Yadea finds a new route into Africa’s electric two-wheeler market, partnering with Spiro

Expanding across Africa may no longer require building an electric mobility network from scratch. The Chinese electric two-wheeler maker, Yadea, has partnered with African electric mobility company Spiro, giving it access to an established fleet of electric motorcycles and battery-swapping infrastructure across the continent.

Signed in Dubai on September 11, 2026, the strategic partnership will see Yadea supply electric two-wheelers and related products for Spiro’s African markets.

The scale of Spiro’s existing network is significant. The company operates more than 130,000 electric motorcycles and around 2,500 battery-swap stations across West and East Africa. For Yadea, that network could provide a ready-made route into markets where electric two-wheelers are gaining ground.

Yadea has already been building its African footprint

The company entered Morocco in 2023 and says it now has commercial partnerships in more than 20 African countries. Ethiopia has also become an important market, with Yadea reporting sales of more than 48,000 electric two-wheelers over three years.

In June, Yadea launched its KIFA electric motorcycle in Kenya, targeting uses such as boda-boda motorcycle taxis and delivery services. It also partnered with battery-swapping infrastructure specialist ARC Ride in the country.

In July, Yadea opened its first flagship store in Cairo, Egypt, offering sales, maintenance and charging services.

The Spiro deal gives that expansion a different dimension: instead of entering every market independently, Yadea can work through a partner that already has vehicles, infrastructure and experience operating electric mobility services across Africa.

Spiro could take Yadea further into Africa

Spiro currently operates in seven African markets, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Benin and Togo, while developing additional industrial capacity.

The company raised USD 270 million in its latest financing round in June, with plans to expand its infrastructure, industrial operations and geographic reach.

In an interview, Spiro founder Gagan Gupta claimed Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo to be potential markets for further expansion.

That could create another opportunity for Yadea. As Spiro moves into new countries, Yadea could potentially supply electric two-wheelers through the network being developed by its partner.

A partnership built around scale

The attraction for both companies is relatively straightforward. Yadea brings manufacturing scale and a growing portfolio of electric two-wheelers, while Spiro brings an operating network that already connects electric motorcycles, riders and battery-swapping infrastructure across several African markets.

For Yadea, the partnership could accelerate its expansion beyond the markets where it already has a presence. For Spiro, access to a major electric two-wheeler manufacturer could support the growth of its fleet as it expands geographically.

With both companies pursuing larger roles in Africa’s electric mobility market, the partnership gives them a way to combine vehicles, infrastructure and market access rather than developing those elements separately.

The extent to which the alliance translates into higher vehicle sales and a wider African footprint will depend on how quickly Spiro executes its expansion plans and how Yadea's products perform across its markets.