Roam
Roam designs, manufactures, and sells electric motorcycles and buses for African markets, serving gig-economy boda-boda drivers, ride-hailing fleets, and commercial delivery operators in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda via owned retail, embedded financing, and a solar-powered charging network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Roam does
Roam is a Nairobi-based electric mobility company founded in 2017 (originally as Opibus, rebranded in 2024) that designs, manufactures, and sells electric motorcycles and buses purpose-built for African operating conditions. The core hardware portfolio includes the Roam Air electric motorcycle (available in Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3 iterations, with the latest offering a 100,000 km battery guarantee, IP67 water resistance, and 20–80% charging in under 40 minutes), the Roam Rapid 77-passenger commuter bus (Kenya's first electric mass transit bus), and the Roam Move 42-seater electric bus. Supporting infrastructure includes Roam Hub solar-powered charging and battery swap stations, and Roam Point fast-charging stations for light electric vehicles. The technology stack incorporates a proprietary Battery Management System (BMS) optimized for African road and climate conditions, 98% robotic welding in manufacturing at the 10,000 sqm Roam Park facility, and the Roam Explorer AI-powered fleet management platform that delivers real-time vehicle monitoring, predictive maintenance, and asset tracking for fleet operators.
The business operates a hybrid revenue model spanning one-time hardware sales (motorcycles and buses to individual boda-boda drivers, ride-hailing fleet operators, and public transport companies), usage-based charging and battery swap services (per-percentage, per-hour, and home charging at approximately KES 80 for ~80km of range), financing referral income from embedded partners (M-KOPA, 4G Capital, Watu Credit, Fortune Credit, and the Mastercard Foundation Jiinue Growth Program), and managed services revenue from the Roam Explorer platform. Distribution combines owned Roam Shops in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, and Machakos with co-located charging at TotalEnergies fuel stations, Quickmart, and Mogo retail locations, ride-hailing integrations with Bolt and Uber, and a Crowdcube crowdfunding channel.
Roam's primary customer segment is individual gig-economy motorcycle taxi (boda-boda) drivers across Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, with secondary segments including commercial delivery operators (Keep It Cool, Greenspoon, Brood), public transport fleet operators, and platform partners. The company has raised at least $31.5M in disclosed equity and grant funding since 2021, supplemented by a $10M DFC debt facility, and was named Kenya's fastest-growing company by the Financial Times in 2025 with reported 547.8% revenue growth.
Roam firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Roam
- Legal name
- Roam Electric
- Website
- https://roam-electric.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Roam designs, manufactures, and sells electric motorcycles and buses for African markets, serving gig-economy boda-boda drivers, ride-hailing fleets, and commercial delivery operators in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda via owned retail, embedded financing, and a solar-powered charging network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Roam industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electric Vehicles
- NAICS
- Motorcycle, ATV, and All Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (441227), Taxi and Ridesharing Services (485310), Motor Home Manufacturing (336213)
- SIC
- Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751), Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- E-Mopeds & Light Electric Motorbikes (Consumer) (CRACASAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Moped & E-Moped Rentals (THADAGAF), Motorbike Taxi & Two-Wheeler Ride-Hailing (THAIAGAG), Two-Wheeler Ride-Hailing (Moto-Taxis) (THADADAG), Ridesharing & Taxi Dispatch Platforms (BPAMAHAA)
Keywords
Where Roam is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nairobi
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
Roam business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Electric Motorcycle Sales: One-time sale of electric motorcycles (Roam Air, Roam Move, Roam Super) and electric buses to individual gig workers and fleet operators
- Charging Infrastructure & Battery Services: Revenue from battery swapping stations, hub charging (per percentage and per hour rates), and home charging services. Battery rentals at Roam hubs generate recurring usage-based income.
- Financing Partnerships & Referrals: Referral income from financing partners (M-KOPA, 4G Capital, Watu Credit) who provide vehicle financing to customers. Partners handle loan origination and servicing.
- Fleet Management Services: Roam Explorer AI platform enables fleet operators to monitor and manage electric vehicle fleets, generating service revenue
- Professional Services & Consulting: Electric bus conversion and electrification consulting services for public transport operators and fleet owners
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Roam Air Gen 3 — Base Electric Motorcycle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Roam Air with Extra Battery — Extended Range Option |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Home Charging Service |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Roam Hub Battery Rental/Swap |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Roam Move and Roam Super — Premium Motorcycles |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Roam product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Roam designs, manufactures, and sells electric motorcycles (Roam Air) and electric buses (Roam Move, Roam Rapid) purpose-built for African road and climate conditions, primarily for boda-boda gig drivers and commercial fleet operators. Revenue is generated through direct vehicle sales, recurring battery swap and charging services at the Roam Hub and Roam Point networks, and the Roam Explorer AI-powered fleet management platform.
