NopeaRide, an electric vehicle (EV) taxi operator, has hinted at exiting the Kenyan market due to the Covid-19 pandemic’s severe economic effects.
EkoRent Africa, the firm behind Nopea electric cars has filed for insolvency in Kenyan courts, with a hearing date set for Tuesday, December 13th, 2022.
The mobility company, which was founded in Finland, informed its personnel and business clients of its decision to leave the East African market.
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“We are sad to announce that the company behind NopeaRide taxi-hailing service, EkoRent Africa, has filed for insolvency in the Kenyan courts. A hearing date has been set for 13th of December 2022,” EkoRent CEO and founder Juha Suojanen said.
“We have taken our fleet of electric vehicles off the road and have notified our staff and corporate clients. We are now working with relevant authorities to ensure that our operations are wound up in accordance with the law.”
EkoRent Finland was founded in Helsinki in March 2014. EkoRent was the first company in Finland to offer hourly-based rental of fully electric vehicles for companies and private customers.
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EkoRent Africa Ltd, founded in 2017, opened an all-electric taxi service NopeaRide in Nairobi in August 2018. Nopea began in Nairobi with a small minimally viable product of only three electric vehicles and two chargers, while their fleet and charging network grew slowly over the next year.
Nopea began in Nairobi with a minimal viable product of only three electric vehicles and two chargers, while their fleet and charging network grew slowly over the next year. Nopea obtained extra funds before the end of 2019 and placed orders for more electric vehicles and chargers.
“Since the NopeaRide launch 5 years ago, we have imported 70 Nopea electric vehicles to Kenya that had driven more than 4,000,000 kilometres by June 2022 saving over 650 tons of CO2 emissions. NopeaRide also operated the largest electric vehicle charging network in East Africa.”
“We would like to extend our deepest regret to our dedicated team of staff and drivers. We would also like to thank our loyal NopeaRide customers, corporate clients, and other partners who have supported NopeaRide’s vision for electric mobility in Africa. Thank you all again for your support” read the statement.
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