Africa's EV Surge: Over 30,000 Electric Cars Sold in Six Months as Chinese Brands LeadAfrica's EV Surge: Over 30,000 Electric Cars Sold in Six Months as Chinese Brands Lead

The figure comes from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which in its report Electric Car Markets in a Time of Uncertainty called 2026 a "breakthrough year" for the continent while noting that electric cars still make up a small share of all sales. For Kenya, where petrol now costs KSh 226.96 ($1.75) a litre in Nairobi, the numbers show where the fastest growth is and who is supplying it.

South Africa and Egypt set the pace

South Africa's electric car sales rose more than fivefold year on year, while Egypt's more than tripled, according to the IEA. Chinese brands account for about 90% of new electric car sales in South Africa after imports surged in the first half.

That dependence on one supplier follows a global pattern. The IEA estimates Chinese production costs are about 35% lower than in advanced economies, and Chinese manufacturers raised electric vehicle exports by more than 120% in the first half. Outside Europe and the United States, Chinese imports make up about 55% of electric car sales.

Fuel prices and policy are driving demand

Globally, the IEA expects electric car sales to reach a record 23 million in 2026, or 29% of new vehicle sales, even though overall car sales are expected to fall about 2%. More than 9 million electric cars were sold worldwide in the first half, and sales rose in more than 90 countries. The agency links the resilience of demand to fuel security concerns and volatile oil prices.

Kenyan motorists know those pressures well. As Mwenendo earlier reported on how EPRA lifted fuel prices, the Nairobi petrol ceiling rose KSh 12.93 for the month to 14 November. Mwenendo also tracked how Brent crude reached a five-month high on Gulf supply fears, which keeps pump prices under pressure.

Policy is moving as well. Kenya has decided to waive import duties on 100,000 electric vehicles, and Rwanda requires public institutions to make at least 30% of newly procured vehicles electric.

What it means for Kenyan buyers and investors

The African market remains small beside China, where electric cars were more than 60% of new cars sold in the first half. Growth from a low base can fade quickly, and the IEA cautions that market penetration in Africa is still relatively low.

For Kenyan importers, dealers and charging operators, the lesson from South Africa is that price-competitive Chinese models can reshape a market within months once duties and fuel costs line up. Whether Kenya's duty waiver produces similar growth will depend on how fast charging points and financing keep pace with demand.