Product overview
Roam is a technology-driven electric mobility company that designs, develops, and manufactures electric vehicles for African markets. The product portfolio centers on the Roam Air electric motorcycle featuring swappable dual-battery technology (Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3 generations), complemented by electric buses including the Roam Rapid (77-passenger high-capacity commuter bus) and Roam Move (42-seater city bus). Supporting infrastructure includes the Roam Hub solar-powered charging and battery rental station network and Roam Point universal fast-charging stations for light electric vehicles. The ecosystem is unified through Roam Explorer, an AI-enabled fleet management platform providing real-time vehicle monitoring, predictive maintenance, and asset tracking for fleet operators across Africa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Roam Air: Electric motorcycle product line designed for African terrain with swappable dual battery system
- Roam Move
- Roam Rapid
- Roam Explorer
Products and services
- Roam Air Electric Motorcycle Electric motorcycle designed and manufactured in Kenya for African terrain, featuring swappable dual battery packs providing up to 160-200 km range, GPS tracking, and portable charging capability. Built for boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) operators and delivery riders across East Africa, with starting price ~KES 25,000 and daily installment financing available.
- Roam Rapid Electric Bus 77-passenger high-capacity electric commuter bus designed for Nairobi's city bus transport system. Represents Kenya's first electric mass transit bus, sold to public transport operators and fleet owners.
- Roam Move Electric Bus 42-seater electric bus designed for city public transport in Kenya, representing Kenya's first locally manufactured electric bus. Sold to public transport operators and fleet owners seeking fleet electrification.
- Roam Hub Charging and Battery Swap Network Solar-powered charging and battery rental stations providing affordable battery charging and swap services for electric motorcycles, with locations across Nairobi and expansion to other Kenyan counties. Pricing at KES 1.5 per percentage point or KES 20 per hour for battery rentals, and ~KES 80 for ~80km home charging range.
- Roam Point Fast Charging Network High-speed charging station network for light electric vehicles including motorcycles and tuk-tuks, offering rapid charging that adds 10-20 km in under five minutes. Represents Kenya's first universal fast-charging network for LEVs, with nationwide rollout planned.
- Roam Explorer AI Fleet Management Platform AI-driven digital platform connecting electric vehicles to a centralized monitoring system for fleet operators across Africa. Tracks battery health, vehicle performance, location, and usage in real time with AI-powered predictive maintenance, driver analytics, and asset data sharing with financing partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 75% lower operating costs compared to petrol motorcycles
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Roam
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Roam technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
Roam partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BoltcoreBolt integrates Roam electric motorcycles into its ride-hailing platform, providing a structured channel for gig workers to access Roam vehicles. Bolt drivers can benefit from M-KOPA financing to purchase Roam motorcycles for use on the Bolt platform, with special introductory pricing for Bolt driver-partners.
- TotalEnergiescoreRoam charging stations are co-located at TotalEnergies fuel stations across Kenya, leveraging existing fuel station real estate and foot traffic. This enables Roam riders to charge batteries while on the go and provides TotalEnergies with an entry into the growing EV charging market.
- UbercoreUber fleet partnership for deployment of Roam electric motorcycles on Uber's platform in Kenya, expanding access to gig workers on a major global ride-hailing platform.
- Keep It CoolminorKeep It Cool operates an electric cold chain delivery network using Roam electric vehicles for temperature-controlled last-mile logistics, expanding Roam's use cases beyond passenger transport into commercial delivery.
- Stellenbosch UniversityminorResearch and development collaboration with Stellenbosch University's engineering department, supporting product development and testing of Roam's electric vehicles and charging technology in African conditions.
- QuickmartminorRoam charging stations are installed at Quickmart supermarket locations, providing convenient charging access for gig workers during routine errands and shopping trips.
- MogominorMogo store locations host Roam charging stations, expanding the charging network footprint and providing accessible charging points for gig workers across Kenya.
- GreenspoonminorGreenspoon operates an electric delivery network using Roam electric motorcycles for sustainable food and package delivery, expanding Roam's commercial use case.
