Mobility

Ethiopian Airlines is partnering withArcher Aviation to introduce electric air taxis in Ethiopia, marking a major step in Africa’s push toward efficient, sustainable urban air mobility.

Silver Box has acquired Kenya’s Mobius Motors, reviving the struggling automaker. Under new ownership, Mobius plans to resume production and launch a new model by December 2025.

Ethio Telecom has launched an electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Addis Ababa, marking a major milestone in the country’s transition to sustainable mobility.

In Nigeria, drivers for ride-hailing platforms like Bolt and Uber are urging the federal government to implement nationwide regulations to counteract unfavorable state-level policies that adversely affect their operations and livelihoods.

Moove, a Nigerian-born mobility fintech, has partnered with Waymo, Alphabet Inc.’s autonomous vehicle division, to manage fleet operations in Phoenix and Miami, marking a significant milestone for African innovation on the global stage.

BasiGo, a provider of electric bus solutions in sub-Saharan Africa, has raised $42 million to accelerate expansion across East Africa, such as delivering 1,000 electric buses within the next 3 years.

IZI, a Rwandan Africa-focused e-mobility provider, has received a nearly $222,000 grant from the Rwanda Green Fund to deploy five more electric buses in Kigali. The company intends to open a battery maintenance and repair shop in Kigali.

inDrive has launched a ride-hailing service in Lusaka, Zambia, to capitalise on the growing ride-hailing market and compete with existing companies such as Bolt and Yango.

Ampersand has opened a new, larger manufacturing facility in Nairobi, Kenya, covering 21,000 square meters, compared to its previous 6,500. The new factory will employ over 100 staff and aims to assemble up to 60 electric motorcycles daily, totalling 1,440 per month.

LagRide drivers accuse the Lagos state-backed platform of unfair vehicle retrieval, insufficient ride requests, and lack of repair support despite daily servicing payments, leaving many financially strained.

The Nigerian government has announced a payment plan to facilitate the conversion of gasoline-powered vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG), allowing individuals to convert their vehicles now and pay later in “affordable” monthly instalments at “competitive rates.”

A consortium led by fleet management solutions provider GoMetro has launched South Africa’s first electric minibus taxi despite a high EV import tax. The price of the minibus will range from R1.1 million ($63,413) to R1.2 million ($69,178).

inDrive has extended its services to more major cities in Zimbabwe, intensifying competition with Bolt and Uber. Additionally, it has launched new courier services in Harare.

Uber, a ride-hailing company, has launched Uber Safari in South Africa, from Cape Town to the Aquila Private Game Reserve. The offering will be available from October 2024 to February 2025, running on Fridays and Saturdays at a flat fee of $200 (over R3,000).

Kofa Technologies, a Ghanaian cleantech startup, and PASH Global, an impact investor, have announced the expansion of Kofa’s battery-swapping network in Ghana amid interest in Togo and Kenya.

Zeno, a startup founded by Tesla alumnus Michael Spencer, has raised $9.5 million in an oversubscribed seed round and is set to compete with Ampersand and BasiGo to launch electric motorbikes in East Africa by 2025.