Tokyo-based Cordia Directions Inc., operator of Kenya’s online used-car platform Peach Cars, has closed an $11 million Series A round (¥1.5 billion), marking the largest mobility-sector raise in Africa at this stage.
Suzuki Global Ventures led the investment, joined by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Gogin Capital, and a follow-on from the University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners.
Peach Cars seeks to overhaul the informal and often opaque used-car sector by providing reliable vehicle inspections, transparent pricing, integrated financing, and secure after-sales support.
Through its local arm, Peach Tech, the company has facilitated thousands of online transactions, removing middlemen and reducing the guesswork and risks associated with buying a used vehicle.
Kaoru Kaganoi, Peach’s CEO, notes that purchasing a car is a major financial commitment for many Kenyans; establishing confidence and clarity in these transactions lays the foundation for broader commercial trust.
Co-founder Zachary Petroni and Kaganoi drew on their prior experience in sub-Saharan Africa’s mobility space to design a platform that addresses endemic challenges: hidden fees, unreliable quality checks, and insecure payment methods.
Our Take
The size and backing of this round signal growing international interest in African mobility solutions that prioritize transparency over hype.
Digital marketplaces often struggle to build user confidence. Still, Peach Cars is tackling that head-on with process controls and clear data points, elements I’ve seen make the difference between adoption and stagnation in similar markets.
With the platform scaling beyond Kenya, its model could serve as a blueprint for building consumer trust in other high-value, informal sectors across the continent.
This post first appeared here.
Don’t miss important articles during the week. Subscribe to techbuild weekly digest for updates
