Up until recently, the African Automotive Industry has been rather of consumption rather than production. This is even as there is a very large and ready market with over 300 million people on the continent, and the continuous importation of cars from places like the United States and China. It is because of this that some individuals and organizations have come to give us African made cars.
Interestingly enough, even though some of these cars that are manufactured in Africa have been around for some time, they are not receiving the deserved and much-needed attention that others such as Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and a few others are getting.
Although most of these cars made in Africa by African pioneering automakers do not get the needed support to thrive in the international automobile market, many are sold beyond the continent thanks to their standards. In addition to this, the cars are designed to be affordable and still with excellent performance.
Here are some African Made Cars
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Laraki
This automobile company was founded in Morocco in 1999 by Mohamed Laraki who is a businessman and a car designer. Before deciding to go into the making of cars himself, Mohamed Laraki was into the importation of cars. It was his son, Abdeslam that decided on making the company even bigger than just the importation of cars.
The Casablanca company began with the manufacturing of Yacht before moving into the manufacturing of luxurious supercars. The first car it produced is the Laraki Fulgura, and that was in 2002. While the car was powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine, it made use of the 1991 Lamborghini Diablo Chasis. Borac was its next car, followed by Epitome, and from then on, the company has kept growing and evolving.
Its 2013 Laraki Epitome Concept is sold for $2,000,000. It has a V8 engine, 1100 Horsepower (RPM), and a top speed that is estimated at 175 mph.
Innoson Motors
This car manufacturing company was started in 1978 in Anambra state, Nigeria, by Innocent Chukwuma, but it was in 2002 that it started making cars. The company, Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited is one of the biggest among other car manufacturers on the continent.
What stands Innoson motors (IVM) from all others is that it produces a very wide variety of cars and because of this, it is able to attract the patronage of the Nigerian government. This has helped the company to produce cars that are durable and yet not very expensive.
Among cars manufactured by this company are pickup vans, SUVs, and Buses. Some of its models are Innoson Fox, Innoson Umu, and Innoson G5 which is an SUV.
Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC)
This is a Ugandan automotive company that is coming in a different way from any other. This is mostly as it is interested in the creation of a hybrid electronic vehicle. It was in 2014 that it was launched by the engineering students of University of Makerere. Inasmuch as it is yet to hit the market, there is a great investment by the Ugandan government in the project. The goal is not only to provide employment to the citizens but also to provide affordable hybrid cars to Africans.
In its line of Cars, the Kiira has Kayyoola Solar Bus, Kiira EV Smack, and Kiira EV POC which has a battery bank capacity of 40AH and 207V. A 2 seater car, it is powered by a 26 Horse Power.
Bailey Edwards Cars
This is a South African Automotive company that began in 2003 by Peter and Greg Bailey. Under the brand name of Bailey Cars, this company has recreated Porsche 917, Ferrari P4 and the Ford Gt40. Bailey LMP 2 and bailey GT1 are some of the cars that were designed and manufactured by the company.
Both of the cars have been made available for full competition use or even street trim. The Bailey LMP 2 was the first South African car to make it to the famous Le Mans circuit.
Wallyscar
This is a Tunisian car manufacturing company that was founded in 2006 by Zied Guiga and his brother Omar Guiga. Even though many of the cars made in Africa are designed and produced in small quantity, this has gone as far as producing many a day as it has a market that has gone beyond the continent.
2 years after the company was founded, the Wallys IZIS was designed and unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. It soon met international standards and was able to sell in Europe and other parts of the world. There is also the Wallys IRIS apart from the IZIS, and both cars are SUVs.
Over 2,200 cars with PSA Powertrain engines have thus far been manufactured by this company. You can get a Wallys Iris from 30 900 dt (around 13,000 dollars).
Advanced Automotive Design
Another South African automobile manufacturer, Advanced Automotive Design began much earlier than most other African made cars. The company was founded in 1995 by Brian Glover and Rhys Edwards and it is located in Die Wilgers, Pretoria.
Having begun in 1995, the first car to be manufactured by AAD was ready by 1997 with the birth of the Shaka Nynya. By 2000, it had perfected this and it was ready to be ordered for by South Africans. Another model that was also designed in the same year is the Shaka Giotto.
The inspiration for the car are others including Plymouth prowler and Lotus 7, and can go up to 135 mph.
Saroukh el-Jamahiriya
It was in 1999 that this car was unveiled by Libya’s former leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi who invented this rocket car to be the safest car not just in Africa, but in the world. This five-passenger saloon car has an inbuilt electronic defense system, a collapsible bumper which protects passengers in head-on collisions, as well as an interior that is designed with airbags to make it extremely safe.
The car is 17 feet long, over six feet wide, and it comes with a 3-liter, V-6 gasoline engine. It also has the ability to run hundreds of miles on a flat tire, and can easily cut off fuel supply in case of fire.
While the prototype of the car cost 2 million euros, it was intended that it would be mass produced at 50,000 euros.
Birkin cars
Yet another from South Africa is the Birkin Cars, Ltd. which began in in 1982 by John Watson. Today, the car sells in different parts of the world including United States, Japan, and across Europe.
Known for quality classic reproductions, Birkin cars include the SS3 Street Series and the CS3 Clubman Series 3. Among other African made cars, this is the oldest.
Mobius Motors
It was Joel Jackson, a British entrepreneur that began this car factory in Mombasa Kenya. The first car created by the company was the Mobius One, which was followed by the Mobius Two. The emphasis of the car is to make a pice that is durable and affordable. More so, the SUV is delivered with luxury and to thrive in any African auto market.
The Mobius II which is designed, manufactured and sold in Kenya comes with high-efficiency engine combining 16 valves and VVT (Variable Valve Timing). There are different options available for one if you want to pre-order.
The starting price of the car is $12,500.
The Kantanka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiuNvDb1-i8
A subsidiary of the Kantanka Group of Companies, the Kantaka cars is an automobile company that was founded in Ghana by Dr. Ing. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka. That was in 2004, and today it produces both saloon and four-wheel drives. What is more is that this company also has SUVs that include the Nkunimdie and the Kantanka Opasuo. There is also the Kantanta Onantefuo 4×4 pickup.
The most recent and adventurous development from this giant part of the automotive industry in Africa is the Kantanka Odeneho V8. Unlike anything you have seen before, this is a motorbike limousine. The Kantanka Odeneho V8 has a seat for the rider, while the remaining part looks like a hybrid car.
Here are some quick facts about Cars Made in Africa
- The First car in South Africa is the Benz Velo “horseless carriage” and it was imported in 1896 by John Percy Hess.
- In 1997, the Izuogu Z-600 was manufactured and it became the first indigenous Nigerian car. It was created by engineer Ezekiel Izuogu.
- South Africa produces the most popular cars in Africa, as it produces most cars on the continent followed by Egypt.
- There are many young Africans that have designed their prototype cars including these two Brothers in Koforidua, Ghana that made a car.
- There are over 2 million cars bought in Africa each year.
