Tunisian Startup Revolutionizes Electric Mobility with Locally Made Motorcycles
La Presse — With a mischievous gaze and his chin held high, Mohamed Ali Salmi eagerly awaits his turn to present his flagship product: the first 100% electric motorcycle made in Tunisia. He knew he was going to make a splash. His teammate silently starts the motorcycle and navigates a turn in front of the audience.
The room, with eyes wide open, hangs on the young man's every word, curiously observing the vehicle's movements. This was at a seminar on electro-mobility, recently organized by "BNA Assurances," where we met Mohamed Ali, co-founder of the "Kayco Motors" brand. It didn't take much to captivate the audience. The motorcycle, but especially the young team, left a lasting impression.
Significant Support with Additional Financing
Mohamed Ali, the eldest at just 32 years old, is an unshakeable entrepreneur. Engaged in an entrepreneurial journey since 2018, he quickly understood that green mobility is the future of transportation. Initially, he ventured into manufacturing batteries for water pumps intended for the agricultural sector, an activity of his first startup. After four years, the startup changed direction, and innovative ideas took a new turn.
In 2022, it opened a new chapter and developed the first prototype of a 100% electric motorcycle. Reaping significant success among the investor community, the product quickly found financing. After three years, the business plan was finalized, and the first real motorcycle was born. "Thanks to the participation of the Ugfs (United Gulf Financial Services) fund, as well as financing from another company, we were able to raise the necessary funds to set up a production unit with a capacity of 1,000 motorcycles per year," the young entrepreneur explains.
A Lightweight Motorcycle with Reduced Expenses
The Kayco motorcycle is, in fact, a low-displacement scooter (49 cc). It is marketed at a very attractive price, around 4,500 dinars. But it's especially the reduction in energy costs that makes its purchase interesting. "For 100 kilometers traveled, we only pay 600 millimes of electricity. This is a unique advantage offered by the electric motorcycle. Its battery, manufactured locally in our production unit, has a lifespan of ten years. In concrete terms, only the tires and brake pads remain the only consumable and amortizable parts," adds Mohamed Ali.
The young team, composed of 13 people, constitutes the true armor of the startup, now specialized in manufacturing low-voltage lithium batteries and electric motorcycles. Armed with unwavering determination and unshakeable passion, these young people aim high and think big. But above all, they keep their feet on the ground. In the short term, "Kayco Motors" plans to reach 1,000 scooters sold by the end of 2026. A very encouraging start, given that the startup has only been operating for two months and has already sold a hundred units.
Conquering the African Market
Aware that the Tunisian market is narrow and will quickly become saturated, these young innovators are now targeting North Africa, with Algeria in their sights. "Our startup is labeled in Tunisia and Algeria. We are currently considering a collaboration to break into the Algerian market. But our vision encompasses the entire African continent. The fact that we manufacture batteries for our electric motorcycles locally is a competitive advantage. We are capable of rivalizing with European and Chinese models, particularly in terms of distribution. We are part of an integrated Tunisian market, thanks to free trade agreements with African markets, which represents another lever of competitiveness," Mohamed Ali continues.
His appetite for entrepreneurial adventure seems limitless. Today, the startup plans to launch a range of more powerful motorcycles, around 120 or 150 cc. And why not, in the long term, a 100% electric car at a very affordable price, intended for African middle-class families. The story of young people like Mohamed Ali and his partners highlights the fierce battle often waged by an entrepreneur who starts from scratch. But it's a battle with a taste of victory, because passion, perseverance, and ambition ultimately always prevail.
"On the African market, we are capable of rivalizing with foreign-made models," emphasizes Mohamed Ali Salmi, co-founder of the startup.
