Founder & Editor, 1698

Rixon Ssembatya is the founder and editor of 1698, an automotive editorial platform focused on the people, technology, businesses and developments shaping Africa’s automotive industry. Through 1698, he explores the forces transforming mobility across the continent, from vehicle technology and ownership to the aftermarket and the infrastructure behind it.

Opinion

Three Dreams and One Obsession

What does “making it” actually look like? For some, it’s about shouting for attention. For others, it’s about calm, serious craftsmanship, and performance in disguise. This is an exploration of four extraordinary internal combustion engine (ICE) cars that embody absolute engineering composure featuring the Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge, Bentley Flying Spur Speed, Mercedes-AMG S 65 Coupé, and the daily-driven Mercedes-Benz W213 E 400 d.

Mr. Rixon Ssembatya· September 14, 2026 9 min

1698 Safety editorial cover showing a driver secured by a seatbelt with an airbag deploying during a crash, illustrating how vehicle restraint systems work together to protect occupants.

Explained

Your Seatbelt and Airbag Are a System: What Actually Happens in a Crash

Your seatbelt and airbag are not separate safety features they are engineered to work together. 1698 explains what happens in the first milliseconds of a crash, why an unrestrained occupant can be seriously injured by a deploying airbag, and what every driver and parent should know about occupant safety.

Mr. Rixon Ssembatya· September 11, 2026 13 min

Analysis

Can a Manufacturer’s Service Schedule Work in African Traffic?

Your car may have travelled 10,000 kilometres, but those kilometres are not necessarily equal. 1698 examines how traffic, idling, short trips and dusty roads can change what your vehicle’s maintenance schedule actually means.

Mr. Rixon Ssembatya· September 9, 2026 8 min

1698 Garage editorial cover showing 0W-20 engine oil being poured into a car engine against a busy Kampala traffic scene, exploring whether 0W-20 is suitable for African driving conditions.

Explained

0W-20 in Africa: Is the Manufacturer Wrong?

Is 0W-20 really too thin for Africa? We examine what manufacturers actually specify, what severe African driving conditions change, and when a thicker oil is and isn’t justified.

Mr. Rixon Ssembatya· September 8, 2026 7 min

African automotive technician inspecting an electric motorcycle battery system in a workshop

Analysis

Africa’s EV Transition May Be an Electricity Story Before It’s a Car Story

Electric vehicles are entering African markets, but the transition is changing more than what people drive. It is creating demand for technicians who understand batteries, high-voltage systems, electronics, software and charging infrastructure.

Mr. Rixon Ssembatya· September 6, 2026 6 min

Silver BMW 3 Series sedan parked outdoors.

Analysis

Africa’s Used-Car Market Has a Data Problem

Africa’s automotive story is increasingly a used-vehicle story. But as millions of vehicles cross borders and move through fragmented aftermarket networks, the information needed to understand their identity, history and condition often doesn’t travel with them.

Mr. Rixon Ssembatya· September 4, 2026 6 min