Autopax launches new electric motorcycle

February 13, 2025

From the newsletter

Kenyan car dealer Autopax has launched an electric motorcycle dubbed Cheche. The motorcycle has a range of between 80 – 120 km on full charge. Autopax has partnered with Ghanaian battery swapping station provider Kofa and Chinese two-wheeler automaker TAILG to roll out the motorcycle targeting rural areas. 

  • Kofa will build solar-powered battery swapping stations in select rural parts of Kenya to charge the motorcycles. The firm launched in Kenya in 2024 through a partnership with Autopax. 

  • The pilot phase will begin in the immediate outskirts of Nairobi before expanding into many rural areas ensuring that communities outside the capital can also benefit from electric motorcycles.

More details

  • Kofa was established in 2021, with its headquarters in Accra, Ghana. Following successful pilot projects and the launch of operations in Ghana, the company is now expanding into Kenya and Togo.

  • Kenya’s electric motorcycle market has been growing rapidly, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 98.41% between 2018 and 2023, but remains small. Only 2557 electric motorcycles were sold in Kenya in 2023, according to a report by Mideva Labs. In comparison, 70,691 ICE motorcycles were sold during the same year. 

  • Rural areas in Kenya heavily depend on motorcycles for transportation due to limited access to public transit. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicates that over 80% of boda boda riders operate in non-urban areas, where they serve as the primary mode of transport for both people and goods. This high demand presents a lucrative market for affordable electric motorcycles.

  • Furthermore, many rural areas lack reliable electricity, making fuel-based transport both costly and inefficient. However, solar power availability in Kenya averages 5–7 peak sun hours per day, making it feasible to install solar-powered charging and battery-swapping stations to support electric motorcycles in these regions.

  • Motorcycles in rural areas also play a crucial role in agriculture, particularly in transporting farm produce from rural farms to markets. Approximately 60% of motorcycle transport in rural Kenya is used for trade and agricultural logistics, further demonstrating the potential impact of electric motorcycles in these areas.

  • Other EV companies targeting rural areas include OX Delivers, which provides electric motorcycles and cargo transport solutions in Rwanda’s rural markets. Karaa Africa is focusing on rural farmers and small businesses in Uganda, offering low-cost electric bicycles through a lease-to-own model.

  • Spiro is expanding into Western Kenya, specifically Siaya County, with a battery-swapping model aimed at supporting boda boda riders and small-scale traders. Meanwhile, Roam is extending its reach into Machakos County, targeting peri-urban and rural riders with locally assembled electric motorcycles designed for durability.

  • The Kenyan government has eliminated import duties on electric motorcycles and introduced tax incentives, significantly reducing costs for manufacturers and importers. However, a major challenge in the sector is the lack of standardised battery-swapping systems, forcing each company to operate its own independent swapping stations.

Our take

  • Rural areas have low access to electricity and those who rely on the grid encounter its unreliability. In Sub-Saharan Africa, these areas have an average electrification rate of 16%. Companies targeting rural areas should establish off-grid solar charging stations or offer home charging solutions due to the lack of swapping stations. 

  • Manufacturers should optimise frame design, improve battery protection, and enhance load-bearing capacity to support agricultural transport and rural trade. Developing region-specific models that address these challenges will increase adoption rates and boost long-term sustainability in the rural e-mobility market.

  • Many rural boda boda operators lack the upfront capital required for electric motorcycles, making financing a crucial factor in market penetration. Partnerships with microfinance institutions and digital payment platforms could provide affordable repayment options, enabling wider adoption of electric motorcycles in rural areas.