Tanzania unveils first fully electric dual-cab pickup trucks

DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- JTP Auto, a newly launched electric vehicle (EV) company in Tanzania, on Thursday introduced the country's first 100 percent electric dual-cab pickup trucks.

The company said in a statement that the pickups offer a range of up to 450 kilometers per charge. Amar Shangavi, founder of JTP Auto, noted the vehicles are designed for local conditions and commercial fleet operations to deliver significant cost savings.

The statement said Tanzania's low electricity tariffs enable EVs to operate at about 86 percent lower cost per kilometer than fuel-powered vehicles, while maintenance costs are halved. Increased EV adoption is expected to reduce fuel imports and ease foreign exchange pressures.

JTP Auto plans to introduce more models, including a low-cost electric car priced from approximately 25 million Tanzanian shillings (about 9,622 U.S. dollars). The company is also developing high-speed charging infrastructure and aims to establish a local assembly plant within two years.

Shangavi emphasized that the company's long-term goal is to build a comprehensive electric mobility ecosystem in Tanzania, including infrastructure and local manufacturing.

JTP Auto is a Tanzanian electric vehicle company focused on supplying electric passenger vehicles, commercial fleets and heavy-duty trucks, while investing in charging infrastructure and future vehicle assembly. Enditem