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- Famous for military bases, this small nation leads Africa in EVs
Famous for military bases, this small nation leads Africa in EVs
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 | Djibouti, one of the smallest countries in Africa, appears to be the largest importer of electric cars on the continent. Chinese government data shows Djibouti imported 7,636 EVs from China, the world’s largest producer of EVs, in 2024. The small Eastern African country seems to account for 39.3% of EVs brought to Africa, more than double of any other country. |
This may be due to high demand for EVs in Djibouti, but more likely is linked to the major foreign military bases in Djibouti. The local port is also a key transshipment centre for goods destined to other countries.
With a population of just 1.1 million, Djibouti may not hold on to this position for long. Egypt, the second largest importer of EVs in Africa with a population of 118 million people, is the country most likely to take Djibouti’s crown.
Our take: The fact that a tiny country is the leading buyer of EVs shows how far Africa still has to go, yet the pace of growth is encouraging… Read more (2 min)
 | Benin will receive a $200 million loan from the World Bank to develop a clean urban transport system. The project will develop a completely new public transport network, aiming to serve 360,000 daily passengers. It will promote low-emission commuting through the introduction of electric motorcycles, electric buses and electric boats, said the Bank. |
Benin has one of the lowest numbers of EVs in Africa. In 2024, it imported only 17 units from China, the world’s largest EV manufacturer, and only 12 in the previous year. Almost all of Benin’s more than half a million vehicles use fuel. The World Bank’s lending will increase the share of EVs.
The transition to electric mobility in Africa is mainly led by the private sector. However, lending from DFIs like the World Bank is helping to accelerate the adoption of EVs. Since 2016, the World Bank has committed more than $2.3 billion globally to transport projects that include electric mobility.
Our take: Concessional lending from DFIs can fast-track EV adoption in Africa by helping to build key infrastructure such as charging stations… Read more (2 min)
 | South Africa has the largest EV production capacity in Africa, with nearly 200,000 units per year, according to the Mobility Rising production database. This accounts for over 25% of the continent’s annual EV and hybrid assembly capacity. The country benefits from a well-established auto industry, already home to manufacturers such as BMW, VW and Ford. |
Africa has the potential to produce over 520,000 pure electric cars and motorcycles annually, based on the capacity of completed plants, those under construction, and newly announced projects.
One of the most significant announcements this month came from Japanese firm Sumitomo Electric. The company inaugurated a $25-million electric vehicle wiring production plant in Egypt, with operations set to begin in November.
Our take: Africa’s EV production remains low as most plants are not yet fully operational… Read more (2 min)
Events
🗓️ Attend Auto Expo in Kenya (May 28)
🗓️ Register for Africa E-Mobility Week’s webinar (May 29)
🗓️ Book your slot for Automorrow Expo in Egypt (May 30)
Jobs
🛠️ Join the manufacturing team at Rubicon (South Africa)
💰 Apply for a Junior Quality Control Engineer position at Gogo Electric (Uganda)
👨🏻💻 Become part of the senior data analysis team at Arc Ride (Kenya)
Various
🏍 Blu EV introduces a new electric motorcycle model
🚍 Kigali's first all-electric bus route starts operation
🚘 Ford recalls 25 of its Ranger bakkie in South Africa and Botswana
Seen on LinkedIn
Michael Ayang Agbor, General Manager at EV World Africa, says, “Spreading unverified or inaccurate information such as inflated EV numbers or unconfirmed company achievements not only misleads the public but also undermines the credibility of the local EV ecosystem we’re all striving to build.”