Electric motorbike firm Spiro says it is adopting a “train all” approach, attributing recent safety risks to the informal exchange of bikes among untrained riders. The move comes after a recent public debate around Spiro electric motorcycles, where riders raised concerns mainly over technical issues, including brake failures. ALSO READ: How serious are safety concerns around Spiro electric motorcycles? The concerns prompted interventions from government institutions, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which said on November 11 it was working with relevant regulators to assess the issues and ensure safety and compliance in the growing electric mobility sector. The company’s Country Lead, Arunkumar Bhandari, during a press briefing held on Tuesday, December 16, at Spiro’s assembling plant in Kigali Special Economic Zone, said that while every rider receives training when collecting a Spiro motorbike, cases where bikes are later handed over to relatives or friends have created safety gaps. “We realised that a rider may be trained, but later gives the bike to someone else who has not gone through the same process. That is where misuse begins.” ALSO READ: Spiro reacts to public outcry over safety of e-motorcycles To address the problem, Spiro is expanding its training programme beyond initial onboarding. Bhandari said the company has rolled out refresher tutorials across its service centres, swap stations and offices, while also circulating training videos through riders’ WhatsApp groups. “These tutorials are always available, so riders can revisit them at any time,” he said. “We are also installing screens at major touchpoints to continuously play safety and usage guidance.” ALSO READ: Spiro rolls out e-bikes for sustainable, eco-friendly transport in Kirehe District He stressed that training has always been part of Spiro’s operations, but said the company is now focusing more on repetition and wider access to information to ensure all users understand how to operate the bikes safely. On safety standards, Bhandari said all Spiro motorcycles, batteries and charging stations meet international certification requirements, even in markets where such standards are not mandatory. “All our products are tested and certified before entering the country,” he said, adding that Spiro is currently the only company supplying Rwanda Standards Board-certified helmets in Rwanda. He also pointed to design adjustments made after observing local conditions. Spiro initially introduced bikes with disc brakes but later switched to a braking system more familiar to local riders. “The change was made to ease maintenance for riders, without compromising quality or safety,” he said. Spiro began operating in Rwanda in April 2023 and currently has more than 15,000 electric motorcycles on the road, supported by about 700 battery swap stations spread across all 30 districts. Bhandari said the company plans to expand the network to over 1,500 stations next year and approach 2,000 by the end of the year.
