BasiGo partners with King Long Bus Company to launch the KL-9, a next-generation Electric City Bus for the Kenyan market

• King Long is one of the world’s largest bus OEMs with significant research and development in electric vehicles.

• This latest bus from BasiGo is powered by a CATL battery with a 10-year / 1 million-kilometer warranty.

• BasiGo, King Long, and Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers have partnered to scale CKD production of the KL-9 to 20 units per month to meet Kenya’s high demand for Electric Buses.

Nairobi, Kenya | September 11, 2025 – BasiGo, a leading provider of electric bus solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, is pleased to announce the launch of the KL-9, a new electric bus for Kenya designed by King Long Bus Company.  King Long is one of the world’s leading bus manufacturers with extensive research and development into electric vehicle technology. BasiGo has partnered with King Long and Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) to scale up the local production of the KL-9 to meet Kenya’s high demand for electric buses.

“Since the launch of our first E-Bus in 2022, BasiGo has built a deep understanding of E-Bus requirements for the Kenyan market. We are proud to be working with an industry leader like King Long to introduce a state-of-the-art electric bus that we believe will redefine public transport operations in Kenya,” said Jit Bhattacharya, Co-founder and CEO at BasiGo. “We are excited to work with King Long and Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers to quickly scale production of the KL-9 to meet the overwhelming demand for Electric Buses in Nairobi.”

The KL-9 carries 54 passengers, drives up to 400 km of daily operation, recharges in 2 hours, and features a new body design tailored to the needs of Kenya’s public transport system.  The KL-9 is also powered by a next-generation battery from CATL, the world’s leading EV battery manufacturer. BasiGo was recently selected as CATL’s first authorized service partner in sub-Saharan Africa. With the latest battery technology from CATL and BasiGo’s local service provision, the KL-9 E-Bus comes with a 10-year / 1-million-kilometer battery warranty, ensuring longer service life and higher uptime.

Speaking about the partnership, Jin Shoulin, General Manager, King Long International said “We are thrilled to be partnering with BasiGo and to see the completion of the first locally assembled King Long bus in Africa. BasiGo’s experience in Electric Vehicles and commitment to after-sales service make them a trusted partner, and we believe their Pay-As-You-Drive model can help scale electric buses beyond the borders of Kenya”.

On behalf of CFAO, Joshua Anya, Deputy Managing Director, remarked:  “Today, we celebrate not only the achievement of BasiGo and King Long but also the significant progress we are making together in strengthening Kenya’s automotive industry and promoting the “Buy Kenya, Build Kenya” agenda. We commend BasiGo on their commitment through King Long to delivering modern, efficient, and reliable transport solutions for Kenyans”.

Speaking at the launch, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Hon Lee Kinyanjui said, “We are happy to celebrate this key milestone by BasiGo as the country adopts green mobility. Kenya is proud to be a frontrunner in the green energy space. The company’s leasing model for transporters seeking to acquire electric buses is a game-changer, as it ensures greater accessibility. I also note that transitioning to electric public vehicles will significantly reduce the high fuel consumption that makes up the largest share of our imports. We call on investors to diversify by setting up charging points in major towns."

BasiGo has already deployed over 100 E-Buses in East Africa. With the launch of the KL-9, BasiGo is scaling up local assembly at Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers. The company aims to produce over 20 KL-9 E-Buses per month in 2026, moving closer to its vision of 1,000 electric buses on Kenyan roads by 2027.

Jit Bhattacharya added, “Our partnership with Kinglong highlights the growing strength of local assembly in Kenya’s automotive sector. We are creating jobs, building technical expertise in EV assembly, and delivering world-class electric buses that meet the needs of Kenyan operators and commuters.”

With the launch of the KL-9, BasiGo is scaling up local assembly and moving closer to its vision of 1,000 electric buses in the next three years.

-ENDS-