Hello to Africa's cheapest EV!

March 26, 2025

Chinese EV manufacturer BYD has introduced the Seagull, its cheapest car in Africa for the first time. Launched in Morocco last week, it is the carmaker’s sixth model in the North African country where it sells the Han, Tang, Atto 3, Seal and Seal U models. The Seagull is available in two versions, offering either 230 km or 300 km of driving range.

  • The Seagull is being sold for $21,887 in Morocco, more than double the $10,000 price tag the car has in China where it is made. That notwithstanding, it is nearly half the price of the BYD Atto 3 which costs $42,648. 

  • Referred to as the Dolphin Mini in some markets, the Seagull is set to make a splash in Africa this year as BYD plans to introduce it in several markets on the continent. The most prominent market is South Africa, where the carmaker plans to launch the vehicle this year.  

  • Our take. The Seagull is set to compete favourably with fuel cars of similar specifications in Africa, even when you include shipping costs, taxes and dealer margins… Read more (2 min)

Africa’s largest electric motorcycle company, Spiro, yesterday officially launched the continent’s first electric motorcycle motor production line in Kenya. The company reached this milestone with support from VOTOL, a Chinese EV component supplier. Spiro aims to overcome previous supply chain challenges caused by outsourcing.

  • The company is paving the way for the development of a local EV supply chain and skills across the region. By doing so, long wait times for motors and components will be reduced, thus, translating delays into increased productivity.

  • Kenya offers an ideal location for this facility, as Spiro has already established a manufacturing plant with an annual capacity of 50,000 units. Furthermore, the new production line will support the upcoming plant in Uganda, while supplying other electric motorcycle manufacturers in the region.

  • Our take: Spiro’s market strategy is both distinctive and diversified, focusing on the creation of an integrated central supply chains.… Read more (2 min)

African countries are pulling in different directions on how best to support electric mobility. On one hand, countries like South Africa are imposing high tariffs on imported EVs to protect their local manufacturers, who are also being handed subsidies. Others like Cameroon and Zimbabwe are opening the floodgates to cheaper EV imports.

  • The difference in approaches is informed by the existing market realities in each country. Countries such as South Africa and Morocco have more mature EV manufacturing industries which they need to protect from cheap imports. In contrast, Cameroon does not have these industries yet and as such imports make more economic sense. 

  • EVs are fairly new to Africa compared to other continents, meaning that African countries are now racing to update their policies to promote EVs. In this month’s policy tracker, we found seven major policies that were either announced or will come into effect this year. 

  • Our take: Most African countries cannot compete with EV manufacturing juggernauts such as China and the US on price and scale. This means they have little to no local industries to protect, and should instead lower taxes on imported EVs… Read more (2 min)

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Oluwapelumi Aderogba, MAX’s product Ops manager speaking at a previous event in Nigeria

Events

🗓️ Learn more about Nigeria’s electric mobility by registering for this webinar (Mar 27)

🗓️ Join a discussion on EV charging services by Schneider Electric (April 29)

🗓️ Find out more on climate finance at Uganda’s annual conference (April 1)

Jobs

👷🏻‍♂️ Market Roam as their brand and graphics designer (Kenya)

👨🏻‍💼 Spearhead training and onboarding at MAX (Nigeria)

📱 Become the next quality technician at Volkswagen Group SA (South Africa)

Various 

🤝 DriveMe Mobility Tech launches EVbyDriveMe to offer flexible consumer financing for EVs in Nigeria

⛽ BasiGo ranked 3rd most innovative company across the EMEA region by Fast Company

⚡ IEEE PowerAfrica 2025 calls for papers

Seen on LinkedIn 

Abhishek Sinha, Founder of WeBeliev, says, “Countries in East Africa (and other countries in the global south) are adopting EV motorbikes. It turns out the costs are high due to missing local supply chains. And when you turn to the government, they are quick to see this as an opportunity to industrialize, but in fact, their importing policies are hindering that process!”

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