African electric mobility and battery-swapping platform Spiro has secured a USD 215 million investment round to accelerate the deployment of its clean energy infrastructure across Africa.

The equity round was backed by global institutional investors, including Impact Fund Denmark and Equitane, alongside continued support from long-standing partners such as FEDA.

The pan-African expansion will be anchored by technological innovation, research and development and artificial intelligence-driven energy analytics out of Spiro’s Global Technology and Engineering Center located in Pune, India.

Founded by Indian entrepreneur Gagan Gupta under the Equitane Group, Spiro has transitioned past its proof-of-concept phase to become the largest electric mobility player in Africa. The company's operational infrastructure across the continent includes over 100,000 active electric motorcycles and a network of 2,500 automated battery-swapping stations.

The operations span seven fast-growing urban markets, including Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon. It has established a dedicated manufacturing and assembly plants located in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, complemented by a battery recycling facility in Nigeria.

The Pune-based innovation hub houses more than 150 engineers and manages over 30 proprietary patents. Technical developments focus on IoT-enabled, solar-powered swap stations and secondary-life battery applications for stationary renewable energy storage.

The new capital will be deployed to expand this battery-swapping network, strengthen local industrial manufacturing footprints, and support entry into additional high-growth African markets, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Ethiopia.

The company claims operating a Spiro electric vehicle reduces daily mobility expenses by up to 40 percent, translating to savings of up to USD 2 per day compared to internal combustion engine motorcycles.

A third-party verified lifecycle assessment in Kenya indicated that Spiro's electric bikes deliver a 72 percent reduction in climate impact compared to fossil-fuel alternatives, avoiding roughly 19 tonnes of CO2 emissions over a single vehicle's lifespan. The study also registered an 80 percent reduction in ozone depletion potential and a 20% reduction in particulate matter emissions, mitigating public health risks in rapidly expanding urban centres.

Gagan Gupta, Founder of Spiro and Chairman of Equitane, said, “This past year marked a defining strategic milestone for Spiro. Across seven active markets, our deployment of 100,000 electric vehicles and 2,500 smart-swap stations has turned sustainable mobility into an affordable, everyday reality. Spiro has become a major driver of local industrialization, value creation and manufacturing across African markets with 6,000 sustainable direct and indirect jobs. Supported by our global pool of investors, we are entering our next growth chapter to deliver clean, cost-effective energy and transport alternatives to millions of riders across the continent”.

Lars Bo Bertram, CEO, Impact Fund Denmark, added, “We are investing in Spiro and bringing Danish pension capital into one of Africa’s most promising growth markets because we see potential for significant commercial growth in Spiro and electric mobility across Africa, as well as measurable climate impact. That is exactly the type of investment we want to make”.

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Japanese automotive component supplier Toyoda Gosei Co has announced plans to establish a new manufacturing facility in the Bidkin Industrial Area in Maharashtra.

The plant will produce interior and exterior components, including bumpers and instrument panels, alongside safety systems such as airbags and steering wheels and functional components like plastic fuel filler pipes.

It will commence operations in the first half of 2029 to supply Japanese car manufacturers operating in the country, including Toyota Kirloskar Motor, which is constructing a vehicle plant in the same industrial zone.

The development represents Toyoda Gosei’s eighth location in India and will operate as a branch plant under its subsidiary, Toyoda Gosei South India.

The site covers approximately 78,400 square metres of land with a planned building area of 29,200 square metres. Toyoda Gosei plans an investment of approximately INR 5.758 billion (JPY 9.3 billion) for the project, with projected workforce numbers reaching around 570 employees by 2030.

The facility will incorporate equipment including electric injection moulding machines with automated mould-changing systems, a bumper painting booth, automated guided vehicles and rooftop solar panels.

Production processes will integrate Internet of Things technology, digital transformation systems, collaborative robots, and mechanical mechanisms derived from Karakuri design principles.

The expansion comes as product demand in India shifts from compact cars toward sport utility vehicles. Toyoda Gosei intends to utilise the new facility to expand its local development and manufacturing network across the region.

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Pune-headquartered automotive company Kinetic Engineering has announced an investment of approximately INR 570 million to support its capital expenditure requirements and expand its electric two-wheeler segment.

The company shared that it intends to deploy INR 170 million toward CAPEX, while INR 400 million will be directed toward electric vehicle manufacturing and distribution. The capital injection is being executed through the final tranche conversion of 4,451,000 warrants issued to promoters in March 2025.

