Indian electric motorbike brand, Spiro, launches in Cameroon.

It was attended by key government officials, diplomats, business leaders, and partners. With the launch, Cameroon thus becomes the 7th African country where the operator of electric motorcycles has deployed its activities, and first in the Central Africa sub-region. 

The Cameroonian market is hosting a new revolution in the automotive sector. Already present in the western African markets, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and East; Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, the Indian manufacturer Spiro, a member of the Equitane Group, chose Cameroon as a gateway to extend its activities in the CEMAC zone. 

Spiro officials said the company is committed to actively supporting Cameroon’s energy transition and improving urban living conditions through clean, accessible, and innovative transportation solutions. 

The company aims to contribute to the government’s sustainable development objectives, combat urban pollution, and create new economic opportunities for young people.

“The launch of Spiro Cameroon is more than just opening a new office; it’s a statement of commitment to the people of Cameroon and their environment. We aspire to make Cameroon a regional model in green mobility,” Rahul Gaur, Managing Director of Spiro West Africa and Cameroon, said.

Spiro operates the largest battery swapping infrastructure network for electric motorcycles in Africa, and now has a presence in eight countries including Tanzania, which joined recently.

Motorcycles are now the most common means for urban mobility in African countries with most of them deployed as taxis. Close to 30 million motorcycles on the continent are used in the motorcycle taxi sector. 

With almost 99% of them still being internal combustion engine motorcycles, there is a huge opportunity and a large addressable market for electrification. The move towards electric vehicles in Africa, especially in this electric motorcycle sector, has mainly been driven in the private sector by small startup companies.

Development influenced by "the boda belt" theory 

Most of the developments in Africa’s electric motorcycle sector have been concentrated along what is now known as the “boda belt.” The boda belt, a term coined by Tom Courtright, is a stretch of countries on the African map where motorcycle taxis have been prominent over the years. 

The belt stretches from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal. There is also significant activity in North African countries such as Morocco, where smaller scooters are used mainly for personal transportation unlike in East Africa and West Africa, where most of the activity is for commercial transport purposes.

Pundits say the importance of accelerating the transition to electric motorcycles along this belt and decarbonising transport in general is gaining more attention. They say electric two-wheelers clean up the air and save drivers on average 45% a year on fuel and maintenance, improving lives and livelihoods and driving entrepreneurship and social mobility. The unit economics will be a key driver in the quest to drive adoption. 

Created in 2019, the Spiro brand indicates that it has already traveled just over 341 million km, thanks to its more than 3 million motorcycles on the continent. Its entry into the Cameroonian market represents a major advance in its expansion strategy, in line with a Memorandum of Understanding signed on May 17, 2024 with the African Import-Export Bank, AFREXIMBANK, for a credit facility of 29.1 billion FCFA (or $ 50 million US). 

“Credit ease of US $ 50 million will considerably improve our operational capacities and help us extend our footprint to more African countries. It testifies to confidence in our economic model and our contribution to sustainable development in Africa,” said Kaushik Burman, CEO of Spiro. 

He disclosed that the funds will be used to further extend the network of automated exchange stations and introduce new models of electric motorbikes, improving the accessibility and convenience of green mobility solutions.

It has the aim to consolidate wide presence in Central Africa, a market still almost virgin with regard to the electric automotive industry. The brand plans to expand its range with the introduction of new models by the end of 2025.

Beyond deploying electric vehicles and modern charging solutions, Spiro plans to create several hundred direct and indirect jobs, while fostering strong partnerships with local communities, institutions, and private sector stakeholders.

“In terms of direct jobs, these are jobs that are created from our activity. For example, the battery exchange network will allow an average of 3.5 people per station. Then there are also maintenance stations in which technicians will have to be recruited. In addition to that, there is the motorcycle assembly factory in which we will also recruit technicians and engineers who will work. What is interesting is that Spiro lays interest on the training of the local resource. That is to say that we do not come with the expatriates who will stay there. We are based on local skills,” Kaushik Burman, CEO of Spiro, told reporters 

Government urged to prioritise electric mobility 

The Spiro boss urged the government to prioritise electric mobility in national policy through tax incentives, infrastructure support, and public-private partnerships. 

"Together, we can position Cameroon as a regional leader in clean transport, improve air quality in our cities, and offer real cost savings to riders," he added. 

He noted that the launch signals the beginning of a new chapter for sustainable mobility in Cameroon and across Central Africa. 

The opening of assembly plants in large metropolises, as well as batteries spare stations at every 3 km in large cities, was announced. The strategy, it was said, supports the Indian car manufacturer and aims to reduce the fear linked to battery life, while offering a lower cost of use than a thermal motorcycle, or only 1,500 FCFA per 100 km.

"These motorcycles are entirely manufactured by Spiro, and they are cheaper compared to thermal motorbikes. It has the advantage that it has a mid-drive engine. This engine makes it to be able to climb the hills whatever wherever you are in Cameroon. It’s a motorcycle that can go on the most difficult roads. It is extremely robust, and very stable when driving,” Kaushik Burman noted. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3450 of Friday May 16, 2025