Kibo Africa has revealed plans to quintuple its motorcycle production annual capacity in the next three years.
The Kenyan-based manufacturer currently has an annual capacity of 10,000 bikes and says it plans to increase this capacity to 50,000 bikes in the said period. To achieve these, Kibo plans to partner with local manufacturers to transfer the manufacturing of key components such as mufflers and exhaust by Q1 2024.
Kibo Africa made this announcement on Thursday during the launch of its new offering Dubbed K160E- Evolution.
Speaking at the launch event, Kibo Africa CEO, Huib van de Grijspaarde, noted the value of motorcycling in improving mobility for urban residents. ‘’Our mobility solutions are designed to fit into our customers’ lifestyles while maintaining affordability and allowing them to remain environmentally conscious.”
This increase will be a big boost to Kenya’s motorcycle industry which has continued to grow over the years as more people seek more convenient mobility solutions. The Motorcycle Assemblers Association of Kenya reports that there are between 25,000 and 35,000 motorcycles assembled locally per month and that the number of newly registered motorbikes rose by 15.6% between 2020 and 2021.
Kibo’s motorcycles are fully assembled in Nairobi from parts that come from over ten different countries. The company notes that its objective is to maximize local content and to be a leader in automotive manufacturing in Africa.
At the launch, the company also revealed that it has successfully transferred technology locally to manufacture 38 components of its bike in Kenya with a target of achieving 30% localization of components within the same period.
Kibo Africa entered the Kenyan market in 2017 and has grown to have 82 direct employees and partnerships with multiple logistics firms to improve market linkages while providing employment and economic opportunities for thousands of Kenyans. The company eyes increasing direct employment to 400 and indirect employment to 1000 by the end of 2025.
The K160E comes with a 160-cc engine capacity and a load weight of 200 kilograms. It comes with an enhanced lower center of gravity, 17-inch cast aluminum wheels, and lighter suspension adopted for solo riding.
It comes standard with an LED instrument panel, cat-eye-shaped side mirrors, and narrower handlebars for easier riding. It will be available for Ksh.279, 000.
Kibo is currently offering a Ksh.15,000 discount on the new K160E Evolution for the first 100 bikes purchased.
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