This is a free preview of the upcoming Africa EVs Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service.
The U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran are reverberating far beyond the Middle East, raising difficult questions for African economies that depend heavily on diesel and gasoline to keep goods moving and businesses running. For countries where imported fuel powers everything from public transport to agriculture, any disruption of global oil supplies can quickly translate into higher costs at the pump and greater pressure on already strained economies.
In theory, such shocks could push governments and businesses to alternatives, including electric vehicles (EVs). If oil supplies tighten or prices surge, the argument for shifting to electricity-powered transport becomes stronger, particularly in parts of Africa where renewable energy is expanding.
But the transition is far from simple. EVs remain rare across much of the continent, leaving countries with little capacity to absorb a sudden shift away from gasoline and diesel. Additionally, most African car markets are built around imported second-hand vehicles, which are far cheaper than new models. Electric cars, by contrast, remain expensive and out of reach for many consumers. In these price-sensitive markets, that gap could slow the move toward e-mobility even as interest begins to take hold.
This week in Africa’s EV scene:
China’s Geely Expands Into African Space With Algeria, Morocco Satellite Deals
As Morocco’s automotive industry reaches new heights, satellite navigation is becoming an increasingly important part of the picture. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the parent company of Geely—China’s second-largest automaker after BYD—is beginning to integrate its businesses, linking cars, satellite systems, and other technologies into a broader network designed to support the next generation of mobility.
Why This Matters: As Morocco grows into Africa’s largest vehicle exporter and one of the world’s top 20 producers, satellite communication systems will become increasingly important to the country’s auto industry. The technology will help improve safety by enabling easier tracking of vehicles, whether for navigation or security.
Namibia Accelerating eMobility with Strategic EV Charging Rollout
Namibia is deploying EV charging infrastructure by Tesla Energy Solutions, combining 22 kW AC charging units with high-speed DC charging technology.
Why This Matters: EV charging infrastructure remains limited globally, and early entrants like Namibia could control the market if they establish themselves across major corridors.
Rising Fuel Prices Boost Tanzania’s EV Adoption Case
As tensions in the Middle East push global fuel prices higher, Tanzania’s electric vehicle startup Zera is making a renewed case for the country to embrace electric mobility. Government officials have echoed that view, arguing that wider adoption of electric vehicles could help cushion households from rising fuel costs and ease the broader cost of living for citizens.
Why This Matters: While African governments are frequently ambivalent about the e-mobility revolution, the ongoing war between Iran, the U.S., and Israel could finally force them to stick to one narrative. This could make the EV shift a reality or kill it altogether.
Ampersand’s Franchise Battery Swap Station Launches in Rwanda
An electric motorcycle company that imports semi-knocked-down (SKD) kits and batteries from China has launched its first franchise battery swap station in Rwanda in partnership with Power Charge Ltd., a local infrastructure firm.
Why This Matters: Charging infrastructure is capital-intensive, and a company-owned model could slow down the main product offering. Partnership in the EV sector could help accelerate the e-mobility shift, which faces challenges, the biggest of which is financing.
Tunisia Incentivizes EV Adoption With Reduced Taxes
Tunisia is showing how to accelerate EV adoption by dropping customs duties and consumption tax on electric vehicle imports. This is in addition to a sizeable reduction in value-added tax on EVs from 19% to 7%.
Why This Matters: Governments across Africa have the means to accelerate electric-vehicle adoption beyond policy formulation. Dropping taxes could make EVs, which are more expensive than second-hand internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, more attractive to buyers.
In context
With African countries vulnerable to fallout from geopolitical upheavals, even from wars that don’t concern them, the electric vehicle ecosystem may either become the continent’s mobility savior or a casualty of a prolonged conflict.
The takeaway:
Despite the potential harm to the continent’s transport sector, the war’s oil shock could compound the African e-mobility sector’s innovations to hasten a green revolution.
