Mobius Motors: A Different Kind Of Low-Cost Car

by Derek Kreindler

May 21st, 2014 9:42 AM

mobius motors a different kind of low cost car

Africa is quickly becoming the focus for auto makers looking to discover the last island of growth in an overly saturated global marketplace. Toyota, PSA and Renault-Nissan are hoping to make inroads on the continent beyond their current strongholds in trucks (Toyota) and North Africa (PSA/Renault) respectively. But a new start-up is proposing a very different kind of car for Africa, one far removed from the current crop of compact offerings.

With a price of $10,000 USD, the Mobius retails for the same price as a used Toyota Corolla does in Kenya, but has a very different mission. The tube frame SUV packs a 1.6L 4-cylinder making 86 horsepower and 94 lb-ft of torque, while lacking comforts like windows or air-conditioning. Top speed is a mere 75 mph, but with 9 inches of ground clearance and a payload capacity of 1,375 lbs, the Mobius is designed to carry people and goods across rough African roads, and nothing else.

With $50 million in funding, Mobius should be able to bring their first 50 trucks – and there could be more money on the way. Mobius is backed by the Pan-African Investment Company, which is partially controlled by billionaire cosmetics magnate Ronald Lauder. While $50 million is barely a drop in the bucket for most automotive companies, there’s clearly much more available, provided that the Mobius succeeds.

#Africa #Mobius #MobiusMotors

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NancyLong on May 22, 2014

Mobius Motors is mostly known for African low cost car maker. They aim at providing low cost transportation in Africa and are quite successful in doing so.

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- Corey Lewis on May 22, 2014
  
  I think the account above should be labeled as spam and banned.
  
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- Landcrusher on May 22, 2014
  
  @Corey Lewis Did I miss something? What did they say?
  
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- Corey Lewis on May 22, 2014
  
  @Landcrusher Posting nonsense comments like this on other articles recently as well. The information in this case isn't even true.
  
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- Raresleeper on May 22, 2014
  
  @Corey Lewis +1 Bizarre.
  
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- Landcrusher on May 22, 2014
  
  @Corey Lewis You think it's one of those reputation service people building a legend?
  
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- Corey Lewis on May 22, 2014
  
  @Corey Lewis Probably, yeah.
  
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CapVandal on May 23, 2014

I think this sort of vehicle has more potential ... http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Tuk-tuk_in_Nairobi_2.JPG And on the outside chance that they succeed, their design can be copied by Korean or Chinese companies. As far as Africa in general -- and to the extent that anyone can generalize about a continent -- Americans don't get a representative view of their state of development. I was behind the curve and never saw pre development China. I wouldn't be at all surprised if parts of it develop quickly.

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