Exclusive interview with Stefan Simon, CEO of SURUS Automotive in Tunisia. Stefan is a speaker at the inaugural Carbon Markets Africa Summit in Johannesburg in October.

Thank you for joining us. Please can we start with some background about you and your role at SURUS Automotive.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to present our company. I have a technical background but over a working period of more than 30 years, I learned my lessons also in legal and commercial experiences. The company that I am representing is SURUS Automotive SARL, a manufacturer of electric vehicles, based in Tunisia. African cities have enormous potential for reducing carbon emissions. That is the reason why our company is focusing on the development of the electric mobility sector in Africa.

Tell us more about the projects you are involved in.
At the conference, I would like to share my vision on how scalable transport solutions can contribute to city climate actions. SURUS core value proposition revolves around offering affordable electric vehicles for local production. We are now building factories in Tunisia and Senegal to manufacture electric motorcycles under white label branding for building up national manufacturing identity.

What percentage of your work is in Africa?
Our company slogan is: Designed in Africa for made in Africa. Our motorbike, for example, is a strong and reliable workhorse towing a trailer and designed for the roads of Africa. From Tunisia we are aiming for local content in other African countries: technology transfer, capacity building, and job creation. So, more or less than 100 % of our work force is focused on the continent development.

*SURUS Automotive’s e-Rider, an electric motorcycle.*

How important is the continent for the future of carbon markets?
Not everyone has yet grasped the fact that Africa will be the fastest-growing market of this century. I'm likely to live to see a time when the population of Africa will be as large as the combined populations of India and China. What impact will this have on the Earth's carbon dioxide balance? Africa needs a lot of vehicles. Indirectly, the possibility of carbon credit sales can help to reduce the production costs of electric vehicles for Africa, which would, in turn, lead to a wider adoption of electric mobility in Africa.

*SURUS Automotive also produces the Rolling Chassis, a skateboard platform with an electric powertrain for any car body.*

What are some of your favourite success stories in Africa that you can share?
The real success story in Africa is the positive momentum and enthusiasm that can be felt everywhere. I am impressed by how the transport industry market is starting to grow. Government experts understand our goals of transitioning from combustion engines to electric motors. We don't need to convince anyone about the benefits of environmental protection. The lower operating costs, the cost for maintenance and repair, and the overall cost of ownership are what ultimately convince every customer to move electric.

You are working in a system that is constantly evolving and changing. What are the main challenges in your view?
Change is a constant in life. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been reflecting on the future development of the transport market in Africa and have developed a strategy for building a more sustainable automotive industry on the continent. Now we are implementing the various action plans. The biggest challenge from my point of view is the time it takes to educate everyone within this value chain about the opportunities related to trading in CO2 emission reductions.

How is Africa positioned in your view to take advantage of this burgeoning opportunity?
The number of countries that have so far sown the seeds of cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is still relatively small. Currently, there are not enough regulatory bodies in Africa in place to register participants in the carbon market. Yes, but Africa is well positioned with its enormous potential for future growth.

Which countries on the continent are doing the right things to prepare for carbon markets?
Since the Paris Agreement was jointly signed, every country has been working to the best of its ability to fulfil its climate commitments. I don't want to single out any country as being better than another. The aim of this conference is to exchange ideas and provide mutual support in taking the necessary steps to reduce emissions jointly.

You are a speaker at the inaugural Carbon Markets Africa Summit. Why the decision to join this climate change journey with VUKA Group?
Many investments in Africa cannot be made due to a lack of affordable financing. I am convinced that we can only unlock the potential of additional funding sources through the trading of carbon certificates by working together.

What will be your message at the event?
I would like to highlight two points here:

1) Powered by the sun. Africa hardly needs any petroleum. Located near the equator, Africa enjoys abundant sunshine year-round. The sun's energy in Africa is more than sufficient to power the entire transport sector.

2) In the transport sector, carbon credits are a viable source of revenue, that can be easily managed online. Data on energy supply and consumption is recorded by the batteries in the vehicles and through the applications on our cell phones. The measurement, reporting, and verification of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector can be done entirely electronically, via mouse clicks.

What are your expectations of CMAS?
I'm over 60 years old. I don't have any expectations anymore and I can take life as it comes. What I'm interested in at the conference are the people and their ideas. So, I want to experience what we can achieve together.

How important is such an event for the continent?
I would like to answer your question with a counter-question. Isn't trust a precondition for investment? To unlock capital for Africa's climate transition, we need people to engage in dialogue with one another. This conference provides the framework for the necessary discussions about the future of Africa and the overall CO2 emissions of the entire planet.

Anything you would like to add?
Yes: Thank you! I hope that we can contribute to the success of your conference.