One of the goals of the Institute for Affordable Transportation is to produce more BUVs (basic utility vehicles) in the geographic region where they’re going to be used. It saves on shipping costs and delays.
To that end, we’ve been working with our partners in Tanzania to create a micro-factory, where they will build and ship BUVs throughout east Africa.
A micro-factory is an independently-owned business that produces and sells BUVs for profit. Local parts are used as much as possible to create the BUVs on site so the local people may purchase a vehicle for their own businesses at a lower cost than they can buy them from us.
This will enable local people to prosper with a unique business because it gives people access to jobs, education, and markets.
The factory itself plans to produce 100 BUV units per year, or two units every week. This will generate a sales revenue of almost half a million US dollars that includes component sales, service, and extensions.
The investment will create 2,000+ jobs over ten years — including drivers, assistants and mechanics. In all, 100,000 people can be helped over a lifetime with this small investment.
IAT has a specific role in helping these micro-factories start and grow. With the Technology Transfer Program (TTP), we provide a package of information that includes:
- assembly and fabrication videos;
- technical drawings;
- equipment requirements;
- quality and inspection procedures;
- marketing materials; plus, any other necessary information.
The Tanzania factory has only just begun to produce their BUVs, all of which are already sold. This shows the need for these vehicles is great. It can only mean great things ahead in the future for these micro-factories, and we’re glad to be a part of it.
Our mission is to help provide hope to the poor and isolated in developing nations to live better and more prosperous lives by creating simple, durable transportation. This new micro-factory will go a long way in helping us realize our mission, and we are very proud of our Tanzanian partners.
