Senegal’s Land Transport Development Fund (FDTT) and the Bank for Trade and Industry (BCI SN) have signed an agreement to finance and introduce 1,000 hybrid taxis, with the first batch of 100 vehicles expected to arrive in February 2026, Ecofin Agency reported.
The initiative aims to restructure a sector historically dominated by informal operators and aging vehicles, while professionalizing and formalizing the taxi driver profession.
The financial mechanism is designed to enhance the creditworthiness of drivers and owners through a managed acquisition plan that includes requirements for vehicle management, maintenance, and technical monitoring.
The program builds on the findings of the 2024 public transport meetings, which provided a comprehensive diagnosis of the sector.
Dakar and its outskirts, with an estimated population of 3.6 million according to World Population Review, are heavily reliant on private transport operators despite investments in the Regional Express Train (TER), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and the expansion of Dakar Dem Dikk’s bus fleet.
The Executive Council for Sustainable Urban Transport (CETUD) estimates that mobility needs in the Dakar agglomeration reach nearly 7 million trips daily, placing constant pressure on the urban transport system.
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By introducing hybrid vehicles within a strict contractual framework, the program seeks to break with informal transport practices, which are characterized by aging vehicles, operations outside official financial circuits, and low service standardization.
According to the FDTT, the initiative aims to create a new generation of transport operators who can fully integrate into the formal sector while improving economic competitiveness and access to finance.
This move aligns with Senegal’s broader modernization agenda. Faced with a vehicle fleet dominated by imported used cars, the National Mobility Strategy 2025–2029 advocates for gradual fleet renewal to enhance safety, service quality, and environmental performance.
The BRT, TER, and urban and intercity bus renewal programs are designed to structure public transport along major corridors, while the new hybrid taxis will provide feeder services, local connections, and short-distance travel.
This coordinated approach is intended to optimize transport supply, rationalize urban mobility, and support the sector’s decarbonization objectives.
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Image Credit: Africa Sustainability Matters
