Spiro, an electric mobility company operating across seven African countries, will launch its first EV assembly plant in Ogun State, Nigeria by the end of March 2025. The move will position Spiro as a key player in West Africa’s electric vehicle market, reducing reliance on imported vehicles and batteries from China.
“The plant will be operational in the first quarter of 2025 and will enable us to ramp up production to 100,000 bikes,” said Rahul Gaur, Spiro’s Director for West Africa. “This includes localising the manufacturing of three-wheelers and batteries.”
The move comes six months after Spiro’s entry into the Ogun State market, with 22,000 electric motorbikes deployed across sub-Saharan Africa. The new plant will significantly boost production from the current 1,000 units in 2024 and mark the company’s entry into the three-wheeler segment. Spiro will also spearhead the development of public fast-charging infrastructure in Nigeria.
In January 2025, the company will commence testing three-wheelers across various Nigerian states. “We are conducting tests in other markets, where these vehicles achieve a range of 100 kilometres on a single charge,” Gaur added. “We aim to make these vehicles highly competitive in terms of pricing to offer riders substantial cost savings.”
Transportation in Africa contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, with a 7% annual growth rate. By increasing local production, Spiro is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of sustainable transportation in Africa.
Founded in 2019, Spiro operates on a unique battery-swapping model, offering riders convenient access to swap stations, fast and slow chargers, and home charging solutions. This flexible approach ensures the timely and convenient delivery of energy to customers.
The company’s success can be attributed in part to strong government support. Like fellow competitor Ampersand, Rwanda’s biggest EV manufacturer, Spiro has secured partnerships with at least three African governments to advance its initiatives. In 2023, Spiro partnered with the Ugandan government to deploy 140,000 bikes by 2028 and with the Kenyan government to deploy 1.2 million EVs. In May 2024, the company expanded its operations in Ogun State, launching three swap stations with a combined capacity of 72 chargeable batteries. Spiro has also forged partnerships with other electric mobility companies like Max, Dot, and Onocon, who share a common vision for sustainable transportation.
Spiro has invested over half of its $143 million in funding to reach its current scale. Further expansion will require significant investment, with an estimated $100 million needed to deploy an additional 10,000 bikes.
The company is currently pursuing aggressive expansion plans. With operations in seven countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda in East Africa, and Togo, Benin, and Nigeria in West Africa, Spiro is poised to enter Tanzania, Ghana, and Cameroon in the coming months, Gaur said. Expansion into the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola is also in the company’s sights for 2025.
