The clamor for environmentally friendly vehicles is powering an increase in investment in technology that would help reduce carbon footprint. Among areas of interest is automobiles. With Africa falling far behind other regions in the race to eliminate combustible vehicles, investors are seeing an opportunity to put their money in electric vehicle startups in the continent.
Opibus, Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has raised $7.5 million in equity and grant funding led by Silicon Valley fund At One Ventures, further supported by Factor[e] Ventures and Ambo Ventures managed by former Google and Uber executives.
The investment is the largest ever in an electric mobility company in Sub-Saharan Africa and is aimed to scale its operations in electric motorcycle and bus manufacturing.
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“We are proud to be backed by globally recognized investors providing a balance between deep-tech and emerging market expertise. We have together reached a clear strategic and visionary alignment – with the conviction that mass manufacturing of electric mobility solutions in Africa will not only make the products more accessible and affordable but also lead to one of the largest industrialization and welfare transitions of the region in modern time,” said Filip Gardler, CEO and co-founder of Opibus.
Founded in 2017, Opibus has over the years developed products in three main segments, electric motorcycles, electric public transport/commercial vehicles as well as charging and energy solutions. The focus is on creating sustainable ecosystems for mass transport in Africa.
The startup’s efficiency and rapid growth makes it the largest manufacturer of electric vehicles in East Africa, earning it a place among leading automobile companies. Opibus was recently featured in National Geographic amongst VW, Tesla, and Rivian. The company is also recognized for having produced the first truly African electric motorcycle.
With focus in Africa, Opibus has a vision to create reliable and cost-effective products designed for the pan-African mass market. It already has existing customers across 6 countries in Africa, which makes the company the leading provider of electric vehicles designed and manufactured locally.
Opibus has also scored a high level of success in the fight against carbon emission. The company, in several vehicles deployed in different categories, has reduced customer CO2 emissions by 94% and operational expenditures by more than 60%. The company has a unique approach to both heavy electric vehicles and electric motorcycles.
The proprietary powertrain enables existing heavy commercial vehicles such as buses and trucks to be converted to electric – thereby reducing cost, resource use and giving the vehicles a second life. While the motorcycle is fully designed and tailored for the local use case, with a robust frame and dual swappable battery packs providing a perfect product-market fit, intended to maximize local content.
“The targets and objectives we’ve set for Opibus might seem bold, however, it is a mission that has become more important than ever. We have a responsibility to the coming generations and the earth as a whole.
“Opibus is taking a fundamentals-first approach to delivering a compelling customer value proposition that is tailored for the African market. Their vehicles are half the cost compared to second-hand fossil fuel vehicles and perform better in harsh road conditions. We are excited to be supporting them in their growth phase to achieve true impact at scale,” said Helen Lin, Principal At One Ventures.
The closed fundraising consists of $5M in equity and $2.5M in additional grants, totaling $7.5M. The investments will be used to prepare for scale-up and mass manufacturing starting 2022. Africa is one of the fastest-growing transportation markets globally, with a total market potential of $10 billion by 2030, and is largely untapped.
“The African market for electric mass transit vehicles, able to operate in the special conditions of the continent is huge but the competition is so far very limited, so there is great potential for Opibus.” Said Andrew Reicher, Board Member and investor. “The Opibus team is smart, decent and incredibly hard-working so if anyone can realise this potential, it’s them. This is one of the most exciting impact investments I’ve ever made.”
With Tesla and other major makers of electric vehicles still keeping their distance in Africa, Opibus stands a chance to lead the continent, leveraging the opportunity of a non-competitive huge market.
“The electric mobility space in Africa represents a huge opportunity; not only to provide a better service at a lower cost to customers but also to reduce carbon emissions and avoid deadly exposure to particulate pollution on a local level,” said Morgan DeFoort, Managing Partner Factor[e] Ventures.