A Continental Shift Toward Cleaner Transport
Momentum is building across Africa as electric mobility moves from pilot projects to factory floors. In some of the continent’s largest economies, companies are beginning to assemble electric vans and taxis locally, relying on semi-knocked-down kits imported from Chinese manufacturers while steadily building domestic capacity. The push reflects a broader ambition: reduce fuel imports, curb urban air pollution, and stimulate homegrown automotive industries.
Public transport systems in many African cities depend heavily on aging diesel and petrol-powered minibuses and vans. Transitioning even a portion of this fleet to electric alternatives could significantly lower operating costs and emissions while modernizing urban mobility networks.
Nigeria Positions Itself as a Regional Hub
In Nigeria, Saglev has launched the local assembly of 18-seater electric passenger vans using kits supplied by Dongfeng Motor Corporation. The Lagos-based firm plans to produce up to 2,500 vehicles annually and eventually assemble 17 different electric models aimed at Nigeria and neighboring West African markets.
Saglev’s chief executive, Olu Falaye, describes the project as a turning point for mass transit in sub-Saharan Africa, noting that it represents the first locally assembled electric vehicle of its kind for large-scale passenger transport in the region. Beyond vehicle assembly, the company is also investing in solar-powered charging infrastructure—an effort to address one of the most persistent barriers to EV adoption: unreliable grid electricity.
Saglev operates as a joint venture between Nigeria’s Stallion Group and Chinese automaker Sokon Motor, illustrating the hybrid model many African EV ventures are adopting—combining foreign technical expertise with local market knowledge and distribution networks.
Kenya Expands Its Electric Ambitions
A similar transformation is unfolding in Kenya, where Rideence Africa has signed a $2.46 million agreement with Associated Vehicle Assemblers to establish local assembly of electric taxis and minibuses. The kits will be supplied by Jiangsu Joylong Automobile and Beijing Henrey Automobile Technology.
For Kenya, the move signals more than an industrial upgrade—it marks the establishment of the country’s first dedicated electric vehicle assembly line. Industry leaders say this demonstrates Kenya’s technical capacity to scale EV production while positioning itself as a potential manufacturing hub for East Africa.
Kenya already hosts one of the continent’s most dynamic electric mobility ecosystems, with startups deploying electric buses and vans in public transport and ride-hailing services. The addition of localized assembly strengthens supply chains and reduces the cost of imported fully built units.
Public Transport at the Center of the Transition
Electric vans and minibuses are crucial to Africa’s mobility landscape. For decades, models such as the Toyota Hiace have dominated the roads, forming the backbone of informal and formal transit systems. Replacing even a fraction of these fleets with electric alternatives could have far-reaching economic and environmental implications.
Operating costs offer a compelling incentive. Charging an electric van for up to 200 kilometers (123 miles) typically costs around $3, compared with more than $15 in petrol expenses for a similar distance. For transport operators working on thin margins, such savings can be transformative.
Dennis Wakaba, secretary-general of the Electric Mobility Association of Kenya, notes that electric van assembly is emerging as a strong market segment. High upfront costs once discouraged adoption, but scaling local production is gradually lowering prices and attracting more fleet orders.
Innovative Financing to Overcome Affordability Barriers
Affordability remains a central challenge in markets where access to credit is limited. Few drivers or transport cooperatives can afford to purchase new vehicles outright. To bridge this gap, companies are introducing alternative financing structures.
Rideence Africa, for example, offers lease-to-own and pay-as-you-drive options, leasing taxis for approximately $18 per day. BasiGo, which is expanding into electric van assembly, requires operators to pay a deposit and about 20 U.S. cents per kilometer driven.
Such models distribute financial risk and align payments with daily revenue flows, making electric vehicles more accessible to small-scale operators. Industry stakeholders argue that these arrangements could accelerate adoption far more effectively than outright sales alone.
A Nascent but Growing Market
Elsewhere on the continent, countries such as Ethiopia and South Africa are also entering the electric mobility space. Ethiopia’s Belayneh Kinde Group assembles around 150 electric minibuses per month using Chinese components, underscoring the regional breadth of the trend.
Despite the progress, electric vehicles still represent a small fraction of Africa’s overall fleet. The continent has roughly 30,000 EVs compared with millions of internal combustion vehicles. Total vehicle production remains limited, with most manufacturing concentrated in Morocco and South Africa.
Yet the direction of travel is becoming clearer. By combining local assembly, strategic partnerships with Chinese manufacturers, renewable-powered charging solutions, and flexible financing models, African companies are laying the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable transport future. While challenges remain—from infrastructure gaps to scaling production—the emergence of locally assembled electric vans and taxis signals a tangible step toward transforming how the continent moves people and goods.