Rideence Invests $2.46M In Mombasa EV Assembly

Rideence To Invest $2.46m In Local EV Assembly With AVA In Mombasa

ByStaff Writer February 2, 2026February 2, 2026

2 min read

With 152 electric vehicles slated for assembly in February, the project aims to catalyze over 3,000 jobs and build a local supply chain targeting 60 percent Kenyan content.

Rideence Africa Limited has announced a $2.46 million (KSh 320 million) partnership with Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA) to begin the local assembly of electric vehicles in Mombasa, marking a key step in the company’s shift from vehicle operator to manufacturer.

Under the agreement, Rideence will assemble 152 electric vehicles from Completely Knocked-Down (CKD) kits by the end of February 2026. The first batch will include 132 Henrey electric taxis and 20 Joylong electric high-roof matatus.

The move follows the company’s expansion of its lease-to-drive model, which has seen Rideence deploy more than 180 fully built electric vehicles imported from China over the past three years. These include 54 electric matatus and 128 electric taxis, forming what the company says is East Africa’s largest electric ride-hailing fleet.

Rideence leases its Henrey electric taxis to drivers at a daily rate of $18.47 (KSh 2,400). Drivers spend about $3.08 (KSh 400) to charge the vehicles for a range of up to 200 kilometres, compared with more than $15.39 (KSh 2,000) in fuel costs for petrol vehicles over the same distance.

“Having already invested over $10.77 million (KSh 1.4 billion) in Kenya since 2023, Rideence is strategically transitioning from operator to local manufacturer,” said Minnan Yu, Managing Director of Rideence Africa Limited. “Our vision is to become a leading new-energy mobility enterprise, born in Kenya and serving Africa.”

The Mombasa assembly project is expected to create a strong employment multiplier. Rideence says it has created between 550 and 680 direct jobs since 2023, and the new investment phase is projected to generate at least 3,000 additional direct and indirect jobs across supply chains, charging infrastructure, and related services.

Rideence’s entry into local assembly comes as Kenya’s electric mobility sector gains momentum. Companies such as BasiGo in electric buses and Roam in electric motorcycles and buses, alongside a growing number of EV importers and charging infrastructure providers, are accelerating adoption. Analysts say Rideence’s move strengthens local manufacturing capacity and aligns with Kenya’s broader push for cleaner transport, industrialisation, and job creation.