Next Africa Replay: China's Growing Grip on Africa's EV Fastlane
Sep 18, 2026
Linda Liu, Bloomberg’s Beijing-based transport reporter, and Fasika Tadesse, who covers Ethiopia’s economy and society, explore Africa’s electric-vehicle surge. Addis Ababa’s streets fill with electric taxis as fuel shortages and an import ban reshape transport. They discuss charging growth, maintenance challenges, public fleets, and why Chinese makers such as BYD are racing to build a foothold across the continent.
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Fuel Shortages Are Accelerating Africa’s EV Shift
- Rising fuel prices and cheaper imports are making electric taxis increasingly visible across Africa.
- Ethiopia’s electric-car share reached 6%, up from 1%, after its 2024 gasoline-car import ban.
A BYD Driver Escaped Ethiopia’s Fuel Lines
- An Ethiopian BYD driver switched after enduring long refueling lines and sometimes failing to find fuel.
- The electric car eliminated those disruptions and made driving feel more comfortable.
Ethiopia Used EVs To Ease Subsidy Pressure
- Ethiopia used EV incentives and gasoline restrictions to reduce costly fuel subsidies and fiscal pressure.
- The government paired a gasoline-car import ban with sharply lower EV import taxes.