Company Name: Roam (formerly Opibus)
Tagline: "Electrifying One Vehicle at a time"
Industry: Electric Mobility and Renewable Energy Solutions
Website: www.roam-electric.com
Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya
Employee Count: Estimated about 220+
Roam is a Swedish-Kenyan electric mobility company focused on designing and manufacturing electric motorcycles and buses specifically for African markets. Roam’s mission is to offer affordable and sustainable transportation, aiming to address the environmental impact of traditional fuel-based vehicles while creating economic opportunities for local populations. Its flagship product, the Roam Air, is tailored to endure Africa's unique terrain and is optimized for local needs, making electric transportation accessible across urban and rural landscapes. They offer supporting infrastructure, fleet management software and after-sales services to enable an ecosystem that accelerates the transition to sustainable transport on new frontier markets. we provide tailored solutions to meet market demand through business segments that today include: The Roam Air: a tailored electric motorcycle designed in Kenya for Africa. Roam Transit: a segment focused on electric bus production for Kenyan and African public transport sectors. Roam Energy & Charging: A segment which distributes off-the-shelf energy and charging products. Roam Canopy: A segment which provides tailored software applications to fleet owners, business operators, financiers and others. These focus areas have been chosen to maximize impact, as public transport vehicles are some of the highest carbon-emitting vehicles on the market and are largely an untapped opportunity. Therefore creating the standard for electric mobility in Africa. Their mission remains to provide low-cost, and low-emission transport solutions for the vast population across Kenya and the greater African continent who primarily rely on public transport to get around. They actively work towards a future where Africans can all move around in a sustainable, unfragmented public transport sector, a future free of climate disasters. Roam is going after a large opportunity and is currently hundreds of people strong, all working to actualize this electric future.
2. Founding Details
Founders: The company was initially launched by Filip Lövström and a team of engineers in Sweden as Opibus, with a focus on introducing electric mobility to emerging markets.
Founded: 2017
Location: Originally Sweden; moved operations to Nairobi, Kenya.
Key Milestones: From early prototypes and EV conversions for utility vehicles to launching the first fully adapted electric motorcycle for Africa, Roam has established itself as a leader in sustainable mobility in Africa.
3. Company Evolution Since its inception, Roam has expanded from converting fuel vehicles to producing dedicated electric motorcycles and buses. Key advancements include the establishment of East Africa’s largest electric motorcycle plant, aiming for an annual production of 50,000 units. The company has also formed significant partnerships, including one with Uber to deploy electric motorcycles across Africa.
4. Financial Performance Roam recently secured $24 million in Series A funding, led by investors like Equator Africa, TES Ventures, and the International Development Finance Corporation. This funding is set to support production scale-up and further product innovation, focusing on affordability for African consumers.
5. Company Culture and Leadership
Leadership: CEO Filip Lövström
Culture: Roam emphasizes local manufacturing, sustainable practices, and social impact, fostering a team-driven environment that prioritizes innovation and African-centric solutions.
6. Success Stories and Milestones Roam achieved a major milestone with a 6,000-kilometer solar-powered journey across five African countries, showcasing the reliability and sustainability of the Roam Air motorcycle in diverse terrains. This expedition underscored Roam’s commitment to renewable energy and highlighted its contribution to sustainable transport.
7. Challenges and Failures Roam has encountered challenges related to infrastructure limitations in Africa, such as limited charging stations. The company mitigates this by providing portable and swappable batteries and aims to expand solar charging networks to support long-distance travel across the continent.
8. Vision and Future Prospects Roam's vision is to accelerate Africa’s transition to electric mobility by expanding its product lines and infrastructure across the continent. With a focus on scalability and affordability, Roam plans to launch new vehicles and enter additional African markets, setting the stage for future global expansion.
9. Market Position and Competitors Roam stands out as one of Africa’s pioneers in electric mobility, holding a unique market position. Competitors include other e-mobility startups in Africa but few with Roam’s scale or local production emphasis.
10. Customer Base and Target Market Roam’s primary market includes commercial motorcycle users (e.g., delivery and taxi services), public transportation operators, and environmentally conscious consumers. The company has seen success stories with clients who report significant savings on fuel and maintenance.
11. Notable Partnerships Roam has formed strategic alliances with Uber and various clean energy organizations, providing both product and infrastructure support to accelerate Africa’s electric mobility ecosystem.
12. Media and Public Perception Roam has received positive media coverage for its innovative approach to sustainable transportation and has been featured widely as an example of successful electric mobility tailored to Africa’s needs.
13. Timeline
2017: Founded as Opibus in Sweden
2021: Rebranded to Roam, headquartered in Nairobi
2022: Launch of the Roam Air
2024: Secures $24M in Series A funding
14. Fun Facts
The Roam Air can be charged with removable batteries, making it adaptable for regions with inconsistent electricity access.
Roam’s solar-powered 6,000-km journey included wildlife encounters and showcased the African landscape, strengthening its reputation as a symbol of African innovation in electric mobility.
Roam’s dedication to providing affordable, robust, and eco-friendly transport solutions places it at the forefront of Africa’s electric mobility revolution
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