Roam & M-KOPA Sign Supply Agreement for Electric Motorcycles in Africa Lowering Costs for Buyers

The Swedish-Kenyan technology company Roam has signed a major supply agreement with M-KOPA, an African fintech platform. The agreement will enable the credit sales of electric motorcycles, lowering the barrier to entry for customers through affordable payment plans.

Roam will deliver the fleet by the end of 2022 in time for mass deployment in early 2023.

This is the first-ever large-scale supply agreement for electric motorcycles in Africa.

The motorcycles can be used for personal use but are also appropriate for cargo transportation and taxi services.

Additionally, they come equipped with a removable dual battery pack, lowering downtime and increasing rider flexibility.

Working with M-KOPA will streamline distribution of electric motorcycles, and, at the same time, provide the opportunity to grow Roam’s market reach in regions across Africa where M-KOPA operates, starting in Kenya.

Roam says this will enable customers to lower their operational costs by over 70%,

Mikael Gånge, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Roam, says: “This agreement is an incredible trigger for electric motorcycle adoption in emerging markets and validates our vision of releasing a locally designed product that exceeds the experience of traditional fossil fuel motorcycles for a similar price. We want to provide a compelling environmental and economic solution for markets that haven’t been part of the electric vehicle transition yet. We believe the motorcycle taxi industry is one of the most impactful areas to start, given the growing market size and importance for low income earners not only in Africa but globally. Our partnership with M-KOPA will drive us both towards our shared vision of cleaner mobility.”

David Damberger, Managing Director - M-KOPA Mobility and M-KOPA Labs, adds: “The partnership with Roam aligns us with a major player equally committed to Africa’s sustainable development, and sees us expand our product offerings to include electric motorcycles, which is a true testament to the versatility of our fintech platform. At M-KOPA, we’re committed to lowering the barriers to entry and making everyday essentials accessible, especially to underbanked customers, through flexible payment plans. This rollout will have a transformative effect on the daily incomes of business people and reduce the environmental footprint of commerce, as it continues to grow in rapidly developing markets.”

Founded in 2017, it became the first company to deliver locally produced electric motorcycles and buses.

With nearly 100 employees, Roam is today the leading provider of electric vehicles in Africa.