China’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle industry is increasingly shaping the future of mobility in Africa, as Chinese manufacturers, technology companies and investors position themselves at the centre of the continent’s transition from petrol-powered transport to electric mobility.
The latest sign of China’s growing influence in Africa’s EV industry is a strategic partnership between Chinese electric two-wheeler giant Yadea and Spiro, one of Africa’s leading electric mobility companies, aimed at accelerating the adoption of affordable and sustainable transport across the continent.
The partnership brings together Yadea’s large-scale manufacturing capacity and research expertise with Spiro’s growing operational network and battery-swapping infrastructure across seven African countries.
Under the agreement, Yadea will supply electric two-wheelers and related EV products designed for Spiro’s expanding markets, while Spiro will integrate the vehicles into its proprietary battery-swapping and energy ecosystem.
The companies will also jointly develop customised electric two-wheelers tailored to African road conditions and the needs of commercial riders, delivery services, logistics operators and daily commuters.
The deal highlights a broader shift in Africa’s transport sector, where Chinese companies are becoming increasingly influential across the EV value chain, from vehicle manufacturing and battery technology to charging infrastructure, financing and investment.
For Africa, where motorcycles are central to passenger transport, delivery services and informal employment, electric two-wheelers are emerging as one of the fastest routes towards cleaner and potentially cheaper mobility. However, the transition depends not only on the availability of affordable vehicles but also on reliable energy infrastructure.
Spiro is betting heavily on battery-swapping technology to overcome one of the continent’s biggest barriers to EV adoption. Instead of waiting for batteries to recharge, riders can exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones within minutes, allowing commercial operators to remain on the road.
“This partnership deepens the China-Africa connection, pairing Yadea’s manufacturing scale with Spiro’s battery-swapping network and unique knowledge of African market dynamics to accelerate the continent’s transition to affordable electric transport,” the companies said.
Gagan Gupta, Founder of Spiro and Chairman of Equitane, said the partnership represents an important endorsement of the company’s growth strategy.
“When we launched Spiro, our mission was to lay the energy and mobility foundation for Africa’s green transition. Our strategic partnership with Yadea is a major endorsement of our execution to date and opens fantastic opportunities to jointly pioneer the next era of electric mobility in emerging markets,” Gupta said.
Spiro CEO Anant Badjatya said Africa’s transition towards electric transport was gaining momentum and required partnerships capable of delivering vehicles and infrastructure at scale.
“By bringing together Yadea’s manufacturing strength with Spiro’s electric mobility ecosystem and operating experience across Africa, we are compressing the timeline to clean transport,” he said.
Yadea Senior Vice President Wang Jiazhong described Africa as a major frontier for zero-emission transport.
Founded in China, Yadea has sold more than 100 million vehicles worldwide and operates 10 production facilities. The company has also registered more than 2,000 patents in EV technology, underlining China’s growing technological advantage in the global electric mobility industry.
The partnership comes as Spiro accelerates expansion following a $270 million funding round that included investment from NewTrails Capital, a Chinese fund.
As African cities confront rising fuel costs, congestion and pollution, China’s manufacturing scale and increasingly competitive EV technology could play a defining role in determining how quickly the continent electrifies its transport systems. The Yadea-Spiro partnership illustrates how the next phase of China-Africa economic cooperation is increasingly moving beyond traditional infrastructure towards technology, clean energy and the industries shaping Africa’s future.
