Zambia champions rural e-mobility

• The partnership brings together three key players: Subilo Energy, a manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries; Engie Energy, a provider of mini-grids and off-grid energy solutions; and Spartan Industries, a supplier of electric vehicles.  

• Together, they will accelerate the deployment of electric two and three-wheelers powered by solar mini-grids across remote parts of Zambia.

• Our take: EV electricity consumption could make rural mini-grids more profitable...  Read more (2 min)

Nigeria pushes for local supply chains

• To achieve this, NADDC has invested in training Nigerian engineers in advanced design and manufacturing techniques, with the goal of increasing the local content of assembled vehicles from less than 1% to 40%.

• Ogun State is leading the charge in Nigeria's EV sector. It plans to invest $40 million in an assembly plant for electric motorcycles, two-wheelers, tricycles, cars and buses. 

• Our take: Localising supply chains could cut production costs and create jobs... Read more (2 min)

Kiira doubled its senior staff this year

• The hiring spree at Kiira Motors has happened in two phases. The first was early this year between February and April, when the top team expanded by about half. Then in October alone it increased again by a quarter.  

• Unlike in many other African mobility companies, the team is almost exclusively domestic. The hires are Ugandans, who went to Ugandan universities and have worked at Ugandan companies. 

• Our take: State-owned powerhouses won’t beat VC-funded EV startups… Read more (2 min)

• PURE EV to enter the African market: Indian electric vehicle manufacturer PURE EV has partnered with Arva Electric, a subsidiary of Clarion Investments, to supply an initial 50,000 electric motorcycles to the Middle East and Africa, with plans to scale up to 60,000 units annually. This partnership will leverage Pure EV’s advanced ecoDryft and eTryst X models to meet the growing demand for sustainable transportation in these regions. (ETAuto)

• E-scooter market report: A new report on the “Africa Electric Scooter Market” forecasts $84.3 million in sales by 2030, with a 7.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025. Driven by rising environmental concerns and the shift from traditional vehicles to electric, the market has seen a notable 57.7% revenue share in the retro/self-start segment as of 2024. (ResearchandMarkets)

• Reliable power drives Rwanda’s EV transition: Rwanda demonstrates how regulatory action can catalyse shifts toward sustainable urban transport. Key lessons from Rwanda’s approach include the importance of robust energy infrastructure. The country has more than doubled its power capacity from 213 MW in 2018 to 556 MW by 2023. Rwanda has reduced its power outages by 53.6% over the last five years. (LinkedIn)

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