Customer Feedback Shaping Spiro's E-bike Design in Uganda

E-mobility is beginning to take root in Uganda, and for companies like Spiro, success has hinged on listening closely to customers. Just over a year after entering the market, Spiro has installed more than 150 charging stations nationwide, underscoring the demand for affordable mobility solutions. Central to its approach is a feedback-driven model of product development. Instead of relying solely on boardroom strategies or design studio concepts, the company incorporates input from riders at every stage. That process has already produced four iterations of its electric motorcycles, each shaped by consumer experience. Still, the road ahead is far from smooth. Challenges persist in sourcing and manufacturing locally, as well as in securing financing options for would-be buyers. This episode highlights not only the obstacles but also the need for tailored, localized solutions, critical to meeting the unique demands of African consumers and unlocking the broader potential of e-mobility across the region.  Robert Kayimbye, the Global Head of Marketing - Africa at Spiro, joins Njenga Hakeenah in this conversation, where he also shares the company's plans for the next five years. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @hakeenah Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth