Your next rental car could be electric

September 01, 2025

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Ghanaian vehicle rental company WopeCar has introduced electric vehicle rentals to its fleet. WopeCar rents out vehicles on a short-term basis and currently works with more than 150 fleet providers. This comes at a time when customers, especially businesses and governments, are opting for renting and leasing to minimise the upfront cost of purchasing new vehicles. 

  • WopeCar joins companies like Loxea, Equator Mobility, Rideence Africa, Novago, Electric Transits Africa, EV Africa, Green Wheels Africa and ElandX that provide EV renting and leasing services in Africa.

  • Customers can rent or lease an EV for hours, days, weeks or months at an agreed fee. Electric cars enable users to reduce their running costs compared to fuel vehicles, which is a major draw for customers who mainly rent them for commercial use. 

  • Our take: Unless sufficient charging infrastructure is built, the EV leasing business in Africa will grow at a snail’s pace… Read more (2 min)

The new Dongfeng Box, Dongfeng 007 and the 2026 MG 4 are the three cheapest cars in Egypt, with prices having dropped to about $16,000 for the Dongfeng Box. The Dongfeng 007 costs $28,000, while the MG 4 retails at $25,000. While electric car prices are dropping steadily in Egypt, they are still way higher than fuel cars, whose prices start as low as $6,000.

  • Dongfeng and MG, both Chinese-owned brands, highlight China’s growing influence in Egypt’s electric car market. Companies from the Asian giant have started to dominate the Egyptian EV market through cheaper models than their European competitors. 

  • Egypt’s recent decision to ban Chinese charging plugs will however affect sales of Chinese companies like BYD, Xpeng, Nio, Dongfeng, and MG. They will be forced to introduce electric cars with European charging pots in order to continue their growth momentum in the North African country. 

  • Our take: Chinese companies are proving that they can not only dominate Africa’s EV market on price but also on quality and technology… Read more (2 min)

South Africa’s EV market is driven by four main sectors, according to a report by GreenCape, a consultancy company. The sectors are electric passenger vehicles, electric buses for mass transport, freight and logistics electrification, and last-mile deliveries. The country’s record-breaking sales have happened in defiance of various hurdles, not least power poverty.

  • Unlike in Europe, America or China, markets in Africa are primarily shaped by solutions that address public needs rather than private ownership. The biggest opportunities lie in the commercial sector, particularly in mass transport, ride-hailing, deliveries and freight.

  • South African companies have been slow to tap into this lucrative segment. Meanwhile, over a dozen Chinese OEMs have already entered the market, scaling rapidly to secure a competitive edge and larger market share.

  • Our take: Fleet management companies in South Africa stand to gain significantly by electrifying transport for both B2B and B2C companies… Read more (2 min)

CPCS senior consultant Philip Spencer tests MAX’s electric motorcycle in Nigeria

Events

📅 Register for Electric Mobility Association roundtable (Oct 2)

📅 Attend Africa Startup Festival in Kenya (Oct 30)

📅 Book a slot at the GITEX Expo in Nigeria (Sept 1)

Jobs

🛠️ Join Zeno as a Technical Product Specialist (Kenya)

👨🏻‍🔧 Apply for a technician’s role at MAX (Nigeria)

💼 Become a Procurement Officer at Dodai (Ethiopia)

Various 

🚗 GAC to introduce three models in South Africa this year

🤝🏻 China pledges to support Egypt's EV plans

🚲 eBee Africa lays off staff amidst financial challenges 

Seen on LinkedIn 

Joseph Hurst-Croft, CEO of ARC Ride, says, “Affordable, reliable and clean solutions developed in Africa have global application. There is a strong case to replace last mile delivery in small cars with strong electric motorbikes.”