The Ivory Coast, despite a civil war and political troubles has displayed an unexpected bit of self reliance .....
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| SOTRA Designed Bus |
...... and produced the first locally designed and produced bus (I think South Africa produces buses but they are foreign designed).
The engineering arm of the national transport company, SOTRA, decided it could create a bus better suited to African conditions, whilst saving money and employing local talent as well."We want the transfer of technology in Africa, and we want to build our own buses with our own specification," says SOTRA's director Mamadou Coulibaly. "In Europe the technology is very sophisticated with lots of electronic devices. In Africa we don't need this. We just need robust buses because our roads are not very well done like in Europe. This is an African design for Africa."
They may not be great buses (no AC in Africa, is tough driving!), but I expect that they do the trick (Remember, the T-34 in WW2 was not a polished engineering feat, but the Russians produced lots more of them cheaply, than the Germans could Tigers), and more importantly show the Africans what is possible if you put down the begging bowl, stop complaining about "White Colonialists" and do some work.
They have already have orders from their local neighbours, so it looks like it has a chance of succeeding.
Update July2023: Opibus has introduced the first all-electric bus in Kenya, as well as the first African designed electric bus ever.
Opibus Designed In Kenya
Good to hear something positive from Africa for once. I am surprised that they don't do more of this kinda thing, and create jobs as well as save money
ReplyDeleteYou are right, I suspect that if only corruption and state theft could be halted in Africa a lot more stories like this would turn up.
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