NAIROBI, Kenya, April 28 – Local motorcycle manufacturer Kibo Africa has unveiled a Sh279, 000 motorcycle, growing its range of locally assembled bikes to four.
The K1160E Evolution comes with a 160-cc engine capacity and a load weight of 200 kilograms.
The firm says that the launch of the unit seeks to meet high demand for motorcycles for clients who seek to reduce commute time and traffic congestion.
Kibo Africa CEO Huib van de Grijspaarde noted the value of motorcycling in improving mobility for urban residents.
“We took the K160E as an opportunity to better help young Kenyans do more by saving a lot of time on their commutes and expressing their spirit of adventure through how they move,” the CEO said while launching the product yesterday night.
“Our mobility solutions are designed to fit into our customers’ lifestyles while maintaining affordability and allowing them to remain environmentally conscious,” he said.
Kenya’s motorcycle industry has continued to grow as more people seek more convenient mobility solutions.
According to the Motorcycle Assemblers Association of Kenya, between 25,000 and 35,000 motorcycles are assembled in the country every month, with the number of newly registered motorcycles rising by 15.6 percent between 2020 and 2021.
Currently, Kibo Africa has an annual capacity of 10,000 bikes, with a plan to increase this capacity to 50,000 bikes per year in the next three years.
“The K160E is the next step in our growth trajectory to better suit the needs of the Kenyan urban resident,” added van de Grijsparde.
Kibo plans to partner with local manufacturers to transfer the manufacturing of key components such as mufflers and exhaust by Q1 2024.
“This is a significant step towards improving the capacity and quality of local engineering teams and will contribute to the growth of the manufacturing industry in Kenya,” said Deputy Director for Industries Gideon Oele, who spoke on behalf of Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry PS Juma Mukhwana.
“Besides, Kibo’s vision to unlock opportunities by providing access to safe and reliable mobility for all people, by challenging the market with an entrepreneurial spirit that delivers trusted quality is commendable,” said Mukhwana.
In 2017, Kibo launched K-Series which includes K150, K250, K160, K160R-reloaded.
