Bako Motors

Bako Motors is a Tunisian startup focused on small electric vehicles for urban mobility, logistics, and last-mile delivery. Founded in 2021 by Boubaker Siala, the company is based in Tunis and is associated with manufacturing activity in Ben Arous, Tunisia, while its corporate headquarters are registered in Luxembourg. It also has production-related activity in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The company presents itself as an electric-mobility manufacturer oriented toward practical, low-cost transportation suited to African operating conditions. Bako began with three-wheeled cargo vehicles, including the Bako B1 tricycle. It subsequently moved toward four-wheeled vehicles, concentrating on compact platforms that require less material, energy, and road space than conventional passenger cars and commercial vans. Its current range consists of the B-Van and the Bee. The B-Van is a small electric cargo vehicle designed for delivery, logistics, and other commercial applications. It can carry up to 400 kilograms of cargo and is described as having a range of approximately 100 to 300 kilometers, depending on configuration and operating conditions. The Bee is a two-seat microcar intended primarily for short daily trips in cities. Its reported range is approximately 70 to 120 kilometers and its maximum speed is 45 kilometers per hour, positioning it for low-speed urban use rather than highway travel. A notable feature of Bako's vehicles is the use of roof-mounted solar panels alongside rechargeable lithium batteries. The vehicles can be charged through conventional charging arrangements, including at home or while traveling, while the solar systems are intended to provide supplementary energy from sunlight. This approach reflects the company's emphasis on reducing operating costs and adapting electric mobility to regions with strong solar resources. The solar panels do not eliminate the need for batteries or external charging, but they form part of Bako's differentiation from conventional small electric vehicles. Bako's product strategy is aimed largely at African markets, where affordable commercial transport, low running costs, and compact dimensions can be important for delivery operators and urban users. The vehicles are positioned as substantially less expensive than comparable electric microcars from some United States and other international manufacturers, although detailed pricing, sales, and financial information is not publicly established in the available reference material. As of January 2026, Bako had produced approximately 100 vehicles and was planning to expand manufacturing and increase exports in 2027. The company was also developing the X-Van, a proposed two-passenger model with a larger cargo area. Bako remains a young and relatively small manufacturer, so its long-term production scale, export footprint, ownership structure, and commercial performance are not fully documented in the available sources.

Bako Motors was established in 2021 as a Tunisian electric-vehicle startup founded by Boubaker Siala. Its early work centered on small three-wheeled cargo vehicles, including the Bako B1 tricycle. This initial product direction addressed commercial transport needs with a compact electric platform intended for short-distance operations. The company later shifted its principal development and production focus toward four-wheeled vehicles. This transition led to a small portfolio consisting of the B-Van commercial vehicle and the Bee microcar. The B-Van was developed for logistics and last-mile delivery, with a cargo capacity of up to 400 kilograms and a stated driving range of roughly 100 to 300 kilometers. The Bee was designed as a very small two-seat vehicle for urban travel, with a stated range of approximately 70 to 120 kilometers and a maximum speed of 45 kilometers per hour. Solar energy became an important part of Bako's technical concept. Its vehicles use roof-mounted solar panels in combination with lithium batteries and conventional plug-in charging. The solar panels are intended to supplement stored battery energy and take advantage of abundant sunlight in many African markets. This design supports the company's broader aim of offering low-cost, low-maintenance electric transportation rather than competing directly with full-size passenger cars. Bako's operating structure spans several locations. The business is based in Tunis, Tunisia, with production facilities identified in Ben Arous in Tunisia and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The company's headquarters are registered in Luxembourg. Its vehicles are primarily intended for African markets, although the Saudi production presence provides a base outside Tunisia. By January 2026, the company had reportedly built about 100 vehicles. It was planning to expand production and increase exports in 2027. At that time, Bako was also working on the X-Van, a proposed two-passenger vehicle with a larger cargo compartment. The available information does not establish whether the X-Van had entered production, nor does it provide verified figures for revenue, investment, deliveries, profitability, or market share. Bako therefore remained an emerging manufacturer whose future development depended on production scaling, export execution, and adoption of affordable electric commercial and urban vehicles.

• 2026

  Development of the X-Van

  [1]Bako Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  As of January 2026, Bako was developing the X-Van, a proposed two-passenger vehicle with a larger cargo area.

• 2021

  Company founded

  [1]Bako Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Bako Motors was founded in Tunisia by Boubaker Siala as a startup focused on compact electric vehicles.

• 2021

  Initial three-wheeled cargo production

  [1]Bako Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The company began making three-wheeled electric cargo vehicles, including the Bako B1 tricycle.

• Shift to four-wheeled models

  [1]Bako Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Bako subsequently redirected its main product range toward four-wheeled electric vehicles, including the B-Van and Bee.

• Planned production and export expansion

  [1]Bako Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The company planned to scale manufacturing and increase exports in 2027.

Affordable, compact, solar-assisted electric mobility for African urban transport, logistics, and last-mile delivery.

• Three-wheeled electric cargo vehicle · 2021

  Bako B1

  The Bako B1 was among the company's early products and represented its initial focus on three-wheeled electric cargo transport. It was intended for practical commercial use, particularly short-distance hauling and delivery. Bako later moved its principal product strategy toward four-wheeled vehicles, making the B1 an early-generation model rather than the center of the current range.

• Electric cargo van

  B-Van

  The B-Van is a compact electric commercial vehicle designed for logistics, delivery work, and last-mile transport. It is reported to carry up to 400 kilograms of cargo and to offer a range of approximately 100 to 300 kilometers. Its small size and solar-assisted charging concept are intended to reduce operating costs for urban and regional delivery users, particularly in African markets.

• Electric microcar

  Bee

  The Bee is a two-seat electric microcar aimed at short urban journeys. It has a reported range of approximately 70 to 120 kilometers and a maximum speed of 45 kilometers per hour. The vehicle is intended for daily city travel rather than high-speed or long-distance driving. Like other Bako vehicles, it uses a lithium battery and roof-mounted solar panels, with conventional charging also available.

• Electric cargo vehicle

  X-Van

  The X-Van was a vehicle under development as of January 2026. It was described as a two-passenger model with a larger cargo area than the company's existing compact vehicles. Available material does not establish its final specifications, production date, commercial availability, or whether development was completed.

• Move from three-wheeled to four-wheeled vehiclesStrategy

  Background

  Bako began with three-wheeled cargo vehicles but later concentrated on four-wheeled models for passenger mobility and commercial delivery.

  Action taken

  The company shifted its principal product portfolio toward the B-Van and Bee, while retaining a focus on compact electric transport.

  Aftermath

  The change established the current two-model range and broadened the brand's intended use cases beyond cargo tricycles.

  Source

• Development of solar-assisted electric vehiclesProduct launch

  Background

  Bako operates in markets where low operating costs and abundant sunlight can be important considerations for urban and commercial transport.

  Action taken

  The company incorporated roof-mounted solar panels alongside lithium batteries and plug-in charging systems in its vehicle concept.

  Aftermath

  Solar assistance became a defining technical and marketing characteristic of Bako's compact electric vehicles.

  Source

1. 1Bako Motorsen.wikipedia.org