Why Morocco and South Africa have a head start

March 26, 2025

Italian carmaker Fiat Automobiles will make the Pandissima, its latest SUV, at a factory in Morocco beginning in 2026. The vehicle will be available in fully electric and hybrid versions. Fiat, a subsidiary of Dutch automaker Stellantis, chose a plant in Kenitra, where the Citroën Ami and Fiat Topolino are already being made.

  • Fiat’s decision increases the number of EVs that Morocco will be manufacturing each year. The Kenitra plant, built at a cost of $323 million, has an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles. Stellantis is aiming to increase this capacity to 400,000 by 2027.

  • The North African country currently produces fully electric quadri-cycles designed for urban mobility with a focus on simplicity and affordability. The Pandissima will be mainly targeted at the export market, including Europe and the US. 

  • Our take: Morocco and South Africa, both with vibrant motor vehicle industries, have a head start over other African countries as their existing car factories can be modified to make EVs... Read more (2 min)

Africa’s low electrification rate, with only about 52% of its population connected to the grid, is hindering EV adoption across the continent. In 2024, South African charging firm Charge announced plans to install 120 off-grid stations by 2026, and the growth of such stations is fuelling hopes of overcoming this hurdle.

  • Off-grid EV charging solutions provide independence from grid outages, allowing owners to power their vehicles during extreme weather events or in remote locations without established charging infrastructure.

  • These stations often come with integrated battery storage systems to ensure a continuous power supply, even during cloudy periods or at night. This allows for consistent charging services. Further, the cost of building off-grid chargers is reducing due to falling prices of solar panels and storage batteries.

  • Our take: Off-grid charging stations are ideal for battery swapping. Outright charging can require more power than most solar and wind-powered systems provide at 3.5-7 kW, compared to 7-22 kW for home wall boxes… Read more (2 min)

Africa’s path to electric mobility is not merely an environmental necessity but an economic opportunity, writes Warren Ondanje, the Managing Director of the Africa E-Mobility Alliance (AfEMA). Ethiopia and Rwanda, he argues, are prime examples of how EV mandates can reduce oil dependency and stimulate local investment.

  • AfEMA connects stakeholders in electric mobility ecosystems across Africa, driving awareness about the rapidly growing sector, activating markets, and catalysing advocacy efforts to transform the continent’s transportation landscape into a zero-emission sector.

  • Mr Ondanje is an experienced professional in the electric mobility sector and has served nearly five years in his current role at AfEMA. An engineer by profession, he previously served as the manager for EV company ARC Ride’s operations in Kenya. 

  • To read his opinion article… Click here (4 min)

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Mlango Farm delivery guy transporting fresh produce using eBee’s e-bicycle in Kenya

Events

🗓️ Join cyclists for the Kampala cycling day hosted by eBee Uganda (March 28)

🗓️ Explore new opportunities at the business conference in Mozambique (April 23)

🗓️ Participate in Nigeria’s electric mobility association’s webinar (Mar 27)

Jobs

📒 Oversee Mogo’s car logbook loan sales agents (Uganda)

💰 Become part of BasiGo’s team as a credit administrator (Kenya)

📈 Drive growth at MAX as their operations manager (Nigeria)

Various 

📲 EKOglobe, JumlaJumla and ELICO Foundation launch Msosi App for deliveries

🛠️ Train and build expertise in EV technology at the uYilo Electric Mobility Programme

👨🏻‍💼 Ishmael Opiyo joins Spiro as the Head of Operations and Maintenance - Africa

Seen on LinkedIn 

Moses Agaba, climate researcher and analyst, warns, “We can however only get too ambitious if we want to run without trying to get up or walking. Kiira Motors must first pilot their tech and model before we go to the big flamboyant talk.”

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