BasiGo begins local assembly of electric vans targeting matatus

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 16 – Electric vehicle assembler BasiGo has started local assembly of electric vans, marking a major push into Kenya’s matatu sector.

The firm said its Ma3e electric vans are being assembled in partnership with Associated Vehicle Assemblers in Mombasa using Complete Knocked Down (CKD) kits.

The first batch of 22 locally assembled units is expected to be delivered to customers between April and May.

The vans, which have a range of about 300 kilometres on a single charge, are targeting multiple transport segments including public service vehicles, school transport, corporate staff mobility, airport transfers and hotel shuttle services.

“Over the past 10 months, BasiGo has been operating two electric vans on intercity routes, including Nyahururu–Nyeri–Nakuru and Nairobi–Thika. Their strong performance has validated both the product and the operating model, driving a reservation pipeline of over 500 units,” the company said.

“Local assembly is now the critical next step to unlock scale of the Ma3e.”

The move comes as Kenya’s transport sector increasingly shifts toward electric mobility to cut emissions and reduce reliance on costly fossil fuels.

BasiGo already supplies electric buses to matatu operators in Nairobi and says it plans to roll out thousands of electric vans across the country.

The company added that the expansion will support Kenya’s climate goals while positioning the country as a leader in clean and inclusive transport solutions.