The African continent plays a vital role as a supplier of raw materials essential for electric vehicles (EVs), but the downstream impact remains a key focus. Argus spoke with Dave Coffey, chief executive of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturing (AAAM), at the Indaba Mining Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, about Africa's EV ambitions.

Coffey highlighted that east Africa is currently leading the market in demand for motorcycles and public transport, whereas the passenger car segment will take longer due to affordability issues. The transition to electric vehicles is expected to be gradual, with an increase in three-wheelers and micro-mobility options while passenger cars lag.

Countries will transition at different speeds depending on their natural resources, with some pushing for piped natural gas (PNG) and others for green hydrogen. The adoption of various powertrains, similar to the approaches seen in India and China, is anticipated in Africa.

South Africa currently has the greatest demand for EVs on the continent. Looking ahead, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia are expected to see significant growth in vehicle production and demand. In sub-Saharan Africa, the Ivory Coast is poised for increased demand, with efforts to drive demand in the region to reduce reliance on used vehicle imports.

The main challenges apart from affordability include political will, access to affordable finance, and logistical issues. Financing is crucial for both consumers and investors, and component manufacturers face difficulties accessing capital. Logistical challenges, particularly the lack of rail infrastructure, also delay EV adoption. However, increased intra-Africa trade could drive demand for commercial vehicles and create a robust value chain and ecosystem for the EV market. continent plays a vital role as a supplier of raw materials essential for electric vehicles (EVs), but the downstream impact remains a key focus. Argus spoke with Dave Coffey, chief executive of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturing (AAAM), at the Indaba Mining Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, about Africa's EV ambitions.

Coffey highlighted that east Africa is currently leading the market in demand for motorcycles and public transport, whereas the passenger car segment will take longer due to affordability issues. The transition to electric vehicles is expected to be gradual, with an increase in three-wheelers and micro-mobility options while passenger cars lag.

Countries will transition at different speeds depending on their natural resources, with some pushing for piped natural gas (PNG) and others for green hydrogen. The adoption of various powertrains, similar to the approaches seen in India and China, is anticipated in Africa.

South Africa currently has the greatest demand for EVs on the continent. Looking ahead, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia are expected to see significant growth in vehicle production and demand. In sub-Saharan Africa, the Ivory Coast is poised for increased demand, with efforts to drive demand in the region to reduce reliance on used vehicle imports.

The main challenges apart from affordability include political will, access to affordable finance, and logistical issues. Financing is crucial for both consumers and investors, and component manufacturers face difficulties accessing capital. Logistical challenges, particularly the lack of rail infrastructure, also delay EV adoption. However, increased intra-Africa trade could drive demand for commercial vehicles and create a robust value chain and ecosystem for the EV market.