EV Daily Brief | 26 September 2026

EV Daily Brief: Europe’s EV Surge, Geely’s 4-Minute Charging, and Kenya’s Local-Assembly Debate

Coverage period: 24–26 September 2026

In this edition: Europe’s electric-car market accelerates, Geely unveils a high-power charging system that can reach 70% in 4.5 minutes, South Africa seeks to protect its vehicle-export industry, and Kenya’s charging-tariff reform opens a new debate about local assembly and jobs.

At a glance

The strongest global market signal this week came from Europe. August battery-electric registrations reached nearly 29% of new-car sales across the EU, Norway, and Iceland, while EU battery-electric registrations rose 52.2% year over year in August, according to the ICCT and ACEA data reported by Reuters. [ICCT] [Reuters]

Charging speed is becoming a major competitive frontier. Geely says its new battery and 2.2-megawatt charging system can move a vehicle from 10% to 70% in 4.5 minutes and from 10% to 97% in eight minutes and 40 seconds under normal ambient conditions. The system also uses cloud and vehicle-based artificial intelligence for battery-health and thermal management. [Sowetan/Reuters]

In Africa, South Africa is trying to remain a competitive vehicle-export base as global manufacturers decide where to build the next generation of electric vehicles. The country has introduced a 150% tax deduction for qualifying EV and hydrogen-vehicle manufacturing investment, but industry leaders say electricity reliability, logistics, skills, demand, and policy certainty will determine whether the incentive is enough. [Reuters]

Kenya’s EV story is becoming more industrial. The removal of the 15,000 kWh monthly ceiling on the special e-mobility tariff gives large charging stations and battery-swap networks more room to grow, but the detailed application of the off-peak threshold still needs clarification. At the same time, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers is calling for duty-free EV incentives to be tied to local assembly, component manufacturing, investment, and jobs. [Techish] [The Star]

1. Global EV developments

Europe’s battery-electric share approaches 29% in August

Published: 24 September 2026

Topic: Market growth, regulation, consumer demand

Battery-electric cars accounted for nearly 29% of new-car sales in Europe in August, covering the European Union, Norway, and Iceland. The August share was five percentage points higher than in July. France reached a 38% battery-electric share and Germany reached 33%. From January through August, European battery-electric sales were 41% higher than during the same period in 2025, with the regional average reaching 23%. Read the ICCT analysis.

Separate ACEA data reported by Reuters showed that total EU registrations rose 5.3% to 832,637 vehicles in August. Battery-electric registrations rose 52.2%, plug-in hybrids rose 13.5%, and conventional hybrids rose 3.4%. Together, electrified vehicles represented more than 73% of new EU registrations, while petrol and diesel registrations fell by more than 23% each. Read the Reuters report.

Why it matters: Europe is showing that EV adoption can accelerate when consumers have a wider choice of models, policy support, and a strong operating-cost incentive. The figures also show why global automakers are competing more aggressively for European market share.

What to watch: Whether this pace continues after the summer period, whether lower-priced models widen adoption beyond early adopters, and how Chinese brands’ growing European presence affects incumbent manufacturers.

Geely unveils an ultra-fast charging system built around a 2.2 MW charger

Published: 25 September 2026
Topic: Battery technology, charging, artificial intelligence

Geely has introduced a next-generation EV battery and a 2.2-megawatt charging system. The company says the setup can charge a vehicle from 10% to 70% in 4.5 minutes and from 10% to 97% in eight minutes and 40 seconds under normal ambient temperatures. Read the report.

Geely says it is using cloud-based digital-twin simulations and deep-learning models deployed on the vehicle to monitor battery health, manage thermal conditions, and predict possible hazards. The technology is positioned as a direct response to rival investments in flash charging and megawatt-level charging networks.

Why it matters: If the claimed performance can be delivered reliably in commercial conditions, charging times would move closer to the convenience of refuelling a combustion vehicle. The constraint shifts from only battery capacity to grid connection, charger deployment, cooling, safety, and station utilisation.

Important context: The reported figures are manufacturer claims from a launch event. Real-world performance will depend on battery state, temperature, charger availability, grid capacity, and vehicle compatibility.

