- Mobility Rising
- Posts
- Tunisian microcar startup has roadmap for global expansion
Tunisian microcar startup has roadmap for global expansion
Dear subscriber, this is a prototype. Please help us with feedback and tips. Just press reply.
 | 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.
Our take: Bako provides a replicable blueprint for Africa’s electric mobility startups that aim to expand beyond the continent… Read more (2 min)
 | Electric motorcycle company Spiro is set to raise new capital to fuel its rapid expansion, says CEO Kaushik Burman in an interview with Mobility Rising. The company has raised $120 million to date. “We will be closing the next round very soon,” he says. Spiro has sold more than 35,000 motorcycles, making it Africa’s largest electric motorcycle company. |
Spiro has raised capital from several sources in recent years, mainly debt. This includes a $50 million loan from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), a $63 million loan from Societe Generale, and an undisclosed amount from the African Fund for Transformation and Industrialization (ATIF).
In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Burman reiterated the importance of electric mobility companies working together to build an elaborate charging and swapping ecosystem to support the sector’s growth. “It requires a village to raise a child,” he says.
To read the full interview, click here … (4 min)
 | Electric motorcycles are improving daily earnings for riders in Kenya, with increased profits emerging as the strongest motivation to switch from petrol bikes. In this week’s spotlight, we feature Richard Joel, a bodaboda rider based in Nairobi, who now takes home twice as much money after moving from a petrol-powered Boxer to an Ampersand GEN 3 electric bike. |
Mr Richard says lower maintenance and charging costs have significantly boosted his daily income. With each full charge costing just KES 265 ($2), his daily expenses have dropped, allowing him to take home KES 1,000 ($7.8); double what he used to earn.
Range anxiety however remains a concern for riders travelling beyond cities. Mr Richard urges wider charging network coverage to support longer trips.
Click here to read more on Mr Richard’s story… (2 min)
A rider arrives at Roam Park on a customised electric motorcycle
Events
🗓️ Explore new tech at the EV Summit in South Africa (July 17)
🗓️ Save the date for Transformative Transport Conference (Aug 13)
🗓️ Prepare for Uganda’s National E-mobility Expo (Sept 18)
Jobs
💼 Manage business operations at MAX (Nigeria)
⚡ Apply for the EV Control Systems Lead’s role at Shift EV (Egypt)
👩🏻💼 Lead motorcycle assembly at Dodai (Ethiopia)
Various
🤝🏻 eBee partners with Flashpesa to boost consumer financing
📉 South Africa’s dominance in African vehicle manufacturing declines
♻️ Hinckley Recycling to aim at EV battery recycling in Nigeria
Seen on LinkedIn
Mark Hankins, a renewable energy project advisor, says “Most personal vehicles in East Africa are bought used; few people think about a new car. Car owners should be thinking though, because what Africa looks like in 2050 will be affected by these consumer decisions. Will Africa become a dumping ground of internal combustion technology when other continents are electric? Or will it be a place where solar powered clean transport is the order of the day?”