What Autopax does

Autopax Limited is a Nairobi-based, privately held vehicle importer, assembler, and dealer that operates three divisions: Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, and Service & Parts. The company sources used vehicles from Japan (primarily Honda, Toyota, and Nissan cars, plus KTM and Honda motorcycles), subjects them to inspection by Africa Automotive Analysis (AAA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards KS 15:15 road-worthiness checks, and resells them through a single showroom at Nairobi Mega Mall and an e-commerce site with QR-code-linked vehicle histories. Autopax claims the longest CPO warranty in Kenya at 90 days on engine and gearbox, and offers financing facilitation through Cooperative Bank of Kenya.

Autopax is positioning itself as Kenya's first locally owned company to develop an indigenous electric vehicle for the African market, anchored by a June 2023 Engineering Services and Partnership Agreement with SAIC GM WULING (SGMW) of China. Through that partnership the company is introducing the AirEv YETU (200km range) and AirEv YETU Pro (300km range), with the first batch received for pre-launch trials, and it plans local assembly in Kenya. A second partnership, signed with Ghanaian energy-solutions provider Kofa in February 2024, is bringing the Cheche electric motorcycle (100km range, 85km/h top speed) to Kenya and East/Central Africa using Kofa's Kore2 Swap & Go battery-swap network.

The business model is hardware-led: revenue comes from one-time sales of CPO vehicles, EV units, motorcycles, and automotive parts/accessories sourced from OEMs, supplemented by referrals to AutoXpress for aftersales service. The company is led by founder Dr. Isaac Kalua Green and CEO Ms. Joy Kalua, and operates as a subsidiary of Green Africa Group. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is provided on inquiry, consistent with a high-touch, relationship-driven dealership model. Headcount is small (1-10 employees), and the EV and motorcycle lines remain in pre-launch or early commercialization as of the latest disclosed data.

Name

Autopax

Legal name

Autopax Limited

Website

https://autopax.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Autopax Limited is a Nairobi-based vehicle importer, assembler, and dealer selling certified pre-owned Japanese vehicles and developing affordable electric vehicles (AirEv YETU) and electric motorcycles (Cheche) for the African market through partnerships with SGMW and Kofa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales & Electric Mobility

NAICS

Motorcycle, ATV, and All Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (441227), Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991)

SIC

Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations (5500), Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714)

akta.pro primary industry

Wheels, Tires, Brakes & Suspension Components Manufacturing (IMACAOAH)

Keywords

• Certified pre-owned vehicles
• Electric vehicle distribution
• Automotive parts retail
• Used car dealership
• Electric motorcycle sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Vehicle Sales: Autopax sells certified pre-owned vehicles imported from Japan, including Honda, Toyota, and Nissan cars, as well as KTM and Honda motorcycles. Vehicles are inspected, serviced, and sold with warranty. Revenue is generated through one-time vehicle sales transactions.
2. Electric Vehicle Sales: Autopax sells electric vehicles including the AirEv YETU and Cheche electric motorcycle, manufactured in partnership with SGMW (for cars) and Kofa (for motorcycles). First batch of AirEv YETU vehicles has been received in Kenya for pre-launch trials.
3. Automotive Parts and Accessories Distribution: Autopax supplies automotive parts and accessories in partnership with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and renowned parts manufacturers. Revenue generated through the sale of replacement parts, accessories, and related components.
4. Aftersales Service Referrals: Autopax partners with AutoXpress for aftersales maintenance services. Customers are introduced to AutoXpress at point of purchase, with the first oil change provided by Autopax.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Autopax Limited imports, inspects, and sells certified pre-owned vehicles from Japan (Honda, Toyota, Nissan cars; KTM and Honda motorcycles) and develops/distributes electric vehicles (AirEv YETU, AirEv YETU Pro, and Cheche electric motorcycle) manufactured in partnership with SGMW and Kofa. The company also distributes automotive parts and accessories in partnership with OEMs, supported by a 90-day warranty and aftersales referrals through AutoXpress. Operations are anchored at a showroom in Nairobi Mega Mall and a website with vehicle listings.

Product overview

Autopax is a Kenyan vehicle manufacturer, assembler, and dealer operating three divisions: Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles Division, Electric Vehicles Division, and Service and Parts Division. The company offers certified pre-owned vehicles from Honda, Toyota, and Nissan brands sourced from Japan, complemented by its own electric vehicle lineup including the AirEv YETU and AirEv YETU Pro (developed with SGMW) and the Cheche Electric Motorcycle (developed with Kofa). The portfolio is unified under the 'Mobility for Life' tagline, connecting traditional ICE vehicle sales with electric mobility solutions and after-sales services. The company is Kenya's first locally owned company to partner with global automotive leaders to conceptualize and produce an affordable electric car for the African market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AirEv YETU: Electric vehicle produced in partnership with SGMW, covering 200 kilometers on full charge. Standard model.
• AirEv YETU Pro
• Cheche

