List of cars manufactured in Kenya and their prices

In this article we look at the list of cars manufactured in Kenya; their specifications and prices. Kenya does not have a long history of producing automobiles or machines in general. Yet whenever we tried, we gave it our all, and the ultimate result was frequently the result of long and arduous days and months of hard work.

Kenya still holds the record for being the first African country to produce a locally manufactured and assembled motor vehicle in 1986, and while the project never really took off, it was a major accomplishment that inspired many other trials to produce vehicles in Kenya, which have so far been successful.

Here is a list of cars manufactured in Kenya

Nyayo Pioneer Car

This was the first car made and constructed in Africa, and it was supposed to put Kenya on the map. It was launched in 1991 at the Kasarani Stadium by the then president Danie Arap Moi. This car featured a 1200CC engine with a top speed of 120Km/h. The car was available in four different configurations: a five-door sedan, a truck, a rally car, and a sports coupe.

The project failed numerous times, yet this never dimmed the inventors’ spirits. The National Motors Company (NMC) eventually took over the Nyayo Pioneer car project, but Nyayo Pioneer Cars became the first locally made car in Kenya and Africa.

Researchers at the University of Nairobi spearheaded this bold endeavor, Kenya’s first entry into motor vehicle manufacturing and design. They developed five prototypes known as Pioneer Nyayo Vehicles. The vehicles, which could reach speeds of 120 km/h, were never mass-produced for the domestic market because financing ran out, leading the project to be shelved.

Mobius 1,2,3

Mobius Motors Kenya Ltd was created in 2010 by British computer expert Joel Jackson as an automobile OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) business to produce vehicles for the African market.

Mobius I, the initial prototype, is a tough practical, stripped-down version of a luxury Vehicle made by welders and mechanics from the country’s Jua Kali sector. Jua Kali (Swahili meaning “hot sun”) refers to the informal sector, which includes small-scale traders, artisans, and business owners.

Based on the initial Mobius I designs, the startup has since manufactured the Mobius II (first and second generation) and the Mobius III.

In October 2014, the Mobius II (first generation) was released. With a retail price of around USD 8,800, it was heralded as Kenya’s most cheap new automobile. Since its launch, it has yet to win over the hearts of its target demographic; online reactions have been divided, with some suggesting that the vehicle is not truly built in Kenya.

The Mobius 2 retails from Ksh1.5 million to Ksh1.9 million depending on the model. The Mobius 3 currently retails from Ksh3.9 million.

Opibus

Opibus, a Swedish-Kenyan technology business, stated on January 19, 2022, that it will begin trial operations for Africa’s first fully built and developed electric bus. The all-electric vehicle was originally debuted in Kenya, where the design and development were completed entirely in-house by local engineering expertise and with the assistance of local manufacturing partners. Before major production begins in late 2023, the organization will conduct trials on the streets of Nairobi.

This vehicle will be much less expensive than importing completely built electric buses. Yet, it outperforms its diesel equivalent in terms of performance. The installation of a powerful motor provides the bus with maximum torque, which increases performance while allowing the driver to accelerate more quickly. Furthermore, because the electric bus lacks a combustion engine and manual transmission, no oil/filters/gaskets must be changed.

When compared to a diesel bus, this leads to an 80% savings in maintenance costs. Taking into consideration the electricity charges, which are also much lower than the ever-increasing diesel price, the entire running expenses are reduced by 50%, revolutionizing the African public transportation sector.

Volkswagen Polo Vivo

Volkswagen started to manufacture cars in Kenya in 2016 after a 40 year wait through Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers limited (KVM) in Thika, Kiambu. The saloon car is a five-seater and was valued at Ksh1.65 million at the time of the launch.

The cost has risen over time and is now expected to be Ksh2.5 million. The company announced in 2018 that it has sold 104 vehicles since beginning manufacture locally.

BJ-50

Samwel Njogu, a self-trained innovator from Nyahururu, is the brains behind the four-wheeled Tuk-Tuk made in Laikipia. The 40-year-old stated that his dream of producing an automobile was realized after the Kenya Bureau of Standards approved his concept.

“I had a dream of creating my own vehicle one day. I can now say I have achieved it. We have gone to all government agencies and they have approved it. We have also been issued with number plates,” said Njogu when he launched it in 2021.

The locally assembled vehicle costs KSh 450,000.