IEA says electric-car sales are resilient despite a weaker overall car market

Report context: 2026 market outlook
Topic: Global market structure, trade, industrial policy

The International Energy Agency says electric-car sales rose 4% year over year in the second quarter of 2026 and were 35% higher than in the first quarter. EVs represented 24% of global car sales in the first half of the year, while total global car sales fell by about 5%. The IEA expects electric cars to reach 29% of global car sales in 2026, based on trends through the first half of the year. Read the IEA executive summary.

The agency also reports that Chinese electric-car exports grew by more than 120% in the first half of 2026, fully compensating for the decline in domestic electric-car sales. The IEA warns that more than one million Chinese electric-car exports over the last 18 months had not yet been registered as sales in destination countries, creating uncertainty about inventory and future pricing.

Why it matters: Chinese export growth is likely to influence vehicle prices, brand competition, and technology availability in emerging markets, including Africa. It also increases pressure on countries that want EV adoption while protecting local manufacturing.

2. Africa-wide EV developments

South Africa races to protect its automotive export position

Published: 24 September 2026
Topic: Manufacturing, exports, industrial policy

South Africa has introduced a 150% tax deduction for qualifying investments in buildings, machinery, and equipment used to produce electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. The incentive is intended to attract new manufacturing investment as global automakers allocate future vehicle platforms and battery supply chains. Read the Reuters analysis.

Reuters reports that about 67% of vehicles made in South Africa are exported, with the European Union and United Kingdom accounting for 63% of those shipments. The domestic new-energy-vehicle market remains small at 2.8% of new-vehicle sales. Industry leaders say the tax break is useful but will not be enough without reliable electricity, charging infrastructure, logistics, skills, consumer demand, and predictable regulation.

Why it matters for Africa: South Africa is one of the continent’s most established vehicle-manufacturing bases. Its ability—or failure—to secure EV production could shape regional supplier networks, skills development, export opportunities, and the availability of locally assembled electric vehicles.

What to watch: Whether any automaker announces a new EV production programme linked to the incentive, and whether South Africa’s automotive incentive framework is revised quickly enough to influence investment decisions for the next generation of vehicles.

South Africa’s charging and freight evidence base continues to grow

The South African electric-truck trial reported earlier in the week remains relevant to this coverage period. GoMetro and flx EV are testing two Sany battery-electric trucks over roughly 4,000 km of major freight routes, collecting detailed operating data without manufacturer control over the route or reporting. Read the Engineering News report.

The trial and the manufacturing debate point to the same requirement: African EV policy needs local evidence on energy use, charging reliability, freight routes, vehicle cost, and industrial capability. Passenger-car adoption and heavy-truck electrification will require different infrastructure and financing models.

3. Kenya EV developments

Charging operators gain more room under Kenya’s e-mobility tariff

Published: 25 September 2026
Topic: Charging infrastructure, electricity tariffs, battery swapping

Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority has removed the 15,000 kWh monthly limit that previously determined whether charging stations and other e-mobility customers could remain in the special tariff category. The change appears in Gazette Notice 15188, published on 18 September 2026, and is backdated to 1 July 2025. Read the Techish analysis.

The energy charge remains KSh16 per kWh under the e-mobility tariff and KSh8 per kWh during applicable off-peak periods. The change is especially important for bus depots and battery-swap networks that can exceed 15,000 kWh quickly as their fleets grow.

Why it matters: Removing the ceiling should make it easier for busy sites to expand without automatically moving into a more expensive pricing situation. It could support BasiGo-style bus depots, motorcycle battery swapping, commercial fleets, and independent charging sites.

Important caution: Techish reports that the same notice introduces an Energy Consumption Threshold that may affect how the KSh8 off-peak rate is applied. The tariff schedule appears to contain provisions that require clarification, and operators will need to examine their first bills under the amended rules.

KAM calls for EV duty-free policy to be tied to local assembly and jobs

Published: 25 September 2026
Topic: Manufacturing, tax policy, industrialisation

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers is urging the government to connect any duty-free EV import programme to local assembly, component production, and investment. The Star reports that KAM estimates more than $400 million has already been invested across Kenya’s vehicle assembly, battery technology, charging infrastructure, and related e-mobility services. Read The Star report.

