Zimbabwean bus manufacturer AVM Africa has unveiled a locally designed and manufactured bus as the Government steps up efforts to revive domestic manufacturing...
Zimbabwean bus manufacturer AVM Africa has unveiled a locally designed and manufactured bus as the Government steps up efforts to revive domestic manufacturing and increase the use of locally produced goods.
The bus, which contains 65 percent locally sourced components and 35 percent imported parts, was sold to Lupane-based St Paul’s Amandlethu AMR High School for US$140,000.
The launch was attended by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Tadeous Chifamba, who said the development represented more than the introduction of another vehicle to the market.
Chifamba said it demonstrated the potential to revive and modernise Zimbabwe’s existing manufacturing capacity while producing goods for the domestic and regional markets.
“This unveiling represents more than the introduction of a new product. It represents the renewal of a manufacturing capability that has formed part of Zimbabwe’s industrial base for generations,” Chifamba said.
He said the automotive sector was important because it supports a wide range of other industries, including steel, electrical components, plastics, rubber, glass, upholstery, batteries and engineering.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, AVM Africa is already sourcing several components locally, including seats, upholstery, steel, batteries, wiring and paint.
The company has been part of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing industry for more than six decades and has produced buses, truck bodies and other commercial vehicles for public and private-sector customers.
AVM managing director Jacob Kupa said the bus manufacturing process now involves about 91 local companies, highlighting the wider supply chain linked to domestic vehicle production.
The launch comes at a time when AVM is seeking to increase production after facing pressure from imported buses.
In July, The Herald reported that AVM’s capacity utilisation had fallen to between 5 and 10 percent, despite the company having infrastructure capable of producing up to 25 commuter buses a month. The company attributed the low utilisation partly to competition from cheaper imported buses.
Kupa said in the July report that private transport operators were planning to import hundreds of buses, while AVM was operating largely on confirmed orders because of the capital-intensive nature of bus manufacturing.
The company has previously said that the 65 percent local-content figure excludes major imported components such as the engine, gearbox and axles. The remaining components are sourced through Zimbabwean suppliers.
AVM has also been pursuing partnerships aimed at expanding local bus production. In 2024, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Belarusian manufacturer Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) to scale up bus manufacturing in Zimbabwe, with the partnership expected to involve local companies in the supply chain.
The Government is also seeking to increase local content through its industrialisation policies. Chifamba said the automotive sector was among the industries being targeted as Zimbabwe seeks to expand domestic value chains, create employment and reduce dependence on imported products.
He said Government was reviewing the Motor Industry Development Policy for the 2026–2030 period, with attention on vehicle assembly, automotive component manufacturing and creating conditions that support local production.
Chifamba also said Government’s procurement measures were intended to encourage institutions to buy locally manufactured products where suitable goods were available domestically.
For AVM, increased orders would provide a larger market for locally manufactured buses while supporting companies supplying materials and components.
The launch therefore comes as the company seeks to rebuild its position in Zimbabwe’s automotive manufacturing sector and increase the proportion of locally produced materials used in its vehicles.
