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- Morocco is building Africa’s largest EV battery plant with Chinese backing
Morocco is building Africa’s largest EV battery plant with Chinese backing
 | Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese battery manufacturer and Volkswagen partner, will begin production of EV batteries at its Morocco gigafactory in the fourth quarter of 2026. It will be the largest EV battery factory in Africa with an initial production capacity of 20 GWh, with plans to expand to 100 GWh in the future. The initial investment is estimated at $1.3 billion. |
Gotion is the eighth-largest EV battery manufacturer in the world, and its investment will strengthen Morocco’s position as a key player in the global EV industry. The factory will be located in Kenitra, Morocco, and is expected to create 17,000 jobs.
Morocco's strategic location and free trade agreements with the EU and the US make it an attractive hub for EV battery production. Several other Chinese battery companies, including BTR New Material Group, CNGR Advanced Material, Hailiang, and Shinzoom, are also setting up operations in Morocco.
Our take: The heavy reliance of the Moroccan battery industry on Chinese investors is exposing it to global geopolitical tensions…Read more (2 min)
 | The labour market in the electric mobility sector expanded by 2% in the past month, according to the Mobility Rising Staff Index which measures the change in the number of jobs available and companies advertising jobs. It also measures the most recent pay shifts, the change in the total number of staff and the attrition rate at the top ten firms. |
Our analysis shows that the number of senior staff at the leading ten electric mobility companies increased by 4% to 2,952 from 2,830 over the past month, while new hires by the leading firms went up by 11% to 1,235 from 1,112.
While the number of vacancies announced reduced by 4% to 75 from 78, the number of companies that announced vacancies went up by 18% to 20 up from 17, highlighting increasing hiring diversity.
Our take: Electric mobility startups heavily rely on funding to scale, and the recent improvements in the labour market follow significant fundraising by the top firms… Read more (2 min)
 | Mobility Rising has monitored 24 new job vacancies advertised in the mobility sector across Africa. East Africa remains the leader with 21 vacancies, with ten of the roles posted by Ampersand in Kenya and Rwanda, accounting for more than 40% of the total vacancies. The roles were in manufacturing, engineering, and business analysis. |
West Africa saw two vacancies, with Eonsfleet and MAX leading the way, concentrating on sales and pipeline conversion. MAX, previously the top recruiter, is now stabilising after expanding operations across Nigeria.
North Africa posted just one vacancy by Shift EV, reflecting modest hiring activity, with a role in administration. The company has shifted its focus from engineering, finance, and data management to administrative roles.
See the full list here… Read more (1 min)
Events
🗓️ Secure a spot at the Electric Era, Zero Emissions event in Namibia (May 24)
🗓️ Attend Guateng’s Automotive Industry Stakeholders Workshop in SA (June 11)
🗓️ Register for E-Mobility and Infrastructure Summit in Kenya (Nov 26)
Various
❌ Charge's proposal to build a 1 ha charging station denied by Western Cape Government
💰 Arc Ride’s partnership with British government to deploy 5,000 electric motorcycles
🚘 SAGLEV targets electric vehicle growth via assembly plant, charger imports
Seen on LinkedIn
Dapo Adesina, President of Nigeria’s E-Mobility Association, says, “In re-thinking our mobility system, it has to be sustainable, affordable and accessible. The energy source(s) has to be renewable, while the grid has to be smart.”