- Wode MayaminorPartnership with Kenyan YouTuber Wode Maya (content creator with large following) for brand storytelling, product content, and marketing reach to youth and gig economy audiences in Kenya and across Africa.
- Syokinet SolutionsminorSyokinet Solutions committed to a deployment of 100 Roam electric motorcycles, representing a significant fleet order and partnership for commercial gig economy operations.
- SandstormminorLimited edition motorcycle collaboration with Sandstorm, creating a co-branded or special edition Roam electric motorcycle variant.
- BroodminorBrood operates sustainable bread delivery using Roam electric motorcycles, demonstrating Roam's applicability for last-mile logistics in the food and goods delivery segment.
- C40 CitiesminorRoam participates in C40 Cities clean mobility initiatives, connecting with major global cities committed to climate action and sustainable urban transport solutions.
- Colorado State UniversityminorResearch partnership with Colorado State University's engineering department, contributing to low-cost, high-quality robotic welding technology and manufacturing process development for Roam's assembly operations.
- SANEDI (LEAP-RE)minorSouth African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) collaboration under the LEAP-RE (Long-term EU-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership for Renewable Energy) program, supporting research into renewable energy-powered mobility solutions.
- ScatecminorSolar energy partner contributing to Roam's solar-powered charging hub infrastructure, combining solar power generation with electric vehicle charging.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Roam competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Gogoro: Gogoro pioneered the electric scooter plus battery-swap model in Taiwan and is expanding into India and other markets, making it a relevant business-model benchmark for Roam's vehicle-plus-swap ecosystem.
- Yadea: Yadea is one of the world's largest electric two-wheeler OEMs, exporting aggressively to emerging markets including Africa, and is a key pricing benchmark for Roam Air.
- NIU Technologies: NIU is a leading Chinese smart electric scooter manufacturer with international distribution, comparable in product category and a key potential competitor in African urban markets.
- Ola Electric: Ola Electric manufactures electric two-wheelers and operates charging/swap infrastructure in India, offering a comparable vertically integrated EV-plus-energy business model to Roam.
- Zero Motorcycles: Zero Motorcycles is an established American electric motorcycle OEM, comparable to Roam in core product category though positioned in a very different premium/global segment.
Direct peers
- Ampersand: Ampersand builds electric motorcycle taxis and battery-swap networks for East Africa's boda-boda market, most directly competing with Roam Air and Roam Hub across Kenya and Rwanda.
- Spiro: Spiro operates electric motorcycle deployment and battery-swap stations across several African countries including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Nigeria, overlapping directly with Roam's two-wheeler and charging business.
- BasiGo: BasiGo manufactures and deploys electric buses in Kenya with pay-as-you-drive financing for matatu operators, directly competing with Roam's Roam Move and Roam Rapid bus products.
Emerging players
- MAX: MAX is a motorcycle ride-hailing and financing platform in Nigeria with growing EV ambitions, comparable to Roam in targeting motorcycle taxi drivers with asset financing and platform demand.
Others
- Energica: Energica is an Italian high-performance electric motorcycle manufacturer and Roam's research partner under the EU Horizon 2020 program, making it a relevant technology comparator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Roam social profiles
Digital presenceRoam financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Roam leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Roam funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Roam M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Roam
What does Roam do?
Roam designs, manufactures, and sells electric motorcycles (Roam Air) and electric buses (Roam Move, Roam Rapid) purpose-built for African road and climate conditions, primarily for boda-boda gig drivers and commercial fleet operators. Revenue is generated through direct vehicle sales, recurring battery swap and charging services at the Roam Hub and Roam Point networks, and the Roam Explorer AI-powered fleet management platform.
Is Roam a public or private company?
Roam is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Roam founded?
Roam was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Roam based?
Roam is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Roam make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Electric Motorcycle Sales are the primary driver. The others are charging Infrastructure & Battery Services, financing Partnerships & Referrals, fleet Management Services and professional Services & Consulting.
Who are Roam's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Gogoro, Yadea, NIU Technologies, Ola Electric and Zero Motorcycles. Direct peers are Ampersand, Spiro and BasiGo. MAX is listed as an emerging player. Energica is listed as an others.
Does Roam have an API?
No public API is recorded for Roam.
What industry is Roam in?
Roam's product category is Electric Vehicles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACASAG, E-Mopeds & Light Electric Motorbikes (Consumer), with a secondary code of THADAGAF, Moped & E-Moped Rentals. Its NAICS code is 441227 and its SIC code is 3751.