A made-in-Kenya vehicle is targeting mass production for Africa’s rough terrain

A Kenyan company that took up the audacious task of producing low-cost vehicles for Africa’s off-road and rough terrain plans to increase production of a newer, more advanced model this year after an optimistic reception of its pioneer model. Since the inaugural model Mobius II rolled off the assembly line in late 2014, 50 units were sold by the end of 2015 with Mobius Motors now planning to significantly ramp up production of a more advanced model next year. It anticipates the new Mobius II, which will be a more enhanced version of its pioneer model, will have advanced features such as a better interior and exterior appearance, power steering, sealed side windows and a much higher ground clearance. The expectation is that the enhanced model will gain an even better reception in the East African market.
The idea behind Mobius Motors, the company Joel Jackson, a British entrepreneur established in 2009, was to design and produce hardy, low-cost vehicles fit for many of rural Africa’s off-road locations and pothole-riddled roads. Jackson had worked in the rural areas where he gained first-hand experience of the challenges in mobility especially for entrepreneurs in the remote locations.
Many such entrepreneurs often have had to contend with high purchase prices of imported vehicles, many of which are not designed for the particularly uneven tracks in remote areas. The cost of new models is invariably out of reach of many. Jackson saw this opportunity, which has already started bearing fruit with growing orders from entrepreneurs for the Mobius, which some have come to regard as Africa’s Land Rover.
Jackson, the company’s CEO announced in October Mobius had started accepting pre-orders for the new Mobius II. The simplistic design and absence of key features such as power steering, air conditioning and glass windows in the original Mobius was compensated by the relatively low price of 950,000 Kenya shillings (approximately $9,500).