Auto Boss: Meet Valerie Labi, the champion of sustainable mobility across Africa

Valerie Labi, CEO and Co-founder of Wahu Mobility, is leading a green revolution in Africa’s transport sector. With a vision to transform e-mobility and drive sustainable development, Labi’s company is Africa’s first local designer and manufacturer of eco-friendly electric vehicles. Operating in Ghana and Togo, Wahu Mobility is at the forefront of creating an ecosystem for e-mobility solutions, offering a fresh and affordable approach to vehicle ownership and delivery services.

Under Labi’s leadership, Wahu Mobility recently launched its flagship Wahu eBikes from Ghana’s first electric vehicle CKD (Complete Knock Down) manufacturing plant in Accra. The innovative eBikes are not just transport tools but gateways to economic opportunities for delivery riders, offering access to flexible payment plans, affordable maintenance, insurance, and financial services through its digital platform.

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“Africa’s next leapfrog will be in eMobility,” Labi stated at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s annual meeting in Turkey. “If only 20 vehicles per 1,000 people are achieved when Africa’s population hits 2.9 billion by 2050, that’s 56 million vehicles. We must localise EV production to avoid worsening environmental degradation and mass youth migration.”

A compelling investment opportunity

Wahu Mobility is strategically positioned at the intersection of Africa’s booming gig economy and the electric vehicle (EV) market. The African EV market, valued at $11.94 billion in 2021, is projected to reach $21.39 billion by 2027. With the gig economy expected to grow to 80 million workers by 2030, Wahu Mobility offers a sustainable solution for delivery services and gig workers seeking reliable transport.

The company’s success is bolstered by a recent $8 million investment round, showing investor confidence in its mission. “Our goal is to empower individuals and communities with the tools they need to thrive in a greener, more inclusive future,” Labi said. A recent partnership with Letshego further enhances this vision by promoting financial inclusion for Wahu’s delivery riders, known as ‘Wahu Heroes’.

From humble beginnings to industry leader

Labi’s journey began during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown when she started converting second-hand push bikes with electric kits to tackle Accra’s unreliable and polluting transport system. The name “Wahu,” meaning “horse” in the local language, symbolizes strength and resilience—qualities reflected in the company’s growth and impact.

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Labi received the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders from President Obama in 2014, the Global Engineering Outstanding Professional Award by the University of Boulder in 2020, and was a finalist at the Alibaba Fund Jumpstarter Global Pitch Competition in 2023. Most recently, she was named Woman of the Year 2024 at the EMY Africa Awards.

“This award is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the incredible journey that building Wahu has been,” she said. “It’s a journey marked by resilience, perseverance, and an unyielding spirit.”