An app-based mobility solution, such as car sharing and ride hailing, will soon be available in Rwanda. Volkswagen SA (VWSA) will be responsible for developing this and is doing so to drive Africa’s market potential development in a more progressive direction.
VWSA’s CEO Thomas Schäfer signed a memorandum of understanding for the new integrated mobility concept along with Honourable Francis Gatare, director of the Rwanda Development Board.
The VW Group said that in order for this service to be efficient, “an environmentally compatible local vehicle production facility is to be established in the capital city Kigali to cover vehicle demand for the integrated mobility concept”.
The group added that possibilities of training initiatives for the local population were also being investigated together with other German companies.
“Rwanda is well-suited to be a pioneer of new mobility solutions as it has a population of young tech-savvy people and its capital Kigali is seen as the most connected city in Africa,” the company said.
Schäfer said that VW was consistently developing market potentials in Africa. “Only a few hours ago, we inaugurated our third production facility in Africa in Kenya,” he said. “Today in Rwanda, we are launching a concept that will foster individual mobility in this rapidly developing country and make this market a further pillar of the Volkswagen brand’s commitment to Africa.”
Gatare said the country welcomed VW’s “innovative approach to mobility concepts in Rwanda”, and added that although the country was small, it was a “pioneer”.
“Our country is determined to become the leading innovator in Africa,” he said. “The signature of this memorandum of understanding today is a further step on our path to digitalisation and modernisation.”
Concept of the app and sourcing vehicles locally
The concept includes car sharing and ride hailing services as well as the establishment of a local production facility in accordance with the environmental standards of VW’s Think Blue Factory initiative.
The vehicles required for the new mobility solutions in Rwanda are to be taken entirely from local production. VWSA is forging ahead with this initiative in Rwanda together with Volkswagen’s Kenyan partner DT Dobie based on current experience from the establishment of production in Kenya.
Boosting employment
VW’s said its commitment to Rwanda also includes the training of local people.
“The possibility of cooperation for the establishment of a technical academy is being investigated together with other German companies,” VW said. “In the long term, the objective is to generate employment, know-how transfer and sustainable growth.”
With the integrated mobility concept, Volkswagen intends to provide a new push towards development of individual mobility as Rwanda does not yet have an established vehicle industry.
The population has an average age of less than 20 years and Rwandans are among the early adopters of new technologies. Rwanda is also strongly committed to sustainable energy production, and in the medium term, VW also plans to investigate the use of electric vehicles such as the e-up! or the e-Golf.
