Chinese electric two-wheeler manufacturer Yadea has partnered with African electric mobility company Spiro to expand electric transport across the continent.
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The partnership will see Yadea supply electric two-wheelers and related products for Spiro's markets, while Spiro integrates the vehicles into its battery-swapping and energy infrastructure.
The companies also plan to develop two-wheeler platforms adapted to local road conditions and commercial use in African markets.
The agreement was announced in Dubai on 11 September and brings together Yadea's manufacturing and product development capabilities with Spiro's operating network and battery-swapping infrastructure, which spans seven African countries.
Focus on commercial mobility
The partnership is aimed in particular at commercial fleet operators, delivery services, logistics businesses and commuters using two-wheelers for daily transport.
Spiro will use Yadea's vehicles within its existing electric mobility ecosystem, including its battery-swapping network. The companies say the arrangement is intended to support the expansion of electric two-wheelers without relying solely on conventional charging infrastructure.
The two companies will also work on customised vehicle platforms for African conditions, although the announcement does not provide details on the models, specifications or markets that will receive them.
China-Africa electric mobility link
The deal strengthens the relationship between Chinese electric vehicle manufacturing and Africa's developing electric mobility market.
Yadea, which was founded in China, says it has sold more than 100 million electric two-wheelers across more than 100 countries and operates 10 production facilities globally. It also says it has more than 2,000 patents related to electric vehicle technology.
Spiro operates an electric mobility network across seven African countries, with battery swapping forming part of its infrastructure model.
Gagan Gupta, founder of Spiro and chairman of Equitane, said the partnership would allow the companies to combine Yadea's manufacturing scale with Spiro's understanding of African markets.
Anant Badjatya, CEO of Spiro, said the agreement would help the company respond to growing demand for electric mobility by increasing access to electric two-wheelers.
Wang Jiazhong, senior vice-president of Yadea Technology Group, said Africa represented an important market for zero-emission transport and that the partnership would combine Yadea's technology with Spiro's local infrastructure.
The announcement does not specify a timeline for the rollout of the new vehicles or identify which African markets will receive the first products.
