#42: Africa's Automotive Industry about to get a boost
. . . thanks to the fast-growing population and rising middle class
African countries, predictably, have among the lowest car ownership rates in the world. Based on the article below, 21 of the 30 countries with the lowest cars per capita are in Africa.
30 Countries with Lowest Car Ownership Rates in the World
Ethiopia, for example, has between 2 and 10 cars per 1,000 people (depending on which list you look at). Sudan has only between 3 and 4 cars per 1,000. Tanzania has between 8 and 21, and the list goes on.
With such low numbers, car ownership across Africa has nowhere to go but up. Indeed . . .
Africa’s Vehicle Fleet Could Double by 2050: What Does this Mean for EVs?
Motorization rates across Africa are poised to rise as its economies grow and the middle class expands. Read article
This presents huge opportunity for the first movers. The biggest vehicle manufacturers know this and have been setting up shop in Africa:
Ten Most Popular Car Brands in Africa - Whownsafrica
On top of this, there are also African car brands that are set to benefit from the growing demand for vehicles on the continent.
Now when it comes to African countries leading the way in car ownership, here are countries with the most cars on the road. Spoiler: Tanzania (which was on the list of the world’s lowest car ownership) is also on the list of African countries with the highest car per capita ownership rates — 21 cars per 1,000 people.
Top 10 African Countries in Car-to-Population Ratio
We can see that African roads are owned by not only Toyota, but also many other Japanese auto brands. With the economy fueled by the availability of minerals and other resources, here, we shall not look at who is driving what, but at the cars per capita in Africa. Read full article
If you are on LinkedIn, a new digest on the vehicle industry in Africa was launched about 4 months ago:
The African Automotive Digest 🌍 🚗 March 19, 2025
Hello, automotive enthusiasts! 🚗🌍 Welcome to this week's edition of The African Automotive Digest, where we bring you the latest and most exciting developments in Africa's automotive industry. Read on LinkedIn
Now, for luxury car aficionados out there, here are some of the most luxurious cars you can find in the streets of Africa, owned by African musicians: