Mobius Motors

Mobius Motors
Industry Automotive industry
Founded 2009 (approx)
Founder Joel Jackson
Headquarters Nairobi, Kenya
Area served
 East Africa
Africa
Products Automobiles
Website Mobius Motors

Mobius Motors is an automaker that started in Mombasa, Kenya, but is now based in Nairobi, Kenya, that builds inexpensive vehicles "by integrating off-the-shelf parts within a durable and safe tubular steel frame"

History

The company was founded by Joel Jackson, a computer engineer who came to Kenya in 2009 to help farmers increase productivity. He decided that the most pressing barrier was the state of the transport system, saying "It became clear that the lack of appropriate transport affected many parts of rural Africa"[1]

In May 2014, Mobius Motors received an undisclosed convertible debt from Ronald Lauder backed Pan African Investment Company to help it assemble the first 50 units and establish a distribution network.[2]

In October 2014, Mobius launched the Mobius II which retailed at KES 950,000 (US$10,600). This price made it the lowest priced new vehicle in Kenya.[3]

Mobius One

Mobius One is the company's first prototype.

"Mobius One is our first prototype vehicle and represents a major step towards a safe, functional and affordable form of transport for the African market."

Mobius Two

The second prototype, unveiled in Mid-2011

"Mobius Two is our next generation prototype. A highly affordable, functional and durable vehicle, designed and built for the African market.

Mobius Two omits many non-essential features while maintaining essential functionality. It has already been driven over 2,500 Kilometres around Kenya on varied terrain and proved its rugged capability. "

Features

Production

Mobius Motors started assembling cars in Kenya in late July 2013.[4]

Mobius started the assembly of five units and plans to increase production to more than 500 units from mid-2014.

Currently, over 35 per cent of the vehicle’s cost is sourced domestically and Mobius Motors is looking to grow local content beyond 40 per cent.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "TEDGlobal: The low-tech $6,000 car made for Africa". BBC. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "US tycoon invests in assembly of Africa's cheapest car in Thika". Business Daily. Nation Media Group. May 11, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  3. ↑ Ciuri, Simon (October 23, 2014). "Low cost Kenya made car goes on sale at Sh950,000". Business Daily. Nation Media Group. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  4. ↑ http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate+News/Thika+assembler+starts+building+Africa+s+cheapest+car/-/539550/1947000/-/lqub8tz/-/index.html
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