Africa accelerates e-mobility transition with growing regional and global partnerships

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Berlin has hosted a high-level dialogue on advancing e-mobility in Africa, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and development partners to explore strategies for a sustainable electric transportation future. The session, co-organized by GIZ and Agora Verkehrswende, highlighted concrete progress across the continent.

Key examples presented included Ethiopia’s ban on vehicle imports with combustion engines, Kenya’s 7% of new motorcycles now electric, Senegal’s fully electric BRT in Dakar carrying up to 300,000 passengers daily and creating 1,000 new jobs, and Morocco’s push to become a regional hub for EV and battery manufacturing with a target of 100,000 vehicles by 2025.

The discussions emphasized that Africa is actively shaping its mobility transition, with implications for climate outcomes, energy security, and economic growth. Panelists stressed the importance of collaboration among African nations, Germany, Europe, and the private sector to foster innovation, green jobs, and inclusive economic opportunities.

Participants agreed that the continent’s e-mobility pathway represents both a climate action priority and a catalyst for economic diversification, stronger local value chains, and reduced dependence on fossil fuel imports, paving the way for sustainable, equitable growth.