KG Mobility (KGM) is expanding its footprint in East Africa by establishing a semi-knocked-down (KD) vehicle assembly plant in Ethiopia, according to a joint announcement made on September 23, 2026. The strategic move aims to utilize the upcoming facility as a regional export hub for electrified models including the Torres EVX and Musso EV.
Ethiopian KD Assembly Plant Timeline and Partnerships
According to reports from Newsscape, KGM signed a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the KD project at the KG Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul, alongside two key partners: Ethiopia’s B&C Manufacturing Group and Youngsan Glonet. Under the agreement, B&C Manufacturing Group will secure the local land and infrastructure while overseeing construction of the physical production facilities. Meanwhile, Youngsan Glonet will handle the engineering scope, encompassing plant design, technical consulting, and the delivery of production equipment.
Construction on the assembly plant is scheduled to begin in October 2026, with full operations targeted to kick off in the first half of 2027. KGM plans to supply approximately 1,000 units per year of its electric vehicle lineup to the facility, prioritizing models such as the Torres EVX and Musso EV.
Regional Export Strategy Across East Africa
As reported by SmartBiz, the vehicles assembled at the Ethiopian plant will serve both the local domestic market and neighboring nations. KGM intends to push exports outward into Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Djibouti, effectively transforming the Ethiopian operation into a commercial bridgehead for the wider East African market.
This localized assembly approach allows KGM to establish a secure distribution footprint. By combining local manufacturing infrastructure with specialized engineering support from Youngsan Glonet, the partners aim to streamline supply chains across the region.
Broader Emerging Market Expansion Plans
Beyond the East African initiative, KGM is actively scaling its international KD operations into other strategic emerging markets. According to company statements cited by Newsscape, KGM’s leadership plans to replicate the Ethiopian model in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam later in the year.
“Following the Ethiopia KD project, we plan to expand our KD business in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam within the year,” said KGM CEO Hwang Ki-young, as reported by Newsscape. “We will continue to drive global sales growth by entering emerging markets and launching new models tailored to each country.”
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