INDIAN MANUFACTURERS PAVE THE WAY FOR TWO-WHEELER BOOM IN AFRICA

According to the World Bank, Africa’s population is expected to reach 2.8 billion by 2060, which will result in local government’s focus on developing and strengthening transport networks. The continent’s two-wheeler market is projected to cross US$10 billion by 2022 owing to population, rising urbanisation and absence of reliable public transportation system in most of the African countries. The requirement for last-mile connectivity solutions presents opportunities primarily due to the relatively low penetration of two-wheelers vis-à-vis the total population of the continent. This has resulted in leading global two-wheeler manufacturers from China, Japan and India increasing their presence across the continent.

TWO-WHEELERS IN AFRICA

Africa devised non-conventional modes of public transport through vans and minibuses. More recently, two-wheelers are doubling up as public transport due to requirement of faster conveyance, excellent manoeuvrability offered by the products across the varying landscape, easy two-wheeler financing and the swelling influx of imports from Asian manufacturers.

The African auto market’s steady growth is supported by growing employment,