KAM argues that importing 100,000 fully built vehicles would create fewer local jobs and retain less value in Kenya than assembling the same number domestically. Its preliminary analysis estimates approximately 6,300 jobs in the early stages of local assembly, rising to about 12,500 as production deepens, compared with roughly 400 jobs from importing the vehicles fully built. These are KAM estimates and should be treated as an industry position rather than an independently audited forecast.

Why it matters for Kenya: The central policy question is shifting from whether Kenya should import EVs to how the country can use EV demand to build skills, suppliers, software, battery services, and assembly capacity. The answer will affect vehicle affordability, jobs, tax revenue, and Kenya’s ability to serve the wider East African market.

What to watch: The final design of the duty-free incentive, its eligibility rules, local-content requirements, and whether the government publishes a clear timetable for automotive and e-mobility regulations.

Technology and trend tracker

Development	Current signal	Why it matters
Ultra-fast charging	Geely reports 10% to 70% in 4.5 minutes using a 2.2 MW system.	Charging could become closer to refuelling convenience, but grid capacity, cooling, safety, and station cost become critical.
European EV adoption	Battery-electric cars reached nearly 29% of European new-car sales in August.	Model choice, incentives, regulation, and operating costs can move adoption quickly.
Chinese export expansion	IEA reports Chinese electric-car exports rose more than 120% in the first half of 2026.	Emerging markets may see more models and lower prices, alongside stronger competition for local assembly.
Local manufacturing	South Africa has introduced a 150% manufacturing tax deduction, while Kenya’s manufacturers want EV incentives linked to assembly.	African countries are competing to capture jobs and supply-chain value rather than remaining import-only markets.
High-throughput charging in Kenya	EPRA removed the 15,000 kWh monthly ceiling, but the off-peak threshold needs clarification.	The reform may unlock growth while creating a short-term need for clear billing guidance.

Vehicle and product launches

Geely next-generation EV battery and charging system: Geely introduced a battery and charging setup designed for 2.2 MW charging. The company claims 10% to 70% charging in 4.5 minutes and uses artificial intelligence for battery monitoring and thermal management. These figures remain manufacturer claims pending independent testing.

No other major vehicle launch with clear relevance to Africa or Kenya was verified in this coverage window. The most important product trend remains the push toward smaller, more affordable vehicles and faster charging systems.

Policy, investment, and infrastructure watch

Europe: Battery-electric sales growth is putting pressure on automakers and reinforcing the importance of EU emissions targets.
South Africa: A 150% EV and hydrogen-vehicle manufacturing tax deduction is intended to attract investment, but infrastructure and policy certainty remain concerns.
Kenya: The e-mobility tariff ceiling has been removed, but the treatment of the off-peak Energy Consumption Threshold needs a clear operator-facing explanation.
Kenya manufacturing: KAM wants EV incentives to support local assembly, components, technical skills, and jobs rather than only vehicle imports.
Freight: South Africa’s electric-truck trial will provide local data on energy use, charging, and long-distance operations.

What this means for Kenya

Kenya’s immediate EV opportunity is moving beyond vehicle imports. The charging-tariff change can help existing operators scale, while the local-assembly debate asks whether that new demand can support Kenyan factories, suppliers, technicians, software providers, and financing companies.

The main risk is policy uncertainty. A duty-free programme could make EVs more affordable, but without clear eligibility and local-content rules it may create a larger import market without building much domestic capability. Conversely, requirements that are too complex or unpredictable could discourage the investment Kenya wants to attract.

Kenya should also watch the high-power charging race carefully. Geely’s 2.2 MW system is designed for a very different electrical environment from a household charger. For Kenya, the more relevant question is not only how quickly a vehicle can charge, but whether commercial sites can obtain reliable connections, manage peak demand, and recover infrastructure costs through sufficient vehicle utilisation.

Developments to monitor

Independent testing of Geely’s four-to-five-minute charging claims under different temperatures, battery states, and grid conditions.
Whether Europe’s August EV growth continues into September and whether Chinese brands keep gaining share.
Any South African automaker investment announcement linked to the 150% manufacturing deduction.
EPRA or Kenya Power guidance explaining how the Energy Consumption Threshold affects off-peak charging bills.
The final structure of Kenya’s proposed duty-free EV programme and any local-assembly or local-content conditions.
Results from the South African 4,000 km electric-truck trial, especially charging performance on freight corridors.

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