The Mobius II is set to hit the road by next year. Bookings have been opened by the company. This model aims to be an upgrade of the inaugural car released in 2014.
Will it pave the way for a new homegrown car industry?
Mobius Motors was founded in 2009 by British entrepreneur Joel Jackson.
Jackson was working in rural Kenya where he found people had vehicles that weren’t up to the task of negotiating the country’s rough terrain and long distances.
“Millions of people are having their productivity undermined because of the time it takes to move around and get from place to place, and that problem could be solved with a better type of product,” Joel Jackson, tells CNN.
Mobius Motors has got its sights on anywhere with poor quality roads.
“Car companies are still focused on the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) economies. Africa is an overlooked market in general, and there is an opportunity to do something different,” Jackson explains.
The entry-level model costs 1.3million Kenyan Shillings ($12,500). “The price is roughly the equivalent to a 5 to 6-year-old sedan car in Kenya,” Jackson claims.
That being said, Kenya’s GDP per capita at $1,455 means the car at this price, while cheaper than other imported options, is some way off for the average earner.
Built-in Kenya, the car is designed for the rough terrain of many of Africa’s roads.
The car has features such as rear wheel drive and has a 1.8-litre power frame. The company sources parts both locally and globally. The top speed of the car will be released shortly.
Africa’s rising car industry.
Mobius Motors is part of the growing movement towards homegrown cars.
Kiira Motors, based in Uganda, is developing Africa’s first hybrid car set to sell at $20,000 each.
Nigeria is also leading the charge. Its first car brand Innoson launched a range of private cars in 2014 made mostly from locally sourced parts.
