The city bus company is to acquire 100 low-entry buses, spending close to 20 million dollars through loans obtained from the World Bank.

Low-entry buses are vehicles with a floor closer to the ground, making them convenient to board, particularly for the elderly and physically challenged commuters.

The Addis Abeba City Roads Authority (AACRA) floated the international bid last week, inviting both domestic and international suppliers, on behalf of the Anbessa City Bus Enterprise, one of the oldest public companies.

Under the city administration, the company runs a fleet size of 650 buses, serving an estimated 650,000 commuters daily. Anbessa has previously been sourcing buses from the Bishoftu Automotive Engineering Industry (BAEI), established in 1999 under the former Metals & Engineering Corporation (MetEC), now Power Engineering Corporation (PEC), which registered a turnover of over one billion Birr last year. Bishoftu Automotive had received its last order from Anbessa two years ago for 191 low-entry buses, 180 of which are currently operating.

The bidding requirement, however, is too stringent for domestic companies to bid. They will have to show an annual turnover of 20 million dollars and a record of half a decade without registering losses in the automotive industry. Expected to have a minimum of seven years of experience in low-entry manufacturing, it is only Bishoftu that can meet the requirement among domestic assemblers. CEO of Bishoftu, Negesse Chane, declined to comment, for a decision has not been made on whether to participate.

Local assemblers are encouraged to apply if they meet the requirements, according to an official close to the matter.

The bid was floated after a team of experts from the City Roads Authority, Anbessa Bus, and the Planning & Development Commission, and others, carried out a six-month feasibility study. Two companies have responded, buying bid documents priced at 4,000 Br apiece, sources disclosed.

The buses the Enterprise hopes to get will have a 40-seat capacity, three more seats than those in its fleet.