In Kenya, there’s a quiet push for an electric car revolution - The World from PRX
theworld.org
In East Africa, the vast majority of cars are imported from other countries. But a group of engineers in Kenya is working to change that by developing the country’s first-ever locally-assembled electric vehicle.

In East Africa, the vast majority of cars are imported from other countries. But a group of engineers in Kenya is working to change that by developing the country’s first-ever locally-assembled electric vehicle.

  • QuandaleDingleEnglish
    2·
    3 days ago

    Any guesses as to why Kenyans would want to make EVs themselves?

    • UnderpantsWeevilEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      In the 1980s, the Kenyan government tried to launch its own locally made car brand called Nyayo, but it never went into production due to funding issues. Another homegrown company called Mobius Motors did successfully launch in the early aughts, but folded last year because it couldn’t compete with cheap imports.

      Plenty of money in automotive construction, but it’s a cut throat market that requires a very friendly local government.

      Idk if Kenyans really do want to localize production. Historically, they’ve been content to import.