In a decisive move to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), Cameroon has slashed taxes on EVs, batteries, and charging infrastructure by 50 per cent for the next two years. This is part of a broader national effort towards reducing emissions, modernizing the country’s ageing vehicle fleet and aligning with global climate commitments.
Embedded in the newly enacted Cameroon’s Finance Law 2025, the tax reduction will significantly lower the entry cost for consumers and investors entering the EV market - a direct response to the growing evidence that highlights the urgent need for Cameroon and countries in the Central African region to transition to cleaner, low-emissions vehicles.
This decision comes after a successful sub-regional workshop on the importation of safer and cleaner used vehicles held back-to-back with a national electric mobility workshop in July 2024, as part of UNEP’s Clean Fuels and Vehicles Programme.
During the workshop, six Central African countries shared their national policies on vehicle import, revealing the stark reality of the region’s auto market dominated by outdated, high-emissions used cars due to lax import regulations.
In the Central African Republic, for instance, there are no age or technical restrictions on imported cars. Congo and Equatorial Guinea set seven years and above as the age limit, while Gabon has progressively relaxed its rules, now permitting used vehicles up to a decade old.
While affordability keeps used cars dominant, the participants recognized the negative impacts of these cars, noting that there is need to have innovative schemes to incentivize cleaner cars. Such schemes would be instrumental to bridge the financial gap to cleaner alternatives, while encouraging private sector investment in manufacturing, assembling and infrastructure such as charging stations. Based on the recommendations, the national workshop held in July laid the foundation for an EV transition in Cameroon. Supported by UNEP, the high-level engagement agreed on a pilot programme inspired by Rwanda’s successful EV initiatives.
A UNEP-funded study conducted using the Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) methodology, provided further insight that inspired the efforts undertaken by Cameroon. Data spanning several years, including as recently as 2020, showed that imported used vehicles had an average age of 16.2 years for private cars and 13.5 years for vans. The average emissions of these vehicles significantly exceeded the global emission standards.
The study put forward several key recommendations including the enforcement of stricter age limits on imported used vehicles and the introduction of tax incentives to encourage the adoption of low-emissions vehicles. It also emphasized the need to support Cameroon’s efforts to develop alternative fuels, review and strengthen the regulatory framework to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, and establish a robust data collection system to monitor the environmental performance of imported vehicles. Additionally, it called for the implementation of improved fuel quality and vehicle emissions standards across the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) Member States.
With charging infrastructure and investment-friendly regulations now in focus, Cameroon’s bold fiscal move signals a turning point. The following two years will test whether these incentives can spark an electric revolution in a region that has long relied on polluting, outdated vehicles.
Clean Fuels and Vehicles Programme
The UNEP Clean Fuels and Vehicles Programme works with public and private entities to support the transition to low-carbon road transport. To achieve this, the programme advocates for vehicle emission standards and promotes the adoption of cleaner technologies. This effort aims to address rising air pollution, tackle climate change and enhance road safety. The programme’s Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV), a successful 19-year campaign, led to the global elimination of automotive leaded petrol.
