Because this highland state in East Africa does not have its own auto industry, this effectively means that from now on only electric cars will be newly registered. Notably, despite the still low purchasing power of the population. A German would scratch their head wondering how this is supposed to work, given that even they get purchase reluctance unless the state provides some subsidies.
But, and this is the bad news for us here in still-prosperous Europe: Ethiopia has simply thought further ahead. They are saying:
"We are no longer your dumping ground. Keep your old, worn-out combustion engines that leak and stink and just pollute our country."
And they are emancipating themselves from the dependency on oil-supplying countries that have oppressed them (and everyone else, for that matter) so far. The sun shines near the equator all year round. Clean electricity is thus almost infinitely available.
This decision – from a country three times the size of Germany with 120 million inhabitants – is of immeasurable significance. It will give Ethiopia an economic boost, bring international recognition, and help achieve the increasingly important Sustainable Development Goals.
Above all, it means: One of the poorest countries in the world is technologically overtaking Germany and the rest of the world. It has realized that e-mobility solves many problems and is not afraid to consistently capitalize on its advantages. Meanwhile, Germany is wasting valuable time debating the repeal of the combustion engine ban by 2035.
What does that mean?
If developing countries overtake us on the right, things get serious. We should hurry up to keep up with them.
Translated automatically from German.Elektromobilität , Newsletter Elektromobilität , IAA Mobility , SUVs und Geländewagen , Hybrid , Antriebsarten, Kraftstoffe und Emissionen , Oberklasse- und Sportwagen , Carsharing , Autonomes Fahren (Straßenverkehr) , Ladeinfrastruktur , Verkehrspolitik , Formel E , Brennstoffzellen , Fahrzeug-Vernetzung und -Kommunikation , Fahrzeuge & Fuhrpark , Automotive-Messen & Veranstaltungen , Pkw, Kompakt- und Mittelklasse , Minis und Kleinwagen , E-Auto-Datenbank, E-Mobilität-/Automotive-Newsletter, E-Auto-Tests