Electric cars in Rwanda - prices, models & dealers, compared
Every EV you can buy in Kigali, side by side: prices, range, the tax exemption, and which dealership to get them from.
Rwanda has more than a dozen electric cars on sale, from the Wuling Mini EV (around RWF 11M) up to long-range BYD and Geely SUVs. Pure electric vehicles pay 0% import duty, VAT and excise through 30 June 2028, which cuts landed cost by roughly a quarter. Most are sold through Kigali dealers such as CEVR, CFAO/BYD, Kabisa and REM, with about two dozen public charging points in the city. Prices shown here are independent starting estimates; request a dealer quote for the exact on-the-road figure. Compare every model or read the tax exemption.
0% import duty, 0% VAT, 0% excise - full exemption through 30 June 2028.
- The vehicle, its batteries and charging equipment are all exempt.
- Cuts landed cost by roughly 25–30% (a ~$30k EV lands near ~$21k).
- EV-charging electricity capped near the industrial rate (~$0.10/kWh).
Source: Automag.rw · Updated Jun 2026
Popular EVs in Rwanda
Compare all 16 →Pure EV from RWF 38,276,781
Geely EX5
Geely compact electric SUV - the model the family liked at CEVR. Sold by two Kigali dealers: CEVR (60.22 kWh / 495 km) and Kabisa, which markets it as the Geely E5 (49.5 kWh / 440 km) from 38.3M RWF.
Pure EV from USD 47,500
BYD Atto 3
BYD compact electric SUV (a.k.a. Yuan Plus), the flagship of the official BYD dealer in Kigali.
Pure EV from RWF 11,000,000
Wuling Mini EV
Tiny, cheapest-in-market city EV from Kabisa - the entry point to EV ownership in Rwanda.
Used import from USD 12,000
Nissan Leaf
The default used-import EV - cheap, proven, widely available second-hand from Japan and Europe.
Dealerships in Kigali
CEVR
Multi-brand Geely + BYD showroom; financing-friendly. The dealership the family visited - prices here are confirmed in person (Jun 2026).
East Africa's first official BYD dealership (opened Jan 2024); strongest after-sales ecosystem.
Multi-brand EV dealer with its own charging network and EV/hybrid garage. Prices below are from the Kabisa brochure (collected in person, Jun 2026) - landed in Rwanda, all taxes paid.
REM
Battery-swap model; carbon-neutral exchange infrastructure.
Used and imported EVs (Nissan Leaf, Kona, MG, Tesla) plus cross-dealer price benchmarking.
Buyer guides
China is where most of Rwanda’s EVs originate. Importing directly can undercut dealer prices - if you handle shipping, compliance and the charging-standard mismatch.
Several dealers now bundle financing. CEVR advertises financing via LOLC Unguka with an 8-year warranty; banks also lend on EVs.
Leasing lowers the upfront barrier. Kabisa offers EV leasing alongside sales and charging - useful for fleets and cautious first-time EV buyers.
Most owners charge at home overnight. Kabisa installs home and business chargers and runs Rwanda’s largest public network.
For a family in Kigali the priorities are seats, safety, real range and a dealer with after-sales. Compact electric SUVs fit best.
In-town Kigali driving rewards small, efficient EVs - short trips, easy parking, home charging. You do not need 500 km of range for the city.
Outside Kigali, charging thins out fast and roads get rougher. Range and ground clearance matter; a pickup or long-range SUV is safer.
Buying from abroad for family in Rwanda is common - but paying remotely, verifying the car and handling delivery needs a trusted process.
The single biggest reason EVs are getting affordable in Rwanda - but it applies to PURE EVs only. Here is exactly what is exempt, and the trap with hybrids.
Charging in Rwanda is Kigali-centric and growing fast. Here is the current picture and who runs it.