Does it make any sense for Botswana to build EVs?

June 05, 2025

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Botswana has unveiled 68 electric cars and buses assembled locally with the help of two Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, Skywell and CHTC Kinwin. This includes 35 electric SUVs and 33 electric buses. But with cheaper EVs flooding Africa, especially from China, questions abound as to whether Botswana’s attempt to make EVs locally is ill-fated. 

  • Botswana, with a population of just 2.5 million, is one of the smallest motor vehicle markets in Africa, with less than 10,000 units sold annually. In 2024, the country imported just 64 electric cars from China.

  • This has raised questions over whether Botswana’s EV-making is sustainable. Imported cars may be cheaper and higher quality. The government could be forced to spend millions to subsidise the industry.   

  • Our take: The country might want to focus more specifically where it can offer unique value… Read more (2 min)

Twelve investors helped mobility startups raise $26.5 million in May. They are Development Partners International, Algebra Ventures, Nuwa Capital, Raed Ventures, Uncovered Fund, Beltone Venture Capital & Camel Ventures. Others are Development Bank of Southern Africa, British International Investment, Digital Africa, Africa Go Green Fund & Cascador. 

  • Overall African startup funding has declined in recent years, but the logistics and mobility sector has seen reasonable funding, particularly in climate-related solutions like EVs and clean energy projects. 

  • Investors are increasingly betting on online car and auto parts marketplaces like Sylndr, with the business experiencing significant growth in recent years. Others that have raised funding recently include Peach Cars (Kenya), Mtor (Egypt), AfriCar (Rwanda) and KIFAL Auto (Morocco). 

  • Our take: Despite growing demand for EVs in Africa, especially for electric motorcycles, the current funding is inadequate for startups to scale fast… Read more (2 min)

Mobility Rising has tracked 28 new job openings across Africa’s electric mobility sector. Zembo, the Ugandan electric motorcycle company, emerges as the top recruiter this week, advertising eight positions across commercial sales, process engineering, and battery infrastructure production. Spiro follows in second place with four roles based in Nigeria.

  • In East Africa, BasiGo, M-KOPA, Spiro, Kofa, and Siemens Stiftung are recruiting for technology, strategy, and training roles in Kenya, while Ampersand is hiring software engineers to support its battery and fleet systems in Rwanda.

  • Nigeria leads recruitment in West Africa, with Spiro and MAX hiring across engineering and operations, while Ghana’s Kofa is adding backend IT roles. South Africa lists one quality control position, and no vacancies were reported in North Africa.

  • To see the full list of vacancies… click here (2 min)

Green Riders MD, Genevieve Olivier (second from right), poses after a panel discussion in South Africa.

Events

🗓️ Sign up for Transport Evolution Forum in South Africa (June 17)

🗓️ Book your spot at Mobility Live Conference in South Africa (Oct 15)

🗓️ Participate in the EV Mobility Expo in Kenya (Dec 4)

Various 

❌ Power delays hinder EV rollout in Addis Ababa

🤝 BYD to expand South Africa dealerships to 30-35 by next year

🔌 South Africa needs 100,000 Evs for CPOs to break even

Seen on LinkedIn 

Martina Biene, Managing Director of VW Africa, says, “We face rising congestion, poor air quality, and fuel standards that have not yet caught up with the global advances in vehicle technology. The solution is within reach: cleaner fuels, harmonised standards, and a shared commitment to healthier, more efficient mobility.”