The investment follows an increase in the company's dealer network and product distribution footprint. Kinetic Engineering has signed letters of intent with over 150 dealers across India, with 60 dealerships operational featuring sales, service and spare parts operations. Promoter shareholding in Kinetic Engineering has increased from 50 percent to 69.27 percent over the past four years.

In its electric two-wheeler business, the company is focusing on its Kinetic DX and DX+ scooter models, which incorporate 3.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery packs that deliver a range of up to 132 kilometres under Indian Driving Cycle test conditions.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Kinetic Engineering, said, "Kinetic Engineering is entering an exciting phase of growth, with strong momentum across both our automotive components and electric mobility businesses. Our auto-components business is seeing a healthy pipeline of new orders, which will support growth and help us work towards our target of improving EBITDA margins to around 12%. At the same time, the response to our Kinetic DX electric scooter has been encouraging, giving us confidence to expand our presence across markets. With continued investments in capacity, technology and our retail network, we are focused on scaling both businesses and building Kinetic into a leading and enduring player in India’s electric mobility segment."

The company aims to secure a position among the top ten electric vehicle brands in India as industry projections indicate electric two-wheeler market volumes could expand from 1.8 million units to 7 million units by FY2030.

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Fluid transmission solutions provider Imperial Auto has opened its new Global Technology Centre in Backnang, Germany, expanding its engineering footprint within the European automotive sector.

Situated in the Stuttgart metropolitan area, the facility will function as a hub for technology development, engineering and customer collaboration. The centre is designed to support OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers across passenger cars, commercial vehicles, agricultural machinery, off-highway equipment and mobility applications by integrating European client requirements with Imperial Auto's global manufacturing infrastructure.

Vikram Wagh, Managing Director and CEO, Imperial Auto, said, “Europe is an important market for Imperial Auto, and establishing a dedicated technology centre in Germany is a significant step in our global growth journey. The centre will strengthen our ability to work closely with customers, understand their evolving technology and product requirements, and translate these insights into innovative solutions. Being closer to our customers will enable faster technical responses, more effective collaboration and stronger product development. The Backnang centre will also facilitate the exchange of engineering knowledge, technologies and best practices across our global network, helping us accelerate innovation and deliver reliable, future-ready solutions to customers across markets.”

The Backnang facility will house teams dedicated to product development and technical support, aiming to accelerate decision-making cycles and facilitate joint engineering initiatives between regional clients and the company's central development units.

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Saudi Arabia’s first homegrown brand CEER has revealed its first flagship vehicles, the EXOBOT e-sedan and SUV, during a ceremony led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The EVs were showcased at the CEER Manufacturing Complex located in King Abdullah Economic City, marking the initial step in a planned portfolio of 7 vehicle models scheduled for release by 2030.

The EXOBOT models are built on a tri-motor all-wheel-drive electric powertrain architecture. In its highest specification, the powertrain produces 1,111 horsepower and 1,500 Nm of torque.

The e-sedan accelerates from standstill to 100 kmph in a claimed 2.1 seconds with a top speed of 250 kmph, while the SUV reaches 100 kmph in 2.4 seconds with a maximum speed of 210 kmph.

Thermal management systems, termed Halo Cooling, is designed to lower cabin temperatures from 65deg C to 32deg C within 10 minutes. The EV incorporate steer-by-wire technology, reducing steering input angles from 400 degrees to 160 degrees, alongside rear-wheel steering capabilities.

In terms of dimension, the EXOBOT sedan measures 5.26 metres in length, 2.1 metres in width and 1.43 metres in height. The SUV measures 5.02 metres in length, 2.1 metres in width and 1.69 metres in height.

On the outside, it features include a 2.4-metre windshield angled at a 15-degree inclination, three-metre-long Shahin Wing doors that open in a 60cm arc and light signatures comprising 32 individual light elements.

Inside, the cabin contains a 48-inch curved digital display operating at 8K resolution, a 10.4-inch central control screen and an eight-inch rear display screen.

Commercial roll-out will begin with the EXOBOT First Edition, offered in sedan and SUV configurations powered by an 850-horsepower tri-motor setup producing 1,000 Nm of torque.

The EXOBOT utilises a 112 kWh battery pack and an 800-volt electrical architecture, the First Edition delivers an estimated range of up to 670 kilometres for the sedan and 560 kilometres for the SUV, with 10 to 80 percent charging achieved in under 30 minutes.

CEER is targeting a local content ratio of 45 percent for its vehicle supply chain by 2034.

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