–Building a Sustainable Battery-as-a-Service Model–
Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture; President and CEO: Hiroshi Otsuka; hereinafter "Musashi") is pleased to announce that its demonstration project for electric motorcycles and Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) in Kenya—conducted in collaboration with Arc Ride Limited. (Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya; CEO: Jo Hurst-Croft; hereinafter "ARC Ride")—has been selected as a featured case study by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
The project, part of "The Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project" now has a dedicated case study page published today.
■ Page URL:https://gs-hojo-web.jp/r5h-project-report/01.html
Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture; President and CEO: Hiroshi Otsuka; hereinafter "Musashi") is pleased to announce that its demonstration project for electric motorcycles and Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) in Kenya—conducted in collaboration with Arc Ride Limited. (Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya; CEO: Jo Hurst-Croft; hereinafter "ARC Ride")—has been selected as a featured case study by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
The project, part of "The Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project" now has a dedicated case study page published today.
■ Page URL:https://gs-hojo-web.jp/r5h-project-report/01.html
■ Overview of e-Mobility Business in Africa
Musashi has developed an integrated e-Axle, for electric motorcycles leveraging its core technology, and is expanding two-wheel e-mobility across India, ASEAN, and Africa. This initiative aims to address social challenges in African urban transportation—such as environmental impact and rising fuel costs—while establishing a sustainable and viable mobility business. In partnership with ARC Ride, Musashi is validating a new mobility model that combines electric motorcycles with battery swapping services.
This initiative was selected in 2024 for METI’s Global South program, and the demonstration project in Kenya was successfully completed in February 2025. Musashi also showcased its e-mobility initiatives and future plans at TICAD9 in Yokohama in August 2025.
■ Future Initiatives
Building on the results of this demonstration project, Musashi and ARC Ride are moving toward full-scale deployment of sustainable mobility services.
Short-term: Strengthen operation through standardized after-sales services and optimized battery swapping infrastructure.
Mid-to-Long-term: Expand the BaaS model beyond Nairobi to other cities in Kenya and across Africa, including South Africa and Ghana.
Musashi is also exploring integration with ride-sharing platforms to increase utilization and improve business viability. In parallel, the company is developing battery repurposing solutions to support energy access and enable a circular business model.
■ Future Vision
Musashi aims to build a new social infrastructure that combines electrified mobility with energy circulation, driving both environmental impact reduction and sustainable economic growth.
Through this approach, it is committed to addressing social challenges and enabling balanced development across the environment, economy, and society in the Global South and beyond.
Musashi has developed an integrated e-Axle, for electric motorcycles leveraging its core technology, and is expanding two-wheel e-mobility across India, ASEAN, and Africa. This initiative aims to address social challenges in African urban transportation—such as environmental impact and rising fuel costs—while establishing a sustainable and viable mobility business. In partnership with ARC Ride, Musashi is validating a new mobility model that combines electric motorcycles with battery swapping services.
This initiative was selected in 2024 for METI’s Global South program, and the demonstration project in Kenya was successfully completed in February 2025. Musashi also showcased its e-mobility initiatives and future plans at TICAD9 in Yokohama in August 2025.
■ Future Initiatives
Building on the results of this demonstration project, Musashi and ARC Ride are moving toward full-scale deployment of sustainable mobility services.
Short-term: Strengthen operation through standardized after-sales services and optimized battery swapping infrastructure.
Mid-to-Long-term: Expand the BaaS model beyond Nairobi to other cities in Kenya and across Africa, including South Africa and Ghana.
Musashi is also exploring integration with ride-sharing platforms to increase utilization and improve business viability. In parallel, the company is developing battery repurposing solutions to support energy access and enable a circular business model.
■ Future Vision
Musashi aims to build a new social infrastructure that combines electrified mobility with energy circulation, driving both environmental impact reduction and sustainable economic growth.
Through this approach, it is committed to addressing social challenges and enabling balanced development across the environment, economy, and society in the Global South and beyond.
(Note 1) The Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project: https://gs-hojo-web.jp/
(Note 2) https://www.musashi.co.jp/en/newsrelease/deployment_of_e-mobility_in_the_republic_of_kenya_industrial_cooperation_program_in_the_global_south.html
(Note 3) https://www.musashi.co.jp/en/newsrelease/joint_launch_of_a_business_based_on_the_battery_asset_model_with_arc_ride_in_kenya_1.html
(Note 4) https://www.musashi.co.jp/en/newsrelease/prime_minister_ishiba_former_prime_minister_kishida_and_african_development_bank_vice_president_solo.html
【About Musashi】
Musashi Seimitsu Industry develops, manufactures, and sells next-generation powertrains, steering, and chassis components for four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles, with a focus on electrification and autonomous driving. Additionally, the Company is actively promoting Industry 4.0 through advanced AI technology development, and is expanding new business domains through open innovation, including energy solutions aimed at achieving the SDGs across various fields, as well as agriculture and plant biotechnology.
Website： https://www.musashi.co.jp/en/
【About ARC Ride】
ARC Ride is an Africa-based EV company headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, operating an assembly plant and building an ecosystem for clean mobility.
Website： http://arcrideglobal.com/
(Note 2) https://www.musashi.co.jp/en/newsrelease/deployment_of_e-mobility_in_the_republic_of_kenya_industrial_cooperation_program_in_the_global_south.html
(Note 3) https://www.musashi.co.jp/en/newsrelease/joint_launch_of_a_business_based_on_the_battery_asset_model_with_arc_ride_in_kenya_1.html
(Note 4) https://www.musashi.co.jp/en/newsrelease/prime_minister_ishiba_former_prime_minister_kishida_and_african_development_bank_vice_president_solo.html
【About Musashi】
Musashi Seimitsu Industry develops, manufactures, and sells next-generation powertrains, steering, and chassis components for four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles, with a focus on electrification and autonomous driving. Additionally, the Company is actively promoting Industry 4.0 through advanced AI technology development, and is expanding new business domains through open innovation, including energy solutions aimed at achieving the SDGs across various fields, as well as agriculture and plant biotechnology.
Website： https://www.musashi.co.jp/en/
【About ARC Ride】
ARC Ride is an Africa-based EV company headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, operating an assembly plant and building an ecosystem for clean mobility.
Website： http://arcrideglobal.com/