In recent times, the Chinese car manufacturer BYD has been making itself more visible in Spain than ever before. It is one of the largest Chinese electric car manufacturers and its expansion is going even further, also entering the world of two wheels with Nerva, and more recently in Africa. To do so, it is collaborating with the startup Ampersand.
This merger is a very different way for BYD to enter the market, as it has not opted to manufacture its motorcycles directly but rather to form a strategic alliance, which will allow it to establish itself on the African continent and more specifically in Rwanda and Kenya.
In these two countries, motorcycles are a major part of mobility, as is the case in other Asian countries, for practical reasons. The economy is not the best, without a doubt, and as was the case in Spain during the 50s and 60s, the motorcycle is a much more economical way of getting around than the car.
If we add to this the fact that motorcycle taxis are well established for transporting people from one place to another, the motorcycle market is much more important than it might seem at first glance.
In addition, and recently, with the rising cost of fuel, the electric option is becoming more established. This is something we have seen in Cuba for one reason, in India for another, but it is becoming a reality in economies where every cent counts.
The partnership between the two companies plans to manufacture 40,000 motorcycles for the African market
The partnership between Ampersand and BYD is therefore much more than a small agreement, as they are laying the foundations for a future that could be very productive for both companies. In fact, at the production level, Ampersand plans to be able to produce 40,000 electric motorcycles with BYD batteries by the end of 2026.
Compared to the huge sales in other Asian countries, this may sound like a small number of motorcycles in two and a half years, but the truth is that it is not bad at all for a population that, between the two countries, does not reach 70 million inhabitants.
