Tesla could revolutionise Africa’s EV sector in a surprising way

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Tesla, the world’s largest EV manufacturer, is quietly making moves in Africa. Known for its sleek vehicles, the company is yet to launch them in Africa, but is disrupting the continent’s battery storage market, and this could be beneficial for EVs. Tesla has hired 795 staff in Africa over the last 12 months, more than any other EV company. This is based on LinkedIn data. 

• Access to electricity in Africa remains limited, which is inhibiting the growth of EVs. Tesla’s Powerwall energy storage batteries try to solve the power access problem. The company is actively installing these batteries in South Africa, where frequent power cuts are disrupting EV charging. Tesla has also done projects in other countries like Zimbabwe, where it installed its batteries at 260 telecom sites. Should demand arise, these sites could be used as off-grid EV charging stations.      

• It is little surprise then that Tesla led the Mobility Rising Company Ranking, which ranked the top 10 EV companies in Africa based on eight key metrics. Not only did the company hire the most staff during the period but it also now has the most employees in the sector in Africa, totaling 1,191. The other top firms are Spiro, Max, BYD, Ampersand, BasiGo, Roam Electric, Kiira Motors, Shift EV and Gogo Electric. Combined, they have hired 1,347 new employees over the period.

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• Spiro, Africa’s leading electric motorcycle company, also made a strong showing, emerging second in the ranking. The company has 315 staff, the third highest in the industry across Africa. demand for electric motorcycles has been booming, especially in key markets such as Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. In the 12 months to March 2025, the company hired 153 new staff to support its expansion drive.

• It was followed closely by Max, a Nigerian startup that sells electric motorcycles on a rent-to-own model. Its success in Nigeria has propelled it to expand to Ghana and Cameroon. During the period, the company hired 98 new staff, bringing its employee count to 430, the second highest on the continent.

• BYD, which experts have projected to topple Tesla’s global EV sales in 2025, is also giving the US giant a run for its money in Africa. The company has been on a hiring spree globally to help it grow sales of its EVs and battery storage solutions. In Africa, BYD has hired 91 staff, out of which 27 were recruited over the past year.

• Rwanda-based Ampersand, Kenya’s Roam Electric and Uganda’s Gogo Electric ranked fifth, seventh and tenth respectively, highlighting the traction that electric motorcycle companies are gaining on the continent. During the period, Ampersand increased its staff count by 93 to 212, Roam hired 28 new workers to bring its staff count to   143, while Gogo’s workforce grew to 111 after hiring 27 new workers.

• Electric bus manufacturers are also making a splash on the continent, promising to revolutionise Africa’s public transportation. BasiGo, which is based in Kenya, ranked sixth overall having hired 30 new workers to support its operations in Kenya and Rwanda, taking its staff count to 94. Kiira Motors, an electric bus maker based in Uganda, also hired 49 workers, growing its workforce to 100. It ranked eighth.

• Shift EV was the only Egyptian company that made the top ten list. The firm primarily sells EV fleet conversion and related services, specialising in converting existing internal combustion engine vehicles into fully electric ones, along with offering fleet management software. It hired 27 new workers, with its workforce rising to 79 which earned it position nine in the ranking.  

Our take

• Tesla's focus on Powerwall installations could solidify its leadership in Africa's battery storage market. This may lead to widespread adoption of off-grid charging solutions for EVs, particularly in countries with unreliable electricity grids, further enabling EV penetration.

• The aggressive expansions of companies like Spiro, Max, and Ampersand signal a thriving market for electric two-wheelers, catering to Africa's unique transportation landscape. These firms are disrupting traditional models and addressing real consumer needs with innovative financing strategies, like rent-to-own.

• The momentum in public transportation electrification, with companies like BasiGo and Kiira Motors expanding rapidly, points to a broader transition that could reshape urban mobility. Electricity prices are coming down in some countries in Africa, and this could make electric buses even more economical.