Burkina Faso Surpasses Kenya in Automobile Innovation

By: Marcel Adala

It is a fact that most vehicles in Africa are imported. With this in mind, it is not surprising to realize that these vehicles are not designed for local usage, given that many roads in both rural and urban areas of Africa are degraded—often cracked and riddled with potholes.

To address the high costs and unreliability of imported vehicles, innovators moved to build a vehicle in Africa for Africa

Mobius, founded in 2010 by Joel Jackson, is a brand of vehicles manufactured in Nairobi, Kenya.

Despite some materials being sourced globally, everything else—from the chassis and frame to painting and general assembly—is done locally by international experts and Kenyan talent, producing a carbon-fueled vehicle tailored to meet the needs and demands of African consumers.

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Burkina Faso Surpasses Kenya

The company was performing well, having released two versions of its SUVs, namely Mobius I and Mobius II.

However, in 2024, the company announced it was going into liquidation.

“At a meeting of the shareholders held on 5 August 2024, it was resolved to place the company under liquidation as per Section 393(1)(b) of the Insolvency Act and appoint KVSK Sastry as the liquidator to wind up the company,” said outgoing Mobius Director Nicolas Guibert in a public notice.

However, in 2025, the Kenyan automaker—celebrated for its no-frills, rugged vehicle design—was acquired by Silver Box, a Middle East-based investment firm.

The acquisition offered a lifeline to the company, which had faced financial turbulence, with Silver Box expressing its commitment to continuing the Mobius legacy.

Being saved by a foreign investor, however, undermines Mobius’ status, stripping it of its bragging rights as a fully local manufacturer, as most of the funds are now channeled and controlled by Silver Box.

This setback has caused Kenya to lag behind, leaving room for other African nations to surpass it in the automobile manufacturing sector.

Burkina Faso, a West African country under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has made history on the continent.

On 26 January 2025, the president launched ITAOUA, the first 100% indigenously designed and assembled electric vehicle, marking a milestone in the country’s industrial and technological development.

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The brainchild behind Itaoua is an unnamed Burkinabé entrepreneur whose vision is to transform Burkina Faso into a technological hub.

With its production plant located in one of Burkina Faso’s prime districts, Ouaga 2000, the brand harnesses solar power.

It is equipped with solar panels and a high-tech lithium battery boasting a 330-kilometer range after just half an hour of charging, making it ideal for both urban and rural environments.

This initiative by Burkina Faso is generating thousands of jobs in manufacturing, sales, maintenance, and the renewable energy sector, profoundly contributing to the country’s economic development.

Additionally, it reduces dependence on imported vehicles and fossil fuels, cutting carbon emissions while conserving foreign exchange reserves.

As stated by the company in a press release, “Innovation is not the preserve of great powers, but it can also germinate, grow, and radiate from the heart of the Sahel in Africa.”

The company’s flagship models, “Sahel” and “Native,” are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a GPS navigation system, solar charging capabilities, and Bluetooth functions.

Itaoua stands as a symbol of African pride, a potential leader in the green energy transition, and a representation of commitment to local innovation and sustainable development on the continent.

It also positions Burkina Faso—once seen as an underdog—as a key player in Africa’s industrialization and technological advancement, surpassing countries like Kenya, which had begun local automobile manufacturing much earlier.