Africa’s imports of Chinese electric motorcycles and three-wheelers jumped 60% in the first half of 2026.
The value of imports reached $114.6 million, with Morocco, Egypt and Algeria leading the increase.
The growth comes as electric motorcycles become more common across parts of Africa. However, different regions are developing very different EV markets.
North Africa drives Chinese electric motorcycle imports
Morocco recorded the highest number of imports during the first half of the year.
The country imported 80,188 electric motorcycles worth $21.7 million. Egypt and Algeria followed.
Meanwhile, South Africa led imports in sub-Saharan Africa. It brought in 19,635 electric bikes worth $6.9 million.
Africanews, reporting with AP, said North Africa has become an important market for fully built Chinese electric scooters.
Many of these vehicles are used by consumers for commuting and short journeys.
Electric motorcycles grow across East Africa
The market looks different in East and parts of Central Africa.
There, companies are investing in local assembly plants and battery-swapping networks. Electric motorcycles are also widely aimed at commercial riders.
Motorcycle taxis and delivery services are particularly important to the sector.
Some riders travel long distances every day while carrying passengers or goods. As a result, waiting several hours for a battery to recharge can be difficult.
Battery-swapping stations offer another option. Riders can replace an empty battery with a charged one and quickly return to work.
Uganda and Kenya see growing demand
Electric motorcycles are already gaining a share of new motorcycle sales in some markets.
Tom Courtright, a non-resident fellow at the African Tech Futures Lab, told AP that electric motorcycles accounted for around 20% of motorcycle sales in Uganda last year.
In Kenya, the figure was about 15%.
He said wider adoption could also reduce demand for imported fuel.
Courtright estimated that large-scale motorcycle electrification could eventually replace around $600 million in fuel imports in Uganda. In Kenya, the figure could reach between $600 million and $800 million.
African companies build local EV networks
Chinese manufacturers supply many of the electric motorcycles entering African markets.
However, African companies are increasingly developing the systems needed to operate them.
These include battery-swapping stations, financing, servicing and local assembly.
Spiro, one of the continent’s largest electric motorcycle companies, has raised more than $348 million in investment over the past year.
Still, much of the manufacturing process remains dependent on imported components.
Motors, battery cells and controllers generally come from abroad. Local production tends to focus on simpler components such as frames, seats and footrests.
Challenges remain for Africa’s electric motorcycle market
The industry still faces several obstacles.
Different companies often operate their own batteries, connectors and software. This can prevent riders from using batteries across different swapping networks.
Affordable financing is another challenge.
Reliable electricity, charging infrastructure and clear government policies will also influence how quickly the market develops.
Greater standardisation could make it easier for companies to expand across different countries.
Despite these challenges, the latest import figures show that electric motorcycles are becoming a larger part of Africa’s transport market.