NAIROBI, Kenya, April 17 – Electric bus maker BasiGo yesterday opened an e-bus production line at the Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) plant in Thika, making it the country’s first dedicated assembly line for electric mass transport systems.
After the unveiling, the startup flagged off two E9 Kubwa buses that will be operated by Citi Hoppa and Super Metro, boosting the country’s transition to a clean public transportation system.
In February 2024, BasiGo completed the assembly of two E9 Kubwa buses, designed for Kenya’s PSV market.
“One of the key priorities of the Government is addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Investments, Trade, and Industry Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said during the inauguration.
“The transport sector is a significant contributor to carbon emissions and transitioning to electric vehicles presents a sustainable solution to mitigate environmental degradation and address the negative effects of climate change,” she added.
BasiGo plans to locally assemble 1,000 e-buses over three years, creating 300 green manufacturing jobs. Already, they have 500 orders from Nairobi and 100 reservations from Kigali.
Moses Nderitu, BasiGo Kenya’s Managing Director, called for policies fostering innovation, job creation, and economic growth to realize a brighter future for mobility in Kenya and Africa.
“We have proven that local assembly is viable and impactful. Now, we urge policymakers to create an enabling environment that fosters innovation, job creation, and economic growth,” stated Moses Nderitu, the BasiGo Kenya Managing Director.
“Together, we can chart a brighter future for mobility in Kenya and Africa,” he added.
Jit Bhattacharya, CEO and Co-Founder of BasiGo, said, “It is an opportunity for Kenya to establish itself as a manufacturing hub for modern EV’s as well as the components that make up those vehicles.”
“We are proud to support Kenya in taking the lead by inaugurating this first-of-its-kind E-Bus assembly line in partnership with KVM.”
