Tecno Mobile Speeds Up eMobility Penetration in Africa

As part of its strategic expansion, Transsion (SSE: 6880360 has set its sights firmly on the #eMobility sector in Africa. Previously, the Chinese company based in the Chinese Silicon Valley of Shenzhen, climbed to the top of the league of mobile phones in Africa with household brands such as Tecno, iTel and Infinix.

Thanks to a close control of the supply chain, deep localization, and penetrative distribution, Transsion surpassed giants, such as Samsung, Xiaomi or Huawei, in the African market. Indeed, Transsion set up its first phone factory in Ethiopia and a new manufacturing facility in Uganda is on the way.

Actually, Transsion holds a 50% of the market share which means that one in two handhelds sold in Africa is a Tecno, iTel or Infinix phone. However due to competitive pressure and declining sales of handsets over the past few years, the company is plotting to transpose its success from mobile to mobility with a new product line under the TankVolt brand.

Given the growth opportunity around #eMobility, the sector has attracted a host of players such as Kenya’s Roam, Rwanda’s Ampersand, Ethiopia’s Dodai, Benin’s Spiro and China’s Yadea. For comparison, the TankVolt electric motorbike is retailing at USD 1,500, which is at the same level as Roam but lower than Ampersand’s USD 1,600. On the other hand, Spiro’s eBikes are cheaper and start at USD 1,150.

On average, a bike rider in Kenya earns USD 250 per month. To boost uptake, Transsion is thus partnering with financing firms such as M-Kopa, Mogo Finance and Watu Credit. Furthermore, TankVolt is working with taxi, ridesharing, eCommerce and delivery companies to provide them with a #GreenTransport solution.

To facilitate adoption on a continent where electricity access in many areas remains a challenge, TankVolt is pushing its swappable battery solution and its Battery-as-a-Service (#BaaS) model.

It is to be recalled that Transsion launched its first #eBike in Uganda back in 2023 and has since expanded into Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. By 2024, its eMobility brand TankVolt is already among the top three Electric Vehicle (EV) brand in Africa by volume and Transsion aims to become the leader within the next few years.

Transsion is also targeting government keen to project a green image by fostering #EnergyTransition. Thus, Transsion recently bagged a 5,000-bike deal with Niger State in Nigeria.

The African #EV market is currently valued at USD 17.4 billion and is projected to grow to USD 28.3 billion by 2030. In view of the need for affordability and convenience in the context of eMobility, the EV sold in Africa consists mostly of motorbikes and tricycles.