Moja EV to begin electric vehicle assembly in Mombasa in January 2026

Electric mobility company Moja EV will begin assembling electric vehicles in Mombasa starting January 2026, in a major boost to Kenya’s clean transport agenda and manufacturing sector.

Moja EV CEO Wang Ai Ping said the company has already identified an assembly site and will start with semi-knocked down (SKD) production before progressing to full assembly.

“Before we imported any models, we had already planned for spare parts and charging. Now we are taking the next step—assembling vehicles locally to reduce costs and support the Kenyan market,” he said.

The new plant will initially produce 3,000 units in the first year, expanding to 5,000 units annually as demand grows. Once fully operational, Moja EV expects the facility to employ 4,000–6,000 Kenyan workers.

“Local assembly is necessary because taxes on imported EVs remain high. Building here will allow us to offer more affordable vehicles while creating jobs,” Wang said.

Moja EV has already deployed over 100 NETA electric taxis locally and plans to release 2,000 more units in the next two years.

The company has also imported two electric matatu units and plans to install charging stations along public transport routes.

“Charging and spare parts are the most important parts of EV development, and we are addressing both as we expand,” he added.

Public transport operator CBS welcomed the move, saying locally assembled EVs will speed up Nairobi’s shift to cleaner mobility. Leasing Manager Sylvia Ngini said CBS plans to acquire Moja EV’s electric buses once available.

“Electric buses will help decongest Nairobi and cut emissions—we are ready to integrate them into our fleet,” she said.

Moja EV said its expanded portfolio of taxis, buses, and future matatus will help accelerate EV adoption across Kenya.