Africa's electric vehicle market is accelerating rapidly, with Ethiopia leading the charge.

Africa's electric vehicle market is accelerating rapidly, with Ethiopia leading the charge. African nations imported 44,358 EVs from China in 2025, more than double the previous year's 19,386 units, as fuel shortages and soaring prices drive the shift toward cleaner transport. Ethiopia alone accounts for over 115,000 EVs on its roads, representing 8% of the national fleet, after banning new gas and diesel vehicle imports in 2024. The country imported one-third of all African EV imports from China last year. Ethiopia's fuel import bill exceeds $4.2 billion annually, with an additional $128 million spent monthly on fuel subsidies, making EV adoption a critical strategy for energy security and reducing foreign currency strain.