• Kinshasa signs MoU with Vietnam’s Vingroup for electric transport rollout
• VinFast to supply electric buses, cars and charging infrastructure
• Project targets congestion and emissions, faces power and cost hurdles

The municipal government of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam’s Vingroup and local firm Exposure SARL to roll out fully electric transport on a large scale.

The agreement outlines the acquisition and deployment of electric vehicles from VinFast, Vingroup’s automotive subsidiary, to address the city’s mobility needs. The partners also committed to developing a supporting infrastructure ecosystem, including an extensive network of charging stations and modern maintenance and repair facilities.

The project’s first phase, set to run through the first quarter of 2026, will focus on developing a roadmap leading to the signing of formal implementation contracts. As part of the plan, VinFast will supply 500 electric buses and 1,000 electric cars for Kinshasa’s public fleet.

Separately, VinFast and Exposure plan to finalize a contract to supply and distribute between 10,000 and 20,000 electric cars and 50,000 to 100,000 electric motorbikes for the local market.

Kinshasa, home to nearly 20 million people, grapples with chronic traffic congestion and high CO₂ emissions, driven by rapid growth in vehicle numbers that has outpaced road infrastructure expansion.

These pressures have already prompted strategic projects, including the construction of a city bypass and the “Kinshasa Kia Mona” urban extension project. Estimated at more than $50 billion, the project aims to develop a modern, industrial city.

While the gradual renewal of the vehicle fleet appears promising, analysts say significant hurdles remain, notably vehicle affordability for users and the country’s structural electricity deficit.

Henoc Dossa