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Electric mobility industry in Africa: Green transport on the rise and future prospects
Against the backdrop of global efforts to promote green transformation, electric mobility is becoming an important direction of change in the transportation sector. Africa, once regarded as a “backward” continent in terms of technology and infrastructure, is now emerging in the wave of electrification.
Faced with increasingly severe energy pressures, urban traffic congestion and challenges brought about by climate change, African countries have begun to actively explore sustainable transportation solutions (explore the top 10 electric motorcycle companies in Africa in 2025). At the same time, the rapid rise of start-ups, the attention and investment of international capital and the growth of local market demand have jointly promoted the vigorous development of the electric mobility industry in Africa.
This article will comprehensively analyze the development status and prospects of the electric mobility industry in Africa from multiple dimensions such as market overview, regional development, corporate cases, financing environment and future trends, and provide reference and insights for readers who are concerned about the green transportation transformation in Africa.
Market overview and development trends
Market size and growth potential
According to the latest data, the size of the electric vehicle market in Africa will reach US$2.8 billion in 2023, and is expected to grow to US$7 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 20.6%. Behind this growth trend is the urgent need for clean energy transportation in African countries and the recognition of the region’s green economic potential by global investors.
Especially in key countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa, electric travel projects have become an important area for attracting foreign investment. It is estimated that by 2030, the electric motorcycle market in only five major countries will require an investment of 3.5 billion to 8.9 billion US dollars, showing huge market space and development potential.
Policy support and international cooperation
Many African governments have begun to introduce policies to encourage the development of the electric vehicle industry. For example, Ethiopia has implemented a ban on the import of fuel vehicles and provided tax exemptions, and plans to achieve a total of 148,000 electric vehicles and 50,000 electric buses by 2030. This will not only help reduce carbon emissions, but also save about US$5 billion in fuel import costs each year.
In addition, African countries are also actively seeking cooperation with international automakers and technology companies. For example, AUTO24.africa has received support from Stellantis, and BasiGo has received funding from institutions such as Africa 50 Fund and British International Investment Corporation. These collaborations not only brought in funds and technology, but also accelerated the maturity of the local electric vehicle market in Africa.
Regional development pattern and corporate case analysis
Regional differences and strategic layout
The development of the electric mobility industry in Africa shows obvious regional differentiation:
East Africa: With Kenya as the core, it focuses on the promotion of commercial electric vehicles, especially electric buses. Kenya has the most mature renewable energy infrastructure in Africa, and more than 90% of its electricity comes from clean energy such as hydropower and geothermal energy, providing a good energy foundation for electric transportation.
Southern Africa: Represented by South Africa, it is committed to building local electric vehicle manufacturing capabilities. However, due to problems such as unstable power supply, the region’s investment attractiveness is relatively low.
West Africa: Nigeria promotes electric vehicle assembly by forming a partnership, aiming to become a regional distribution hub. Although power shortages remain a challenge, its large population base and rapidly developing urbanization provide broad space for the popularization of electric vehicles.
Representative companies and their models
AUTO24.africa has rapidly expanded to several African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, and Rwanda, relying on the strategic cooperation between its parent company Africar Group and the global automotive giant Stellantis. Its EV24.africa platform integrates more than 200 electric models and provides services such as five-day refunds and one-year free maintenance, which greatly improves the user experience.
The company adopts a strategy that combines technology-driven and customer experience to form a differentiated competitive advantage in the used car market and is expected to cover 15-20 African countries in the next decade.
As Kenya’s leading electric bus solution provider, BasiGo successfully raised US$42 million in 2024 to deploy 1,000 electric buses and expand its mileage-based charging business model. Its customers include more than 300 bus operators in Rwanda, demonstrating the huge potential of public transportation electrification.
BasiGo’s success is due to its ability to accurately connect development financial institutions with private capital, making it an ideal target for green infrastructure investment.
Ampersand focuses on the East African motorcycle taxi market and has deployed more than 5,700 electric motorcycles, serving an average of 1,700 riders per day, and reducing emissions by 8,000 tons. Its battery swap network operates 75,000 swaps per week, solving the problem of inconvenient charging (explore motorcycle battery replacement). The company plans to deploy 5 million electric motorcycles by 2033, with 140,000 swaps per month, to promote the green transportation revolution in African cities.
Financing environment and business model innovation
Changes in the financing landscape
In 2024, African startups completed 488 financings with a total amount of US$2.21 billion, of which travel startups raised US$178.6 million in the first quarter. Although overall logistics and travel financing fell sharply in the first quarter of 2025, electric two-wheelers and supporting facilities are still favored by investors.
From the perspective of financing stages:
Business model innovation and cross-industry cooperation
As market competition intensifies, more and more companies are beginning to explore diversified business models. For example, some companies focus on building charging networks, while others focus on vehicle supply, forming complementary cooperation. This “ecological chain” development model helps reduce risks and improve efficiency.
In addition, Chinese technology company Transsion Holdings (Transsion) has entered the electric bicycle field with its successful experience in the African smartphone market. Its brand TankVolt electric bicycles have ranked among the top three in sales in Africa, and meet local market demand through flexible pricing, battery replacement services, etc.
Transsion adopts a vertical integration model, controls manufacturing, distribution and financing, and has strong cost control capabilities. Its electric bicycles are priced at $1,500, slightly lower than its competitor Ampersand’s $1,600, further enhancing its price competitiveness.
Challenges and future outlook
Main challenges
Although the electric mobility industry in Africa has broad prospects, it still faces many challenges:
Future development direction
In order to achieve sustainable growth, African electric mobility companies need to adopt the following strategies:
Conclusion
Africa’s electric mobility industry is in a rapid development stage. It is not only an important path to cope with climate change and energy crises, but also a key force to promote regional economic development and social progress. Whether it is a start-up or a multinational giant, they are looking for new opportunities and breakthroughs in this vibrant land.
In the future, with the gradual improvement of infrastructure, the continuous optimization of policies and the continuous advancement of technological innovation, Africa is expected to become a new highland for the global electric vehicle industry. In this green transportation revolution, whoever can truly understand Africa, take root in Africa, and serve Africa will win the future.
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