TVS Motor Company is entering Africa’s electric two-wheeler market with the launch of its iQube electric scooter in Kenya, as the Indian manufacturer seeks to expand beyond its established markets and tap growing demand for lower-cost urban transport.
The company introduced the iQube in Nairobi on Aug. 6, making Kenya its first African market for the electric scooter. The model will be sold through Car & General, TVS Motor’s long-standing local partner, and supported by its nationwide sales and after-sales network.
The launch comes as Kenya’s two-wheeler market faces rising fuel costs and increasing interest in electric mobility. Car & General Chief Executive Officer Vijay Gidoomal estimates that Africa’s broader two-wheeler market could expand at an annual rate of about 7% to 10% through 2030, while electric two-wheelers could grow between 15% and 25% over the same period.
“EV penetration is still low relative to the size of the industry but the conditions are rife for its growth and the runway promises to be extremely long,” Gidoomal said.
The iQube will be offered in two variants, the iQube 3.5 and iQube 2.2. The higher-capacity model has a 3.5-kilowatt-hour battery and a claimed real-world range of 115 kilometers, while the 2.2-kilowatt-hour version can travel about 75 kilometers on a charge.
Both models use a 4.6-kilowatt hub-mounted motor. The iQube 3.5 has a top speed of 82 kilometers per hour and can accelerate from zero to 40 kilometers per hour in 4.2 seconds. The 2.2 version has a top speed of 75 kilometers per hour.
The scooters can be charged using a portable charger connected to a standard household electrical outlet. The iQube 3.5 takes about two hours and 55 minutes to charge from zero to 80%, while the smaller battery takes about two hours.
TVS is also positioning the iQube as a connected vehicle rather than simply an electric replacement for a petrol scooter. Its SmartXonnect platform provides navigation, ride information and charging data, while additional features include geofencing, anti-theft protection and crash and fall alerts.
The scooters come with reverse and forward parking assistance, a five-inch digital display and up to 32 liters of under-seat storage. Both models use lithium-ion batteries with battery-management protection and IP67-rated water and dust resistance.
TVS said Kenyan riders could save about 47,000 shillings ($365) a year in energy and maintenance costs compared with a conventional 125cc petrol-powered scooter.
The company is also highlighting the scale of the iQube’s global rollout. More than one million customers have used the model worldwide, collectively covering more than 17.8 billion kilometers, according to TVS. The company estimates that the vehicles have helped avoid about 623,595 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
For TVS Motor, the Kenya launch represents a broader push into electric mobility outside India. The company operates in about 90 countries and has manufacturing facilities in India and Indonesia.
“Driven by our vision to transform lives through exciting, responsible, and sustainable mobility, we are proud to introduce the TVS iQube in Kenya, marking our entry into the African market,” Peyman Kargar, president of international business at TVS Motor, said.
The iQube will be sold through Car & General dealerships in Kenya with a two-year or 30,000-kilometer warranty, whichever comes first. The company did not disclose pricing in the announcement.
Kenya has become one of Africa’s more active markets for electric two-wheelers, helped by relatively low operating costs and the suitability of motorcycles and scooters for urban transport and delivery services. TVS’s entry adds another established international manufacturer to a market increasingly attracting electric-mobility companies.
The company will be betting that the combination of lower running costs, charging from conventional household outlets and connected features can persuade urban Kenyan riders to switch from petrol-powered two-wheelers.
The TVS iQube will be available in 2 model variants – TVS iQube 3.5 and TVS iQube 2.2.
| Specifications | TVS iQube 3.5 | TVS iQube 2.2 |
| Peak Power | 4.6 kW | 4.6 kW |
| No. of Batteries/Type | Two / Lithium-Ion | One / Lithium-Ion |
| Battery Capacity | 3.5 kWh | 2.2 kWh |
| Range Per Charge | Real world range of 115 kms. | Real world range of 75 kms. |
| Top Speed | 82 km/h | 75 km/h |
| Acceleration 0-40 km/h | 4.2 s | 4.2 s |
| Parking Assist | Reverse / Forward | Reverse / Forward |
| Peak Torque | 140 Nm | 140 Nm |
| Safety | BMS-Controlled Protection System & IP67 Waterproofing | BMS-Controlled Protection System & IP67 Waterproofing |
| Cluster | 5” Digital Cluster | 5” Digital Cluster |
| Charging Duration (0-80%) | 2 hours 55 minutes (950W portable charger) | 2 hours (950W portable charger) |
| Under seat storage | 32 litres | 30 litres |