The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Electric motorcycle manufacturer Roam has boosted the share of locally manufactured components in its Roam Air model to 40 percent by value, as part of efforts to cut production costs and reduce dependence on imported parts.
According to the company, more than 50 components are now sourced from over 10 suppliers across Kenya and Tanzania, a shift that has cut waiting times for certain replacement body parts from 18 weeks down to just two weeks.
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Roam says the cost of replacing a locally manufactured space tank has also dropped by roughly 40 percent compared to when the part was imported — a change that could lower maintenance costs and reduce downtime for motorcycle taxi operators. The localization push comes as Kenya works to grow its domestic manufacturing base and build supply chains for electric vehicles, though it remains unclear how much of these cost savings will be passed on to consumers through lower motorcycle prices.
Roam’s next goal is to raise local content to 50 percent, including by manufacturing motorcycle chassis locally. The company has not disclosed the investment required to hit this target or the number of jobs created through its current supplier network.
Habib Lukaya, Roam’s country manager, said the company intends to increase the share of components sourced from African suppliers as production scales up, with the ultimate goal of achieving a 50-50 split between locally made and internationally sourced parts for the Roam Air.
The Kenya Association of Manufacturers said deeper local sourcing could strengthen domestic suppliers and build technical capacity as the electric mobility sector grows. Chief Executive Tobias Alando noted that as local manufacturers expand their capacity to produce more components domestically, the sector could create stronger opportunities for Kenyan suppliers, develop technical skills, support quality jobs, and build the capabilities needed for deeper manufacturing and regional supply chains. He added that the focus should now shift toward moving further up the value chain to ensure the growth of e-mobility translates into broader industrial development.
The move also comes ahead of the East African Community’s Assembling and Manufacturing of Products Regulations, 2025, set to take effect in July 2027. These regulations establish a framework for sourcing raw materials, parts, and components manufactured within the regional bloc. Kenya already imposes localization requirements on motorcycle assemblers benefiting from duty remission, including obligations to source certain locally available parts.
However, further expansion of domestic production will hinge on suppliers’ ability to meet manufacturers’ quality standards, supply volumes, and pricing expectations.
Roam also noted that locally produced helmets, rims, mirrors, body panels, and electrical components are increasingly being purchased by riders outside its own customer base, pointing to a potential market that extends beyond electric motorcycles.
