In an industry long dominated by men, a bold group of African women are taking the wheel—and driving powerful change. From car manufacturing to ride-hailing, vehicle security, and repair training, these trailblazers are reshaping the automotive landscape with innovation, grit, and purpose.
Whether assembling vehicles at scale, empowering women with mechanical skills, or building tech-enabled mobility platforms, these five women are not just breaking barriers—they’re building new roads.
Meet the leading female entrepreneurs steering Africa’s automotive future.
1. Rita Kavashe (Kenya) – CEO, Isuzu East Africa
A trailblazer in vehicle assembly and senior leadership, Rita has led the expansion of Isuzu’s regional operations since 2011. Under her leadership, pick-up truck assembly moved from South Africa to Kenya, bringing 150 new jobs and strengthening local automotive capacity.
2. Chinazom Arinze (Nigeria) – Founder & CEO, AutoGirl
Launched in 2019, AutoGirl is a mobility platform that offers car rentals, sales, maintenance, diagnostics—and even boats and jets. Chinazom has positioned AutoGirl as a female-led automotive innovator: “AutoGirl empowerment program for women…training women for free on how to drive”. The platform serves both individuals and businesses, with over 3,000 completed rides and expansion beyond Lagos .
3. Eno-Obong Essien (Nigeria) – Founder & CEO, Rheytrak
Since 2007, Eno has led Rheytrak Limited—the first female-led vehicle tracking and recovery firm in Nigeria. Nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year in Technology (Future Awards) in 2012, she remains a key voice in telematics and vehicle security solutions.
4. Nicolette Udo (Nigeria) – Founder & CEO, Eight.Drive
In 2019, Nicolette founded an online luxury car dealership specializing in high-end makes like Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover. She’s also a certified automotive vinyl installer, offering premium car-wrapping and customization services to celebrities in Nigeria.
5. Sandra Aguebor (Nigeria) – Founder, Lady Mechanic Initiative
Nigeria’s first certified female mechanic, Sandra established the Lady Mechanic Initiative to train underprivileged and previously abused women in automotive repair. To date, she’s trained over 700 women, supported through her mobile workshop and brick-and-mortar garages.
Image Credit: Techbuild Africa