Products and services

• Autopax AirEv YETU An affordable electric car manufactured in partnership with SGMW (SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Company Limited) in China, designed for the African market. Standard model covers 200 kilometers on a full charge, focusing on affordability, reliability, and sustainability.
• Autopax AirEv YETU Pro Advanced extended-range variant of the AirEv YETU electric car covering 300 kilometers on a full charge, offering greater range while maintaining affordability and sustainability for the African market.
• Cheche Electric Motorcycle High-performance electric motorcycle co-developed by Autopax and Kofa, designed for commercial and personal use in Kenya. Features 100 km range, 85 km/h top speed, 223 kg payload capacity, three drive modes (Eco 50 km/h, Normal 70 km/h, Sport 85 km/h), and Kofa's Kore2 Swap & Go quick-swap battery system.
• Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Vehicles Imported certified pre-owned vehicles sourced from Japan, primarily Honda, Toyota, and Nissan cars, alongside KTM and Honda motorcycles. Every vehicle is inspected by Africa Automotive Analysis (AAA), passes the mandatory KEBS KS 15:15 road-worthiness test, and is sold with a 90-day warranty on engine and gearbox, an Export Certificate, and an Odometer Disclosure Certificate.
• Automotive Parts and Accessories Distribution of automotive replacement parts and accessories supplied through partnerships with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and renowned parts manufacturers. Designed to support vehicle maintenance and reliability for African customers, including LED lights and warning modules referenced in company materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% lower operating costs compared to petrol vehicles
• +5 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KofacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2024Autopax partnered with Ghanaian energy solutions provider Kofa to revolutionize electric motorcycle transport in Kenya and the wider East and Central African region. Announced at the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi on February 19, 2024. Kofa will provide its Kore2 Swap & Go battery system, creating a network of battery swapping stations. Autopax will establish local assembly and distribution outlets for the Cheche electric motorcycle.
• SAIC GM WULING AUTOMOBILE COMPANY LIMITED (SGMW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2023Autopax partnered with SGMW (global leader in small electric vehicles with over 1.34 million GSEV sales) to introduce affordable electric vehicles to the Kenyan and African market. An Engineering Services and Partnership Agreement was signed at SGMW's offices in Liuzhou, Guangxi, P.R. China on June 21, 2023. SGMW has five production bases and markets covering over 40 countries. Together they developed the Autopax AirEv YETU electric vehicle.
• AutoXpressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutopax partners with AutoXpress, a market leader in vehicle service, to ensure good aftersales maintenance for customers. Customers are introduced to AutoXpress at the point of purchase and the first oil change is provided by Autopax.
• Africa Automotive Analysis (AAA)coreTechnology or IntegrationAutopax vehicles are inspected by Africa Automotive Analysis (AAA). All vehicle details are available on the AAA website, and a QR code is generated for each car on the Autopax subdomain for easy access to vehicle history and inspection details.
• CFAO GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutopax partners with CFAO Group to offer affordable, reliable, and sustainable products to Kenyan customers through their established distribution network.
• Original Equipment Manufacturers (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutopax endeavors to partner with respected OEMs such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Mitsubishi as appointed dealers for their products. They currently sell CPO vehicles from Honda, Toyota, and Nissan for cars and KTM and Honda for motorcycles.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Roam (formerly Opibus): Roam is a Kenyan EV company converting and manufacturing electric motorcycles and buses for the African market. It competes head-on with Autopax's Cheche motorcycle and AirEv YETU products in the same Nairobi customer base.
• Kofa: Kofa is a Ghanaian clean-energy startup providing the Kore2 battery-swap network that Autopax uses for its Cheche motorcycle. As an emerging player in the same battery-swap infrastructure category, it is both partner and adjacent competitor.
• Spiro: Spiro operates electric motorcycle fleets with battery-swap networks across several African countries including Kenya. It directly competes with Autopax's Cheche motorcycle and similar Kofa/Kore2 swap-station economics.
• BasiGo: BasiGo is a Kenya-based electric mobility company developing electric buses and charging infrastructure for public transport. It directly overlaps Autopax in pioneering EV adoption in Kenya and competing for the same policy tailwinds and consumer awareness.
• Ampersand: Ampersand is an East African electric motorcycle company deploying swap-network infrastructure. It targets the same commercial motorcycle rider segment in Kenya that Autopax's Cheche is built for.

Regional players

• Drive Electric (South Africa): Drive Electric is a South African EV retailer and importer offering EVs and charging solutions. While operating in a different geography, it offers a comparable model of EV distribution, parts, and aftersales for the African market.

Broad incumbents

• CFAO Group: CFAO is the largest automotive distributor in Africa and a confirmed Autopax channel partner. As a broad incumbent it sells new vehicles, parts and services across the continent and competes with Autopax's CPO and parts businesses at scale.
• Car & General: Car & General is a major Kenyan distributor of motorcycles, power products and automotive equipment. It overlaps with Autopax's motorcycle and parts distribution businesses at a much larger scale.
• Toyota Kenya: Toyota Kenya is the official distributor of Toyota vehicles in Kenya and a dominant player in the new and used vehicle market. It competes with Autopax's CPO division for the same Kenyan consumer demand for reliable Toyota-brand vehicles.

Emerging players

• Moja EV: Moja EV is a Kenyan e-mobility startup focused on electric two-wheelers and battery-swap infrastructure. It is a direct emerging competitor to Autopax's Cheche in the Nairobi micromobility segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/autopaxke
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/autopax-kenya

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Autopax