Zembo
Zembo provides electric motorcycles and a Battery-as-a-Service swap network for commercial boda-boda taxi and delivery riders in Uganda, offering battery swaps, partner financing, garage services, and roadside assistance to reduce fuel and maintenance costs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Zembo does
Zembo is a French-founded e-mobility company headquartered in Kampala, Uganda, that provides electric motorcycles and a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) network targeting commercial motorcycle taxi (boda-boda) and delivery riders. The company designs and locally assembles electric motorcycles, complemented by a proprietary in-house software platform for battery management and swap operations, and uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology (V2 delivering 75 km, V3 delivering 85 km per charge). Riders exchange depleted batteries at a network of automated 24/7 swap cabinets, typically in under two minutes, with each station designed to serve over 100 riders daily. The network is expanding from approximately 30 stations to 100 stations across Uganda by end-2025, co-located at partner fuel station sites including TotalEnergies.
Zembo's business model rests on four revenue streams: per-swap BaaS fees (UGX 6,000 / $1.65 per swap), electric motorcycle sales (facilitated through financing partners such as Mogo), garage and maintenance services via Zembo Garages, and Zembo Rescue roadside assistance. The model is structured to lower the cost of ownership for riders, who reportedly save $500 annually and 30–40% on daily operating costs versus petrol motorcycles, and to remove upfront battery cost as a barrier to entry. Since 2019 Zembo has raised approximately $6.7M across seed (€3M, 2021, led by InfraCo Africa, DOB Equity, Mobility 54), grant and accelerator rounds (EEP Africa 2019, USAID 2022, Climate Finance Accelerator 2024), Pre-Series A (€3.2M, 2024), and a $1M FMO facility (2025). Distribution leverages direct website sales, partner financing networks, fuel-station co-location, and a franchise model launched in 2024. To date, the company has 1,000+ active riders, 37.9 million km of clean riding, and 2,195,945 kg of CO₂ avoided, with a stated 2030 target of 50,000 active riders.
Zembo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zembo
- Legal name
- Zembo
- Website
- https://zem.bo
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Zembo provides electric motorcycles and a Battery-as-a-Service swap network for commercial boda-boda taxi and delivery riders in Uganda, offering battery swaps, partner financing, garage services, and roadside assistance to reduce fuel and maintenance costs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zembo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electric Two-Wheeler Mobility (Boda-boda E-mobility)
- NAICS
- Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991), Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing (5321), Battery Manufacturing (33591)
- SIC
- Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751), Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electric Motorcycles & Electric Scooters Manufacturing (IMACAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Micromobility Charging & Battery Swapping Services (THADAGAL), Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB), Fleet Management Services (Lifecycle, Compliance, Safety, Driver Programs) (TLABAHAJ), Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI)
Keywords
Where Zembo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Zembo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS): Riders pay per battery swap at UGX 6,000 (USD 1.65) per swap. No upfront battery cost required. This creates recurring usage-based revenue as riders swap multiple times daily, with minimal downtime.
- Electric Motorcycle Sales: Sale of electric motorcycles to commercial riders, either direct or through financing partners. Motorcycles are designed, built, and assembled locally.
- Garage and Maintenance Services: Zembo Garages provide professional repairs and maintenance for electric motorcycles, ensuring bikes stay in top condition with genuine parts and skilled technicians.
- Roadside Assistance (Zembo Rescue): Quick-response roadside assistance service including battery swaps, minor repairs, or towing to the nearest garage for a fee.
- Asset Financing Facilitation: Partnership with financing partners to provide loans to riders, facilitating EV adoption. Revenue generated through partner relationships and loan facilitation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Battery Swap - Pay Per Use |
| Hybrid | Monthly | Electric Motorcycle Purchase with Financing |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Rider Savings Benefit |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Zembo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zembo designs, assembles, and operates electric motorcycles and a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) swap network tailored for commercial motorcycle taxi (boda-boda) and delivery riders in Uganda. Riders access modular lithium iron phosphate batteries through a growing network of automated 24/7 swap cabinets and station locations, paying per swap rather than for the battery upfront. The offering is supported by partner-led asset financing, in-house garage maintenance services, roadside rescue, and 24/7 customer support.
Product overview
Zembo offers a platform-plus-modules architecture for electric mobility in Africa, centered on its electric motorcycles and Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) network. The core platform consists of locally-designed electric motorcycles paired with a battery swapping infrastructure that allows commercial riders to exchange depleted batteries in under 2 minutes. Supporting modules include asset financing (through partner networks), garage maintenance services, roadside rescue assistance, and 24/7 customer support. The ecosystem is designed for moto taxi and delivery riders, enabling them to earn more through reduced fuel and maintenance costs while powered by renewable energy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zembo Electric Motorcycle A state-of-the-art electric motorcycle designed and assembled locally in Africa for commercial riders, including moto taxi (boda-boda) and delivery riders. Features no gears, no oil, no spark plugs, and easy-to-swap modular batteries with up to 65–80 km range per charge, plus Spring-in-Spring suspension for diverse African terrains.
- Zembo Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) A battery swapping service that lets commercial riders exchange depleted lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for charged ones in under two minutes at a growing network of swap stations and automated 24/7 cabinets, charging UGX 6,000 (USD 1.65) per swap with no upfront battery cost.
