South Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) pioneer, Agilitee, has signed a strategic partnership with China’s Guangzhou Thunder International Investment Co. Ltd., securing 40,000 electric scooters to be distributed across multiple African nations.
The deal, finalised after seven months of negotiations, marks a major boost for sustainable mobility and job creation on the continent.
Under the agreement, Guangzhou Thunder will supply 10,000 electric scooters annually to South Africa over four years. Other countries set to benefit include Malawi, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.
The initiative aims to improve access to affordable transport while creating economic opportunities for individuals.
Transforming transport through ownership
According to Agilitee, a key aspect of the project is its affordability. Individuals will not need to make upfront payments for the scooters. Instead, they will acquire them through flexible instalment plans of 12 to 36 months, with repayments covered by income generated from delivery services. Agilitee’s subsidiary, Emergen8, will integrate these scooters into its delivery network, ensuring a steady revenue stream for owners.
“Our goal was to find a partner who truly understands the economic hardships Africans face—rising inflation, stagnant wages, and job losses. Through this agreement, people can now own scooters without digging deep into their pockets. The money they earn from deliveries will cover the instalments,” explained Agilitee’s Chief Executive Officer, Mandla Lamba.
Boosting local manufacturing and job creation
In a separate deal, Lamba said Agilitee and Guangzhou Thunder have launched Explore Group Africa, a joint venture that will see the construction of an assembly plant for electric scooters in South Africa. Agilitee holds a 35 per cent stake, with Guangzhou Thunder owning the remaining 65 per cent.
He further stated that a Chinese delegation is set to visit South Africa in April to finalise the plant’s location. Meanwhile, an initial shipment of 350 semi-assembled scooters is expected to arrive in the country by mid-May. The new facility is anticipated to create jobs and strengthen Africa’s EV manufacturing sector.
Overcoming barriers to become an industry leader
Agilitee said that despite challenges—including racial discrimination that initially led the company to launch its vehicles in Zimbabwe before South Africa—it has cemented its position as a key player in Africa’s EV industry. Today, its electric scooters dominate delivery services across South Africa.
According to Lamba, Agilitee’s resilience has paid off, with the company recording an 860 per cent revenue increase this financial year. With this latest partnership, the firm is poised for even greater growth, further solidifying its place as a driving force in Africa’s green transport revolution.
“The future is here,” declared Lamba, as Agilitee gears up for a new era of expansion and innovation.
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