The roar of diesel engines at the coast is about to be replaced by the silent hum of electric motors. Chinese-backed dealer Rideence Africa has announced a Sh320 million investment to establish an Electric Vehicle (EV) assembly line in Mombasa, a move set to disrupt the local taxi market.

Partnering with the established Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA), Rideence will begin assembling the compact "Henrey" electric hatchbacks and Joylong vans from Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits. This strategic pivot from importation to local assembly is designed to slash unit costs by up to 25%, leveraging government tax incentives meant to spur local manufacturing.

The "Henrey" Revolution

The Beijing Henrey mini-EV has already become a familiar sight on Nairobi roads, favored by taxi drivers for its incredible efficiency. Currently, Rideence leases these units to drivers at roughly Sh2,400 per day. Local assembly will drastically reduce the landing cost, potentially lowering these lease rates and making EV ownership accessible to the masses.

• The Target: 132 Henrey hatchbacks and 20 Joylong vans are scheduled to roll off the AVA line by the end of February 2026.
• The Economics: Drivers spend a mere Sh400 to charge for a 200km range, compared to over Sh2,000 for petrol—a game-changer for the ride-hailing economy.
• The Impact: The project is expected to create 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, from assembly technicians to charging station operators.

Mombasa as a Green Hub

"We are moving beyond importing solutions to co-creating them locally," stated Minnan Yu, Rideence’s Managing Director. The investment validates the government’s push for e-mobility, proving that tax breaks on CKD kits can indeed attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). As the first locally assembled Henrey cars hit the streets, Kenya inches closer to its green energy goals, one silent kilometer at a time.