- Zembo Asset Financing Partner-led financing solutions that enable commercial riders to acquire Zembo electric motorcycles through loans from multiple local and national financing partners (e.g., Mogo Uganda), allowing riders to start earning from Day 1 and work toward ownership.
- Zembo Garage Services Professional repair and maintenance services for Zembo electric motorcycles, providing fast servicing with genuine parts and skilled technicians to keep vehicles in top operating condition.
- Zembo Rescue (Roadside Assistance) Quick-response roadside assistance service for Zembo riders, including battery swaps, minor repairs, or towing to the nearest Zembo Garage to minimize downtime from breakdowns, available for a fee.
- Zembo 24/7 Support Round-the-clock customer support through a 24/7 call center providing troubleshooting, payment support, and service coordination for Zembo riders.
Quantifiable outcome
- Riders save $500 annually on fuel costs
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Zembo
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Zembo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Zembo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- TotalEnergies Marketing UgandacoreTotalEnergies partnered with Zembo to launch a fully automated self-service battery swapping station at TotalEnergies Nakawa Service Station. The partnership enables 24/7 battery swaps for electric motorcycle riders, serving over 100 riders per day.
- Greenwheels/UbermajorPartnership with Greenwheels and Uber platforms for launch of multi-OEM bike offerings, enabling Zembo to reach delivery and taxi riders through established platforms.
- Simba AutomotivemajorPartnership with Simba Automotive to launch the 'Zembo Thunder' electric motorcycle, expanding product offerings for the rider network.
- Girls with Tools in UgandaminorPartnership with women-led organizations such as Girls with Tools in Uganda to create opportunities for women in the renewable energy and tech sectors, supporting Zembo's commitment to inclusivity.
- Mogo UgandamajorFinancing partner providing loan products to riders to purchase Zembo electric motorcycles, enabling affordable access to EVs.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Zembo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- MAX (formerly MAX.ng): MAX provides motorcycle ride-hailing and delivery services across West Africa with a focus on enabling drivers with vehicles and financing. Comparable in serving motorcycle taxi riders and offering asset financing, though West-Africa focused and with a different vehicle-ownership model.
- BasiGo: BasiGo is a Kenyan e-mobility company deploying electric buses and matatus (minibuses) with pay-as-you-go financing models. Comparable as an African EV-fleet operator targeting commercial drivers, though operating in a different vehicle segment within Kenya.
Broad incumbents
- Sun King (Greenlight Planet): Sun King is a large pay-as-you-go solar energy provider across Africa and Asia serving low-income households. Comparable in pay-as-you-go financing model for distributed energy assets in emerging markets, though serving solar rather than e-mobility.
- Gogoro: Gogoro is the global pioneer of electric two-wheeler battery swapping with 1M+ batteries swapped daily in Taiwan and recent expansion into India and the Philippines. Comparable battery-swap technology and partnership-driven model, though operating at vastly greater scale and not currently in Africa.
Emerging players
- Yulu: Yulu operates shared electric two-wheelers for last-mile delivery and commuting in India with battery-swap infrastructure. Comparable in BaaS operating model and last-mile commercial rider focus, though serving a different geography and primarily gig-worker delivery riders.
- Roam (formerly Opibus): Roam designs and manufactures electric motorcycles and buses in Kenya for African conditions, with battery-swapping pilots. Comparable in local e-motorcycle manufacturing and East-African commercial-vehicle focus, though earlier stage and broader vehicle portfolio.
Direct peers
- Ampersand: Ampersand builds electric motorcycles and battery-swap stations for taxi motorcycle drivers in East Africa (Rwanda, Kenya). Closely comparable to Zembo in product, target rider segment, and BaaS revenue model, though operating in adjacent geographies.
- Spiro: Spiro is the largest direct competitor to Zembo, operating electric motorcycle battery-swap networks across Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda with backing from IFC and Google. Both companies target commercial boda-boda riders with similar BaaS economics and station-based swap infrastructure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Zembo social profiles
Digital presenceZembo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zembo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Zembo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zembo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zembo
What does Zembo do?
Zembo designs, assembles, and operates electric motorcycles and a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) swap network tailored for commercial motorcycle taxi (boda-boda) and delivery riders in Uganda. Riders access modular lithium iron phosphate batteries through a growing network of automated 24/7 swap cabinets and station locations, paying per swap rather than for the battery upfront. The offering is supported by partner-led asset financing, in-house garage maintenance services, roadside rescue, and 24/7 customer support.
Is Zembo a public or private company?
Zembo is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Zembo founded?
Zembo was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Zembo based?
Zembo is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Zembo make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) is the primary driver. The others are electric Motorcycle Sales, garage and Maintenance Services, roadside Assistance (Zembo Rescue) and asset Financing Facilitation.
Who are Zembo's main competitors?
Regional players on record are MAX (formerly MAX.ng) and BasiGo. Broad incumbents are Sun King (Greenlight Planet) and Gogoro. Emerging players are Yulu and Roam (formerly Opibus). Direct peers are Ampersand and Spiro.
Does Zembo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zembo.
What industry is Zembo in?
Zembo's product category is Electric Two-Wheeler Mobility (Boda-boda E-mobility). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAEAB, Electric Motorcycles & Electric Scooters Manufacturing, with a secondary code of THADAGAL, Micromobility Charging & Battery Swapping Services. Its NAICS code is 336991 and its SIC code is 3751.