BasiGo Begins Electric Van Assembly in Kenya’s Matatu Sector

BasiGo, a Kenyan electric mobility company, has begun local assembly of its electric vans, marking a significant step toward the potential electrification of Kenya’s public transport sector. This development signals growing momentum in efforts to shift the country’s high-usage transport systems toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.

The company is assembling its Ma3e electric vans in partnership with Associated Vehicle Assemblers Limited (AVA) in Mombasa, using Complete Knocked Down (CKD) kits. The first batch of 22 locally assembled units is expected to be delivered between April and May, reflecting an important milestone in local EV manufacturing capacity.

Designed for high-utilisation use cases, the Ma3e vans are targeted at public transport, school transport, corporate shuttles, airport transfers, and hospitality services. With a range of up to 300 kilometres on a single charge, the vehicles are positioned to serve Kenya’s intensive daily mobility demands, particularly within the matatu ecosystem.

BasiGo has already been testing electric mobility through pilot deployments in Nairobi and intercity routes such as Nyahururu–Nyeri–Nakuru and Nairobi–Thika. These trials have helped validate performance and contributed to growing demand, with the company reporting a reservation pipeline of over 500 electric vans.

With Kenya’s public transport sector dominated by matatus and a national fleet of millions of vehicles, analysts view local assembly as a key step toward reducing import dependence and accelerating adoption. As charging infrastructure and financing models continue to evolve, BasiGo plans to scale deployment to thousands of units, positioning electric vans as a viable alternative in the country’s transport transition.