Japanese Entrepreneur Raises $7M to Build Ethiopia's Fastest-Growing EV Company

When Yuma Sasaki graduated from the University of Tokyo, he had his sights set on something most of his classmates weren't considering: building a business in Africa. Today, that dream has materialized into Dodai, Ethiopia's fastest-growing electric vehicle company, backed by $7 million in investment and delivering clean transportation to thousands.

Sasaki's journey to entrepreneurial success wasn't straightforward, but his determination never wavered. After joining a major Japanese oil and gas company in hopes they'd send him to Africa, he made a bold choice when they didn't. "They never did, so I quit," he recalls. Instead of settling, he charted his own path, joining PEG Africa to work in solar energy across Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Along the way, he enrolled at ESSEC Business School in France to sharpen his skills, recognizing that preparation would be key to his African ambitions.

By 2022, Sasaki was ready to launch Dodai in Ethiopia, bringing with him valuable experience from his time at Uber Japan and as chief business officer at Luup, a successful Japanese e-mobility startup. His choice of Ethiopia surprised many investors who typically focus on more established markets like Nigeria and Kenya. But Sasaki saw opportunity where others saw obstacles. "Ethiopia and the DRC are large but difficult, with fewer competitors. That means more impact if we succeed," he explains with optimism.

His positive outlook has been rewarded. In 2023, before Dodai even began selling to the public, the Ethiopian Postal Service became an exclusive partner and remains the company's biggest customer today. Over the past 18 months, Dodai has sold around 1,500 electric motorcycles, each capable of traveling up to 150 kilometers on a single charge.

What makes Dodai's motorcycles special is their use of lithium-ion batteries instead of the lead-acid batteries most competitors rely on. Priced between $1,200 and $2,000, these bikes have become favorites for delivery businesses navigating Ethiopian cities. All bikes are assembled locally in Ethiopia, contributing to the country's growing manufacturing sector and creating jobs.

The Ripple Effect: Sasaki's vision extends far beyond his current success. He's planning to introduce battery-swapping technology that will reduce the upfront cost of motorcycles by 40 to 50 percent, making electric transportation accessible to even more people. After a soft launch in August, full battery-swapping stations are expected to roll out early next year. At these stations, riders can exchange a depleted battery for a fully charged one in just minutes, eliminating range anxiety and ownership costs.

"In five years, we aim to serve 50,000 battery-swapping users in Ethiopia and expand into five or six other African countries," Sasaki shares enthusiastically. His approach of partnering with local operators means the benefits will multiply across communities, creating jobs, reducing emissions, and providing affordable transportation options.

Despite Ethiopia's reputation for complex bureaucracy, Sasaki remains encouraged by the country's reform efforts. "The speed of progress is remarkable," he notes. "Retail, banking, and real estate sectors have opened to foreign investment within the past 18 months."

Sasaki's success story demonstrates how patience, cultural bridges, and long-term thinking can create transformative change. By connecting Japanese investors willing to take a patient approach with Ethiopian opportunities ready to bloom, he's not just building a company. He's electrifying a continent's future, one motorcycle at a time.