After raising external financing, Mobius Motors started work on the next prototype for the first production model. The Mobius II (first generation) featured more detailed engineering and design from a team of professional engineers. The cost for building this second prototype was Ksh 1.5 million, with the record development schedule of three months.
In October 2014, Mobius Motors launched the production model Mobius II (first generation) at a retail price of about Ksh 1 million, a price that made it the most affordable new vehicle in Kenya.
The Mobius II designation referred to the vehicle's body type, rather than as a sequential continuation from the Mobius I prototype
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The Mobius II body is 3.9 M long, 1.8 M wide, and 1.85 M high with 23 cm of ground clearance. It has a tare weight of 1265 kg and a loading capacity of 625 kg.
It is powered by a 4-cylinder, 1598 cc petrol engine with a capacity of 86 horsepower at 5500 rpms. The transmission is a 5-speed manual with a top speed of 120 km/h.
The maximum torque for the Mobius II is 128 Nm at 3000 rpms.
The 3-door Mobius II allowed eight passengers, 2 in front and 6 in the rear.
While market reception was favorable and all 50 cars produced sold out by June 2016, the Mobius II was criticized by some for being too basic, particularly for use in more urban areas. For example, the vehicle lacked air conditioning, power steering, and lockable doors, and it offered canvas windows rather than glass. The car featured a lock-box in which owners could safely store their personal items to avoid theft.
Customers had no options for customization of any of the car's features, a limitation that was addressed with the second-generation Mobius II.
New Mobius II (second generation)
The new Mobius II was a huge improvement on the previous Mobius II model. It featured a sleeker design, a more rugged chassis structure, improved suspension, and better balancing. Mobius Motors also introduced power steering, glass windows, lockable doors, and an infotainment system, features that were lacking in the first production model. A tougher frame structure also improved the car's ability to withstand heavy stress from rough road driving. The new model will be available in different colors and with a selection of additional options such as air-conditioning (AC), alloy rims or roof rack.
Specs
The new Mobius II (second generation) features a wider and longer body of about 4.2 M in length, 1.9 M width, 1.8 M height, and a 2.4 M wheelbase. The car also features an improved ground clearance of 330 mm.
It has a tare weight of 1650 kg and maintains the 625 kg loading capacity of the first generation.
A 4-cylinder Inline petrol engine with a capacity of 1798 cc, double overhead camshaft (DOHC), 16 valves and variable valve timing (VVT), producing 133 horsepower at 5600 rpms. The car is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission.
The maximum torque for the new Mobius II is 182 Nm in the range of 3600 to 4600rpms.
With the new Mobius II, customers will be given the opportunity to choose configurations ranging in price from Ksh 1.3 million to Ksh 1.6 million. Buyers will get to choose between three trim-levels for the new Mobius II (Cargo, Adventure, and Adventure Plus) with the latter featuring GPS navigation, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Bluetooth© among other features. This diversification was informed by the desire of Mobius Motors to reach a wider audience than with the first generation model.
Perhaps the most remarkable improvement in the design of the new Mobius II (next generation) was the inclusion of an extendable ladder chassis that will allow future variants of the car to be used for public transport, medical transport (ambulances), and goods delivery. The geographical market for the car has also expanded to include Kenya's neighbors Tanzania and Uganda.
Mobius 3
The Mobius 3, a rebadged Beijing BJ40 was launched in 2021.
Planned car factory
After acquiring funding from the United States Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Mobius Motors announced plans to build their own factory. The factory will be the first such production facility in the country as other vehicle manufacturers focus only on commercial vehicles or light assembly to finish nearly-built cars. The factory is expected to provide the company greater control over the timing and scale of its production, addressing its historical challenges with production delays. An expanded research and development space is also expected to accelerate future product development.
Marketing and placement
Brand values
According to Mobius Motors founder and CEO, the company aims to establish itself as the ideal automaker to spearhead the industrialization of the continent. The company upholds the values of affordability by using simplified user interface while maintaining durability with the use of a tubular steel frame.
The Mobius Motors logo uses the properties of the Mobius strip which has a single surface and single boundary, representing perpetuity and unity. The company targets the transportation needs of young entrepreneurs in agriculture and commerce. The company's marketing stresses the ability of their rugged vehicles to navigate the degraded roads around the country.
Location
Mobius Motors' head offices is located at a showroom at Mombasa road in Nairobi. The company has also announced plans to open a new Sales & Service Center (SSC) in Mombasa in early 2019.
Mobius Motors in the media and academia
International media houses like Forbes, Venture Beat, Fast Company, Wired, and Reuters have praised the effort of Joel Jackson to create a car for the often overlooked African market and the empowerment of latent talent therein. Joel Jackson has also featured in TED Talk events discussing the vision of Mobius Motors to power entrepreneurship in Kenya, East Africa, and the African continent.
The Stanford Business School wrote a business case on Mobius Motors in 2012, outlining the company's commitment to building an African car affordable and durable enough for local needs.
