Ampersand raises over $7 million to scale expansion

August 18, 2025

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Ampersand raises over $7 million to scale expansion

Ampersand, the East African electric mobility company, has secured $7 million from British International Investment (BII). The total amount raised is higher, as an undisclosed sum has also been contributed by seven other investors, some of whom hold existing equity stakes, reflecting a growing confidence in the company’s expansion plans and market potential.

  • In December 2023, Ampersand raised $19.5 million in a mix of equity and debt. Investors then included Beyond Capital Ventures, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, AHL Ventures and TotalEnergies.

  • Ampersand has recently attracted top talent to expand operations, shifting focus to Kenya and away from its launch market Rwanda, which is still believed to lead in terms of sales.

  • Our take: Startup electric mobility companies are prioritising funding for expansion over research and development… Read more (2 min)

Electric vehicle sales in Senegal could be negatively impacted by the country’s rule change to allow the importation of older and cheaper used fuel vehicles. The country has now raised the age limit for imported used vehicles from the current five years to 15 years. This contrasts with other African countries such as Kenya that have been reducing the age limit.

  • The previous policy had been in place since 2020. Its watering down is seen a populist move aimed at making cheap cars more affordable. 

  • A flood of older fuel vehicle imports into Senegal will likely dampen demand for newer, cleaner vehicles which remain costlier, slowing investment in EV assembly.  

  • Our take: The new policy will leave Senegal behind in the ongoing transition to EVs across Africa… Read more (2 min)

Egypt’s Blu EV has increased its workforce by 48% over the last 12 months, according to an analysis of LinkedIn data by Mobility Rising. The company has 46 staff on the platform. This makes it one of Africa’s fastest-growing electric mobility companies based on employee count. Blu EV’s main business is converting petrol-powered motorcycles into electric ones. 

  • Our analysis shows that the company has added 15 employees to its workforce over the past 12 months. Its workers have an average experience of 11.2 years, the second highest out of 30 top electric mobility startups across Africa. Founded in 2023, the average tenure at the company is 1.6 years. 

  • The hiring spree mirrors Blue EV’s rapid expansion in Egypt, where demand for EVs and charging services is growing. The company is preparing for regional expansion, having announced that it will enter Morocco by the end of 2025 with a planned investment of $100 million. 

  • Our take: Blu EV’s hiring spree is expected to continue in the short-term as it expands in new markets in North Africa… Read more (2 min)

Schneider Electric team pose at a new EV charging station in Kenya

 

Events

📅 Register for the role of women in Africa’s electric mobility webinar (Aug 20)

📅 Attend the Intra-African Trade Fair in Algeria (Sept 4)

📅 Book a slot at the Smarter Mobility Africa (Sept 30)

Jobs

👨‍💼 Apply for the Training and Onboarding Officer’s role at MAX

👩🏻‍💼 Become a Junior Warehouse Administrator at Dodai

⚡️ Join Zembo as an Electric Technician 

Various 

🔋 BasiGo becomes the first CATL service agent in Sub-Saharan Africa

🚘 Chinese and Indian automakers race to South Africa amid US trade barriers

⛟ DHL tests electric trucks in South Africa

Seen on LinkedIn 

Remeredzai Joseph Kuhudzai, Electric Mobility Consultant, says, “As most countries on the African continent import petrol and diesel, using a significant amount of scarce foreign currency, enabling environments supporting the uptake of electric vehicles, especially electric minibuses can help lower transport costs and cushioning Commuters.”