Spiro, an electric mobility company operating across Africa, has entered into a strategic partnership with Chinese electric two-wheeler manufacturer Yadea to expand access to electric transport across the continent.
The agreement will combine Yadea’s manufacturing and research capabilities with Spiro’s operational presence and battery-swapping infrastructure in seven African countries.
Under the partnership, Yadea will supply electric two-wheelers and related products for Spiro’s markets, while Spiro will integrate the vehicles into its battery-swapping and energy network.
The two companies will also work together to develop electric two-wheelers adapted to African road conditions and the needs of commercial users, including fleet operators, delivery companies, logistics providers and daily commuters.
The partnership is expected to strengthen cooperation between Chinese manufacturers and African mobility companies as demand for lower-emission and more affordable transport solutions grows across the continent.
Gagan Gupta, founder of Spiro and chairman of Equitane, said the agreement would support the company’s efforts to develop the infrastructure needed for Africa’s transition to electric mobility.
“When we launched Spiro, our mission was to lay the energy and mobility foundation for Africa’s green transition. Our strategic partnership with Yadea is a major endorsement of our execution to date and opens fantastic opportunities to jointly pioneer the next era of electric mobility in emerging markets,” Gupta said.
Spiro Chief Executive Officer Anant Badjatya said the partnership would enable the company to respond more effectively to growing demand for electric transport.
“Africa’s shift to electric mobility is accelerating and this partnership helps us meet that demand at scale,” Badjatya said.
He said combining Yadea’s manufacturing capacity with Spiro’s operating experience and battery-swapping infrastructure would help more riders transition to electric vehicles.
Wang Jiazhong, senior vice president of Yadea Technology Group, said Africa represented an important growth market for zero-emission transport.
“Africa represents a massive frontier for zero-emission transport,” Wang said, adding that the partnership would combine Yadea’s technology with local infrastructure to develop mobility solutions for African markets.
Yadea, which was founded in China, manufactures electric two-wheelers and operates in more than 100 countries. The company says it has sold more than 100 million vehicles globally and operates 10 production facilities.
The company also holds more than 2,000 patents related to electric vehicle technology.
For Spiro, the agreement comes as the company expands its operations following a $270 million funding round that included investment from NewTrails Capital, a Chinese investment fund.
Spiro operates an electric mobility model that combines electric motorcycles with battery-swapping stations. The system allows riders to replace depleted batteries with fully charged ones rather than waiting for vehicles to recharge.
The partnership with Yadea is expected to increase the availability of electric two-wheelers within Spiro’s markets and support the expansion of battery-swapping infrastructure as the company seeks to grow its presence across Africa.
