Mitsui & Co. is working with India’s EKA Mobility to expand electric bus exports to Africa. The initiative combines Japanese investment and business networks with Indian EV manufacturing capabilities as African cities accelerate public transport electrification.
Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co. is expanding its electric mobility business by exporting electric buses manufactured in India to African markets, creating a new route for Indian-made clean transportation technology into the continent. The initiative highlights growing interest among Japanese companies in using India as a manufacturing and export base for Africa.
Mitsui is working with EKA Mobility, an Indian electric vehicle manufacturer, to develop and export electric buses to markets where demand for cleaner public transportation is increasing. The company had earlier invested alongside Dutch electric bus manufacturer VDL in Pinnacle Mobility, which operates under the EKA brand. The investment formed part of a broader effort to develop electric commercial vehicles for domestic and international markets.
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African countries are emerging as an important market for electric buses as cities seek to reduce emissions, modernise public transport and lower dependence on imported fossil fuels. South Africa and Zanzibar are among the markets where EKA has already begun expanding its electric bus presence, putting Indian manufacturers in competition with established Chinese electric vehicle companies.
The Africa strategy also fits into a broader Japan-India approach to third-country cooperation. Japanese and Indian companies have increasingly identified opportunities to combine Japanese capital, technology and business networks with India’s manufacturing capabilities and experience in emerging markets.
Mitsui’s involvement could help Indian electric vehicle manufacturers access international markets, financing, supply chains and local commercial networks. For African transport operators, partnerships involving Indian manufacturers could provide an alternative source of electric buses at a time when Chinese companies have established a strong position in the continent’s electric mobility market.
The export push comes as India strengthens its domestic electric vehicle ecosystem through manufacturing incentives, battery investments and public transport electrification. Government programmes are supporting the development of electric buses, charging infrastructure and domestic battery capacity, helping manufacturers build capabilities that can eventually support overseas demand.
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Mitsui has also been active in promoting India-Africa business cooperation. At a Japan-India-Africa Business Forum, the trading company highlighted the importance of stronger integration between Japanese and Indian businesses to support economic development in Africa.
The electric bus initiative therefore represents more than a vehicle export opportunity. It could develop into a wider India-Japan-Africa commercial model, combining Indian manufacturing and engineering capabilities with Japanese investment and business expertise to address Africa’s growing demand for sustainable urban mobility.