BasiGo and AVA have announced a partnership that will see the latter assemble modern Electric buses for BasiGo in Kenya.
In January 2023, AVA successfully completed the final assembly of fifteen 25-seater electric buses, shipped in partially assembled by BasiGo, set to start operations with Nairobi Matatu operators in the coming months.
Speaking about the partnership, Jit Bhattacharya, CEO BasiGo said “BasiGo is committed to delivering electric buses that are 100% assembled in Kenya. We are elated to be partnering with AVA, the country’s leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles who have had expertise for many years in assembly in the country.”
Adding “We are confident that this partnership will put Kenya on the map as a leader in the manufacturing of modern electric vehicles.
Moses Nderitu, Chief Revenue Officer of BasiGo added “With AVA’s decades of experience and certified production processes, we will be delivering high-quality electric buses to PSV operators in the region.
Together, BasiGo and AVA are making Kenya a leader in the manufacturing of state-of-the-art electric vehicles, a segment that is destined to grow rapidly in the years to come.”
BasiGo and AVA aim to manufacture over 1,000 electric buses in the next 3 years, creating over 300 new manufacturing jobs and an additional 300 jobs in the ecosystem of charging, maintenance, and financing required to support electric buses in operation.
AVA Managing Director Matt Lloyd said the partnership will also help in creation of jobs and development of the industry.
“This represents a big step forward for the country and AVA itself, we are very much looking forward to the next step. This process involves around 120 people and of course it will help in terms of job creation” said Llyod.
Adding “In terms of the build itself it is very similar to what we already do.”
Since launching in March 2022, BasiGo’s electric buses have driven over 141,000 kilometers and carried over 185,000 passengers as part of fleet operations with 2 Nairobi bus operators East Shuttle and Citi Hoppa.
