Africa: Sustainable mobility in urban areas

Poor city planning, and the increase in car ownership has led to long commuting times and traffic congestion. For instance, the average Lagos commuter spends over three hours in traffic every day.

Furthermore, 40 of the 50 countries in the continent have the highest road-fatality rates globally, despite Africa accounting for just 2% of the world’s registered vehicles.

In an attempt to decrease pollution, African governments have implemented regulations on imported vehicles. Incremental taxes on age or bans on imported vehicles older than 8 years are the most common policies established. Quality of fuels have also been tackled by policy-makers, lowering sulphur levels to 50 ppm.

Governments have also offered appealing financial incentives to automotive companies increasing domestic production of new vehicles. Similarly, African governments have increasingly adopted Bus Rapid Transit systems which offer a reduction in emissions and congestion, and a fast and affordable service for the population.

Automakers have recognized the advantages of narrowing the skills gap in the continent. Hence, training programs focused on auto mechanics and information & communication technologies have been developed. Moreover, companies are increasingly offering car-sharing and ride-hailing platforms, offsetting the costs of owning a vehicle, reducing the amount of toxic emissions released, and increasing employment in the continent.

Finally, as a deviation from fuel dependency, electric vehicles are positioning themselves as a potential innovation in the African automotive market. In South Africa, automobile manufacturers are partnering with governments and electricity providers to overcome infrastructure barriers and electricity shortages, accelerating the transition to a more sustainable mobility system.