Africa urged to seize opportunity in EV industry shift

Africa risks falling behind in the global electric vehicle transition unless governments accelerate investment in infrastructure and industrial policy, experts have warned. 

The caution was raised at an executive training programme on automotive industrialisation in Accra, where stakeholders examined Africa’s preparedness for the shift to electric mobility. 

Mr Jeffrey Oppong Peprah, Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen (VW) Ghana, said the global automotive industry was being reshaped by electrification, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, while many African countries remained at an early stage of readiness. 

He said Africa must not view the transition as a disruption but as an opportunity. 

Mr Oppong Peprah said early investment in electric vehicle assembly and enabling infrastructure would position countries to serve both domestic and export markets. 

He stressed that automotive industrialisation required deliberate policy direction, strong partnerships, infrastructure development and skills training, noting that sustained government commitment had underpinned industry growth in other regions. 

Mr Oppong Peprah said that the sector was increasingly driven not only by mechanical engineering but also by software, data and digital systems, making skills development critical. 

Mr Themba Khumalo, representative of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said Africa’s reliance on imported vehicles limited its participation in emerging electric mobility value chains, including battery manufacturing and advanced automotive technologies. 

He said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offered a framework for developing integrated regional electric vehicle industries, but stressed that effective policy implementation remained essential. 

Mr Khumalo cited inadequate infrastructure, including charging networks and reliable power supply, as major barriers to electric vehicle adoption. 

He said without such investment, Africa would struggle to attract investors and scale up production, adding that the continent’s growing population and rising vehicle demand created opportunities for investment under AfCFTA, which could support regional production and trade. 

Mr Khumalo urged governments to adopt coordinated strategies prioritising infrastructure, financing, policy consistency and human capital development to strengthen Africa’s competitiveness in the global automotive sector. 

He said the electric vehicle transition posed challenges but also offered an opportunity for Africa to reposition itself within global automotive value chains if decisive action was taken. 

Source: GNA