Indian firm makes electric motorcycles just for Africa

From the newsletter 

PlugNride Motors, an Indian EV company, has engineered its first electric motorcycle specifically for the continent. The bike was launched last week at the Nigerian embassy in New Delhi ahead of its scaling to the rest of Africa. Called the APKE PNR–100, it features a rugged design, high load capacity, and enhanced battery performance.

• India is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of electric motorcycles and is a major source of motorcycles imported by Africa, often at a lower cost than those made locally. This could put India-made electric motorcycles at an advantage in the African market. 

• Nigeria is one of Africa’s leading motorcycle markets. PlugNride could use the West African country as a launchpad into other major markets like Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Egypt.  

More details

• Zafar Equbal, the founder of PlugNride Motors, shared the company’s enthusiasm about entering the African market. “We are extremely excited to present this special product to the African market,” said Mr Equbal. “We are committed to supporting Nigeria’s e-mobility mission and are ready to establish a strong presence there with full local collaboration.” 

• The company said that the motorcycle has been optimized for urban commuting, last-mile delivery, and rural accessibility across diverse African geographies. It also announced plans to collaborate with local partners across Africa for assembly, distribution, and servicing infrastructure, ensuring affordability and long-term sustainability. 

• Nigeria has more than 5.1 million registered motorcycles, making it the country with the largest number of motorcycles in sub-Saharan Africa. While the majority are petrol-powered, the number of electric motorcycles is growing fast, driven by major sellers like Spiro, ThinkBikes, Possible EV, and Siltech Electric. 

• Indian motorcycle companies like TVS and Bajaj have dominated the African market for years, with their brands known for being durable, efficient and cost-effective. Should their electric motorcycles have the same qualities, they could also dominate the segment in the coming years. Already, a growing number of electric motorcycle companies operate both in India and Africa, the latest examples being Spiro and Zeno. 

• Currently, China is the primary source of electric motorcycles and Semi or Completely-Knocked-Down (CKD) components imported by African companies for local sales and assembly. However, India, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia are emerging as alternative source markets, giving African buyers more options to choose from depending on their needs. 

• Electric motorcycles make up less than 5% of new motorcycle sales in Africa, but the share is growing rapidly. The entry of new players is increasing competition in the industry, while technological advancements, especially in battery technology, are rapidly reducing the cost of electric motorcycles, which will further boost sales.  

Our take

• PlugNride should quickly establish assembly partnerships in Nigeria to reduce import costs, benefit from tax incentives, and create local jobs. This will also build trust with regulators and consumers while enhancing service and spare parts availability. 

• Without accessible charging or swapping stations, adoption of electric motorcycles in Nigeria and Africa at large will stall. PlugNride must work with local partners or governments to roll out reliable infrastructure, especially in urban delivery hubs and intercity corridors.

• To overcome the high upfront cost barrier, PlugNride and peers should integrate lease-to-own, pay-as-you-go, or ride-to-own models using fintech and mobile money platforms — making EVs affordable for informal workers and SMEs.