Ethiopia Updates ICE Vehicle Import Ban To Include Imports of SKD & CKD Kits - CleanTechnica

Ethiopia made a groundbreaking move by banning the import of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles over a year ago, becoming the first country to implement an immediate ban rather than setting a future target. The ban aimed to reduce the country’s large fossil fuel import bill of over US$5 billion annually, conserve scarce foreign currency, and promote energy security. This policy was supported by Ethiopia’s growing renewable energy capacity, notably from the 5,150 MW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which adds around 15,500 GWh of clean electricity to the national grid. Initially, the ban excluded semi-knocked down (SKD) and completely knocked down (CKD) ICE vehicle kits to support local assembly industries. However, in May 2025, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Industry updated the ban to include SKD and CKD kits for ICE vehicles and motorcycles, effectively closing the last import channel for fossil fuel-powered vehicles. Exceptions remain for electric motor-powered, hybrid vehicles, and ambul