Spiro, Africa’s leading electric two-wheeler company and operator of the continent’s fastest-growing battery-swapping network, has acquired Coexlion a specialist motorcycle engineering and design firm with roots in the United Kingdom and India.
The deal, announced on 28th May 2026, marks a significant strategic shift for Spiro. Rather than relying solely on external suppliers for vehicle design, the company is now bringing engineering expertise directly into its technology platform.
The goal? To build electric motorcycles that are not just assembled in Africa, but designed and engineered specifically for African roads, riders, and conditions.
Coexlion may be lean, but its track record is substantial. The firm employs 28 engineers who have contributed to more than 25 motorcycle programmes globally. Their expertise spans:
- Electric two-wheeler development
- Chassis and frame engineering
- Vehicle integration
- Reliability engineering
- Battery systems
- Industrial design
Strategically located in India’s innovation hub and the United Kingdom, Coexlion also has experience working across East Africa. That regional knowledge will be invaluable as Spiro looks to tailor its products to local usage patterns from the potholed streets of Kampala to the long-distance routes in rural Kenya.
Spiro currently assembles its electric motorcycles in Africa, with active assembly plants in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Nigeria. But assembly is only one piece of the puzzle.
The acquisition of Coexlion is expected to accelerate product development cycles, improve localization of components and vehicle architecture, and support Spiro’s long-term objective of building as much of its technology, design, and manufacturing capability in-house and locally as possible.
“We want to progressively own and develop the engineering, design, and product capabilities behind our vehicles,” said Gagan Gupta, Founder of Spiro.
Perhaps the most significant signal of Spiro’s ambition is the announcement that, following the acquisition, the company plans to open its first African R&D centre in Kenya.
Currently, Spiro’s technology platform is supported by an R&D centre in Pune, India, which houses more than 150 engineers and over 30 proprietary patents. An African R&D hub would bring product development closer to the end user allowing faster iteration based on real-world riding conditions and rider feedback.
“This acquisition is an important milestone in Spiro’s long-term strategy to build a truly African mobility platform,” Gupta added.
Electric mobility is still in its early stages across Africa, but the potential is enormous. Motorcycles are a primary mode of transport for millions of people from boda boda riders to delivery drivers to rural commuters. Transitioning that fleet to electric power could slash emissions, reduce fuel import costs, and create new jobs in manufacturing and maintenance.
However, most electric motorcycles available in Africa today are designed and engineered elsewhere often for very different road conditions and usage patterns.
By bringing engineering expertise in-house, Spiro is positioning itself to build vehicles that are:
- More durable on rough and unpaved roads
- Affordable for African riders
- Easier to maintain with locally available skills and parts
Thomas Llewellyn, Founder of Coexlion, said joining Spiro would allow the firm to apply its engineering expertise at greater scale.
“Joining Spiro gives Coexlion the opportunity to apply its engineering expertise at greater scale and in a market with enormous long-term potential,” Llewellyn said. “We are excited to support Spiro’s mission to advance electric mobility through locally relevant design, engineering, and manufacturing.”
Spiro’s acquisition of Coexlion reflects a broader trend: leading African companies are moving beyond being distributors or assemblers of foreign technology. They are increasingly investing in the engineering, R&D, and intellectual property that will define the next generation of African-made products.
If successful, this strategy could position Spiro not just as a dominant player in African e-mobility, but as a company that designs and builds technology for the continent by engineers who understand it.