Mobius II! sounds like a soon to be released sci-fi movie but it also reflects a new chapter in the industrial world of east africa. This is the first edition car that Kenya has produced for mass market since the second president of the country had tried to invent a car after his name
The majority of roads in rural and peri-urban areas of sub-saharan Africa are degraded. Roads are often cracked and riddled with potholes. Rural roads in particular are invariably uneven, sandy/rocky tracks; making transportation difficult and ultimately restricting mobility.
The most common vehicles across regions like East Africa are imported from more developed countries such as Japan, UAE and India. These vehicles are designed for areas with good road infrastructure - they are not built for an African environment. High import duties also make these vehicles relatively expensive.
Beyond high purchase prices, running a car in countries like Kenya is also expensive. High maintenance costs as a result of bad roads and inappropriate vehicles have continued to push the cost of owning a car up, locking out entry-level buyers, particularly entrepreneurs who require cost-effective vehicles in order to successfully operate their businesses.
Mobius II is versatile. Buyers can use their vehicle to operate a range of services such as public transport, goods delivery or mobile medical care.
The rear fold-up seats can be configured for a total of five or eight persons. The rear seats are also removable, leaving a flat cargo space comparable to a pickup truck. The high loading capacity and solid suspension system also enable users to transport heavy goods over long distances reliably.
Mobius II is designed for driving on rough African roads, from sand to mud to rocks.
The body includes an integrated skid plate, 23 cm ground clearance, an approach angle of 41° and a departure angle of 38°, allowing it to easily scale the most demanding terrain. Due to its simplicity, the car is very lightweight. This helps it maneuver through wet and slippery ground with ease.
With a large tyre size and strong monocoque chassis, Mobius II outperforms most SUVs in its class. And compared to other vehicles in a similar price range - mostly imported sedans - Mobius stands far ahead of the pack as a clear choice for rugged off road performance.
"In Africa, we know how hard it is to predict road conditions. So we built a car that's ready for anything" says the marketing team of Mobius
There is now power steering and Air Conditioning in the car to reduce the weight which makes it light and good for offroading and you can go upto a maximum speed of 120kph. The good news is you can get the car for a price of 950,000 KSHS and can pre order with a deposit of only USD500 WHICH IS UTTERLY AMAZING!!
It is still early to determine if the car is long lasting and can meet the promises its makers say but it is worth to book a test drive, just like what we are going to do as soon as we drop this pen
