Rideence Africa Partners with AVA to Launch Local Electric Vehicle Assembly in Mombasa

Rideence Africa Limited has entered into a $2.46 million partnership with Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA) to commence local assembly of electric vehicles in Mombasa, positioning Kenya as a growing hub for electric mobility manufacturing in the region. Under the initiative, Rideence plans to assemble 152 electric vehicles from CKD kits by February 2026, including electric taxis and high-roof electric matatus. The move represents a significant transition for the company, which has evolved from a vehicle operator into a manufacturer within Kenya’s emerging clean transport value chain. The assembly programme builds on Rideence’s lease-to-drive business model, which has already deployed more than 180 fully built electric vehicles across the country. The company describes this as East Africa’s largest electric ride-hailing fleet, offering drivers substantial cost savings due to significantly lower charging expenses compared to conventional fuel costs. Rideence stated that the decision to localise assembly follows cumulative investments of over $10.7 million in Kenya since 2023, reflecting a long-term commitment to building a new-energy mobility enterprise anchored in the local market and scaled for the African continent. The partnership with AVA enables technology transfer, local value addition, and expanded manufacturing capacity, while supporting Kenya’s industrialisation agenda. Beyond vehicle production, the company estimates the new phase will generate at least 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, spanning supply chains, charging infrastructure, and support services. Why This Matters This development marks a critical step in Kenya’s transition from EV adoption to EV manufacturing, strengthening local industrial capacity while reducing reliance on imported fully built units. It also reinforces Kenya’s leadership in East Africa’s clean mobility transition and supports national goals around sustainability, job creation, and industrial growth. For the transport sector, local assembly improves affordability, accelerates fleet expansion, and enhances long-term ecosystem resilience. Opportunity Sector Electric Mobility & Clean Transport Automotive Assembly & Manufacturing Green Energy & Charging Infrastructure Industrialisation & Local Value Addition Employment & Skills Development Urban Transport Solutions #ElectricMobility #EVManufacturing #GreenTransport #KenyaIndustry #CleanEnergy #JobCreation #SustainableCities #MotoSeenAfrica