Electric Vehicle Assembly Kenya: Rideence Africa to Build EVs at Mombasa AVA Plant

On February 2, reports confirmed that Rideence Africa Limited will undertake electric vehicle assembly Kenya operations at the Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA) facility in Mombasa. The initiative marks a significant step in local EV manufacturing, aligning with Kenya’s broader transition toward cleaner mobility solutions while strengthening domestic vehicle assembly capacity.

Investment and production roadmap

Rideence Africa Limited has committed an investment of KES 320 million to support the electric vehicle assembly Kenya project. The company plans to assemble a total of 152 electric vehicles by the end of February 2026, using completely knocked-down kits to enable localized production at the Mombasa plant.

Vehicle mix planned for assembly

The planned production portfolio focuses on public and commercial mobility segments that are central to Kenya’s transport ecosystem. The assembly programme includes:

• 132 Henrey electric taxis aimed at urban and ride-hailing operations

• 20 Joylong electric high-roof matatus designed for public transport use

Role of CKD-based local assembly

By adopting a CKD assembly model, the electric vehicle assembly Kenya initiative supports skills development, reduces import dependency, and enhances value addition within the local automotive sector. The approach also enables flexibility in scaling production volumes in response to market demand.

Implications for Kenya’s EV ecosystem

The Mombasa-based assembly programme is expected to accelerate electric vehicle adoption by improving availability and cost competitiveness. It also reinforces Kenya’s position as an emerging hub for EV assembly in East Africa, particularly in electric taxis and matatus that play a critical role in daily mobility.