AUVIV Zambia Limited has announced that it plans to start assembling electric powered vehicles in the landlocked nation in Southern Africa.
The move follows an earlier announcement this year that stated that Zambia’s renowned UK-based professor Clive Chirwa unveiled an ambitious plan that will see him in partnership with AUVIV, a British registered specialised vehicles converter and manufacturer of bespoke commuter minibuses, cargo vans, police vans and ambulances set-up a vehicle assembly plant in Kapiri Mposhi in central Zambia.
Chirwa, who is also the chief executive officer at AUVIV Zambia Limited, said the company intends in the near future to manufacture electric-powered vehicles.
He added that AUVIV Zambia has the capacity to design and manufacture electric vehicles locally. “The firm will soon explore the market of electric vehicles in Zambia before embarking on the scheme,” he said.
Chirwa noted that the country stands to benefit from clean energy vehicles once launched on the market. “Currently the company is manufacturing diesel and petrol vehicles to meet the needs of the transport sector in the country,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Chirwa said the company has sourced a piece of land where to set up the vehicle manufacturing plant in Kapiri Mposhi and thatworks on the plant will start once the paperwork is completed with the local authority.
Minister of Works and Supply Sylvia Chalikosa who graced the unveiling of the AUVIV buses, said AUVIV Zambia Limited should cease the opportunity and venture into the manufacturing of electric vehicles. “Zambia is endowed with abundant resources required to manufacture electric vehicles,” she said.
