Electric vehicle (EV) energy tech company Ampersand has announced the opening of a new, larger manufacturing facility in Nairobi, tripling the company’s production capacity in Kenya.
Formed in 2016, Ampersand assembles and finances electric motorcycles that cost less to buy and operate, and perform better than the five million petrol motorcycle taxis in use across East Africa.
Since its commercial launch in May 2019, Ampersand’s fleet has grown to over 4,500 in size, and is expected to exceed 10,000 by late 2024. The company has raised US$21.5 million in funding in the last year.
The company’s new Nairobi factory spans 21,000 square metres, making it over three times larger than the previous 6,500 square metre site. This significant upgrade, coupled with the deployment of over 100 staff, will allow Ampersand to assemble up to 60 electric motorcycles per day, or 1,440 per month, as well as to continue delivering the most trusted battery swap network for Kenya’s millions of commercial motorcycle riders.
This strategic expansion enables it to meet the rapidly increasing demand for electric motorcycles in the country, where over 1,100 Ampersand e-motos are already in operation. Ampersand said its enhanced Kenyan operation, combined with its successful model in Rwanda, lays a strong foundation for its continued expansion across East Africa.
“Our new Nairobi factory is a major step forward in both scale and impact. It reflects our dedication to providing sustainable, affordable EV solutions that directly benefit riders and the environment. With this expanded capacity, we’re in a stronger position to support the electrification of Africa’s commercial motorcycle transport and to scale Ampersand’s proven business model,” said Josh Whale, CEO of Ampersand.
