BEV for African Market in Works

A U.K.-Moroccan automotive company is hoping to build Africa’s first battery-electric vehicle aimed at entry-level access to zero-emission transport.

The company, named Atlas e-mobility group (Atlas) – presumably after the famous north African mountain range – is headquartered in London but with vehicle manufacturing and development facilities planned for Morocco. It hopes to create a cutting-edge-engineered, affordable BEV inspired by Moroccan design and identity yet aimed at markets beyond Africa including Europe and the Middle East. Production is expected to begin from 2026.

The company was co-founded by CEO Mohammed Yehya El Bakkali and Chairman and Chief Technical Officer Mohammed Hicham Senhaji Hannoun, claiming substantial private funding. In addition to BEVs, the company will focus on range-enhancing technology, battery and charging networks.

El Bakkali says: “We feel strongly that Africa is being ignored by companies in the EV transition. However, no one should underestimate the continent’s determination to advance nor doubt its ability to produce world-leading zero-carbon technological solutions. In the field of transportation, these will prove pivotal to helping limit the rise in global temperatures to less than two degrees Celsius.

“Atlas was born to harness the Moroccan spirit of endeavor, tech inventiveness and longstanding reputation for excellence in global vehicle manufacturing. Combined with British automotive industrialization expertise and utilizing a proven EV architecture from an established OEM, Atlas will create a vehicle that delivers enterprise, environmental and social value to Africa and beyond, and offers the quality, design and features expected by customers across the globe.”