• Mobility Rising
  • Posts
  • Spiro enters two new markets after major capital injections

Spiro enters two new markets after major capital injections

May 12, 2025

Africa’s leading electric motorcycle company Spiro has launched in Tanzania and Cameroon, increasing its operations to eight countries. It’s also in Togo, Benin, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Nigeria and is targeting to expand into new markets such as Angola and DR Congo. The company has sold more than 22,000 motorcycles since it was founded in 2019. 

  • Spiro’s entry into Tanzania and Cameroon is part of its grand plan to expand across Africa, where demand for electric motorcycles is growing fast. The two countries have only a few operators, making them ripe for disruption. 

  • To fuel its expansion drive, Spiro has been raising significant capital from investors in recent years. The firm plans to grow its network of battery swapping and charging infrastructure, and introducing new electric bike models. 

  • Our take: Spiro has so far focused on West and East Africa. However, North and Southern Africa also offer great potential for rapid growth… Read more (2 min)

Labour costs for vehicle production in Morocco are the lowest globally, according to a recent report by Oliver Wyman consulting firm. While the global average labour cost to produce a vehicle is $880, it only costs $106 in Morocco, cheaper even than China, where the cost is $597. This has helped Morocco become a global automotive giant.

  • Labor costs account for about 5-10% of a vehicle's final assembly price, but when including the entire supply chain, they can reach around 20%. This put Morocco in a position to garner investments in its auto industry. 

  • Morocco is attracting interest from sustainability investors, particularly in battery production and EVs, including from China. This presents an opportunity for Africa to produce more affordable EVs compared to those imported from international markets.

  • Our take: Morocco’s affordable production environment is a sign-post for the continent…  Read more (2 min)

Spiro’s Ekon 450M1 is the cheapest electric motorcycle in Kenya, costing nearly half of what its main competitor, Roam Electric’s Roam Air costs. The Ekon 450M1 costs Ksh 152,000 ($1,176) to buy upfront, while the Roam Air costs Ksh 296,000 ($2,289), data collected by Mobility Rising shows. Ampersand’s Gen3 costs Ksh 220,000 ($1,701). 

  • The pricing data is collected in the same week monthly for consistency and presented in local currency to avoid price distortion by exchange rates. We track the price of the three leading electric motorcycle companies in Kenya, which means the data may not be conclusive.  

  • The difference in the prices is mainly informed by the capabilities of the individual electric motorcycle. For instance, the Roam Air has a higher top speed, power, load capacity and longer range than the Ekon 450M1, making it costlier to make. 

  • Our take: Spiro’s lower pricing, aiming for the mass market, has been crucial for its rapid growth across the continent where price is the main driver of purchase decisions… Read more (2 min)

Rahul Gaur, Spiro’s West Africa Director, at the launch of Spiro in Cameroon

Events

🗓️ Listen to EV Residual Value webinar (May 19)

🗓️ Register for Africa Technology Show happening in Kenya (July 8)

🗓️ Attend the Africa E-Mobility Week in Ethiopia (Sep 16)

Jobs

💼 Join Tri as a Financial Manager (Tanzania)

💰 Manage direct sales at Dodai (Ethiopia)

👷🏻‍♂️ Lead repair and maintenance at Dodai (Ethiopia)

Various 

🤝 VAULTe partners with Versatile Group Energy in Nigeria

💸 Cygnum Capital - Africa Go Green Fund invests in Gogo Electric

🏍 Uber pilots two-wheeler service in South Africa

Seen on LinkedIn 

Simon Davis, CEO of OX Delivers, says, “Operational data fuels a digital ecosystem, building a scalable B2B marketplace. This smart integration, coupled with plans for payment apps, is a delight for anyone geeking out over connected systems and data-driven optimisation.”