Because the Mobius Two is designed to be able to haul heavy loads and transport up to 8 people, Jackson sees it becoming a platform for small businesses to emerge in areas like transport, deliveries and medicine. “It creates a platform for mobility,” a reference to both the car’s ability to physically move people but also advance their socioeconomic standing, Jackson said during his talk earlier this week at TED Global.
The car will first go on sale later this year in Kenya, a nation where the average middle class income is only $10,000 to $20,000. While that creates a challenge to massive adoption, Jackson believes the creative options that have already been established for financing other types of African businesses can also help get more people behind the wheel.
Still, launching a car company isn’t cheap, and Mobius is in the midst of raising a $2 million Series A round to build upon the angel funding the company has already received.