New Delhi, Nov. 2 -- Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor built their presence in Africa over decades, through investment in distribution and a focus on commercial riders. Now a shift to electric motorcycles, led by East Africa, is beginning to challenge their petrol-powered models.

Among the emerging players is Spiro, a Dubai-headquartered electric motorcycle and battery-swapping company founded by Indian entrepreneur Gagan Gupta. The company claims to be Africa's largest electric motorcycle seller and is rapidly expanding its presence across the continent.

Spiro currently sells around 17,000 electric motorcycles a month, translating into an annualized volume of 204,000 units. This is equivalent to about 13% of the combined exports of Bajaj and TV...