The China Price Paradox and Africa's Assistive Tech Industry Survival

In this episode of The Africa EV Show, Njenga Hakeenah speaks with Bernard Chiira, director and co-founder of Innovate Now, Africa's premier assistive technology accelerator, which focuses on driving the success of assistive technologies to enable mobility for people living with disabilities.

While the conversation focuses on how electric mobility and Chinese EV technology could transform mobility in Africa, it goes beyond electric cars, buses and trucks to examine electric wheelchairs, scooters, mobility devices, batteries and the infrastructure needed to make transportation accessible to people with disabilities.

Chiira explains why China's manufacturing scale, access to components and ability to produce affordable technologies are increasingly important to Africa's assistive technology sector.

But the discussion also raises a bigger question: when will Africa move from importing Chinese technology to building and manufacturing its own? Chiira discusses local assembly, battery technology, recycling, repairability, standards, R&D and the possibility of creating African manufacturing hubs, while arguing that accessibility should be treated as an economic issue rather than simply a social protection concern.

The interview also explores the financing gap facing African assistive-tech startups, the potential for Chinese manufacturing partnerships and why accessible EV infrastructure could benefit everyone and not just those living with disabilities.