and international markets.