From Concept to Vehicle: HawKar’s Decade-Long Journey to Revolutionize Mobility for People with Reduced Mobility

It took nearly a decade for HawKar to transform an initial idea into a tangible vehicle. The project took shape in 2015, following the founder’s academic studies, and entered its development phase in 2016. The company was officially established in October 2018. Since then, the startup has been dedicated to developing an electric vehicle specifically designed for people with reduced mobility, featuring a unique design element from the outset: direct wheelchair access.

A Custom-Built Approach

HawKar made the strategic decision to develop its own vehicle from scratch rather than adapting an existing model. While this choice extended the development timeline, it allowed for a tailored solution. Designing a vehicle from the ground up requires extensive mechanical and electronic development, prototype creation, rigorous road testing for durability and behavior, as well as compliance with strict safety standards and regulatory requirements.

Funding and Partnerships

The project’s evolution has been closely tied to its funding strategy. To progress from one stage to the next, the startup has leveraged a mix of grants, competition awards, seed funding, and strategic partnerships. HawKar is now deeply integrated into Tunisia’s innovation ecosystem and benefits from the momentum generated by the Startup Act.

The company’s partner network has grown progressively over the years:

• 2017: ACTIA began supporting the project.
• 2018: Business angel Walid Charfi joined the initiative.
• 2021: CIPPH became a partner.
• 2022: GIZ joined the ecosystem.
• 2024: CTAMA invested in HawKar’s capital.

Transition to Pilot Testing

HawKar recently unveiled its final vehicle at the El Ghazala Technopole. The startup is currently in a pilot testing phase, collaborating with institutional and strategic partners. This critical step aims to further validate the vehicle’s performance before moving to full-scale production.

Simultaneously, HawKar is preparing a new funding round. The raised capital will be used to finance ongoing pilots and support the transition from the pre-industrial stage to a commercializable, high-end, and customizable vehicle offering.

Current Status and Future Priorities

To date, the startup has not disclosed production volumes or sales figures, as its activities remain primarily focused on development, testing, and commercial preparation.

However, HawKar’s next priorities are clearly defined:

1. Complete ongoing pilot tests.
2. Strengthen industrial and financial partnerships.
3. Prepare for commercial launch in Tunisia.
4. Expand into African markets.

Addressing a Regional Gap

This positioning addresses a significant challenge identified by HawKar in the MENA region and across Africa. Public transport and certain infrastructure remain poorly adapted for people with reduced mobility, while imported adapted vehicles often come with prohibitive costs. HawKar aims to provide a solution specifically engineered for this use case.

Empowering Women in Industry

For the founder, successful industrial development also hinges on the ability to assemble the right competencies around the company. She emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with experts when needs exceed one’s own areas of expertise. Furthermore, she actively encourages women entrepreneurs to invest in sectors such as automotive, mechanics, and mobility.

After several years dedicated to vehicle development, HawKar is now entering a phase where the key challenges lie in testing, financing, and scaling to production. The next major milestone will be commercialization, starting in Tunisia and expanding to African markets.