This African EV startup is expanding to Europe

From the newsletter

Tunisian electric vehicle manufacturer Bako Motors is expanding to France, initially targeting the capital Paris. The company manufactures high-end solar-powered electric quadricycles used for last-mile delivery. Founded in 2021, the startup first entered the Saudi Arabia market, where it has become a hit. In April this year, Bako made its first exports to Qatar.    

• Microcars are an increasingly popular vehicle choice in Africa, especially in major towns. They are cheaper than ordinary vehicles, and can easily maneuver around congested areas. They are most similar to three-wheelers in function, helping transport people and goods over short distances.  

• Competition in the electric quadricycle market is stiff. Major automakers such as Citroën and Fiat are increasing their production of these vehicles at their factory in Morocco. Globally, Ligier and Honda are investing significantly in the vehicle segment. 

More details

• Bako Motors was founded by Boubaker Siala, an electrical engineer. He started by converting his son's bike into a solar-powered electric bike. After that, he built a larger vehicle – a three-wheeler with a solar panel on the roof that can be powered by both solar energy and electricity. He later designed and produced a small four-wheel vehicle.

• The company grew quickly, leading it to get buyers in multiple markets like Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Qatar and now France. Owing to this increased demand, the company is targeting expansion across Africa and beyond. 

• Bako has two main vehicle models, the Bee and the B-Van. The Bee is a passenger microcar with a range of between 70-120 km on a full charge. With a maximum range of 45 km/hr, they can carry one passenger. The B-Van, designed to carry cargo, has a longer range of between 100-300 km. It has a carrying capacity of 400 kg and a top speed of 70 km/hr. 

• Bako’s rise highlights the potential of electric micro-mobility, especially in Africa. Small vehicles such as electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and quadricycles are becoming popular on the continent, especially in major towns. They are mainly used for commercial purposes, primarily carrying passengers and parcels.

• The micro-mobility market in Africa and the Middle East will grow to more than double from $12 billion in 2022 to $29 billion in 2030, says McKinsey, the global consultancy. This comes at a time when most cities in Africa are becoming congested, worsening traffic gridlocks and making it harder to move from one place to another. 

• Africa’s capacity to produce electric microcars is growing fast. Dutch automaker Stellantis’ plant in Morocco has the capacity to produce 70,000 units of the Citroën Ami and its sister vehicles, the Opel Rocks-e and Fiat Topolino, annually. Stellantis aims to increase the overall Kenitra plant's production capacity to 400,000 vehicles per year, including 50,000 units of the Citroën Ami and Opel Rocks-e. 

Our take

• Governments and city authorities across Africa should fast-track policies supporting micro-EV adoption—think zero import duties, favorable licensing, urban mobility grants, and infrastructure for solar charging hubs tailored to quadricycles and other light electric vehicles.

• Collaborations between micro-EV firms and logistics and retail giants like Jumia, Carrefour, or Glovo should be incentivised, embedding Bako-style quadricycles into mainstream e-commerce and delivery fleets and showcasing their cost and emissions advantages at scale.

• Evn as it expands outside Africa, Bako Motors should consolidate its African foothold by establishing local assembly partnerships in high-potential markets like Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt. This would reduce import duties, enhance affordability, and position itself as a regional innovator in clean last-mile logistics.