Isuzu opens service centre for UD Trucks in Mombasa

Isuzu East Africa has opened a service facility for its UD Trucks in Jomvu Mombasa, coinciding with the commercial sales of two models of the Japanese brand –the heavy duty Quester and the medium duty Croner.

The motor vehicle dealer, which previously sold only its namesake models, is targeting a larger share of the Eastern Africa market with the UD franchise which it acquired earlier this year.

The product launch signifies UD Trucks' re-entry into Eastern Africa market, supported by a new assembly line for the models. The initiative aims to boost customer confidence by delivering high-quality vehicles that meet growing expectations.

Speaking at the launch in Mombasa, Chair of the Board and Managing Director of Isuzu East Africa Rita Kavashe, said collaboration with the Japanese commercial vehicle solutions provider, would create synergies through technology transfer and promote job creation, aligning with the "Buy Kenya, Build Kenya" vision.

“We are grateful to UD Trucks Corporation and Isuzu Motors Japan for entrusting us with this special responsibility in the region. Our customers have supported Isuzu East Africa strongly over the years, which is why Isuzu Motors chose us to assemble and distribute UD Trucks in Kenya,” she said.

Isuzu East Africa will now oversee the assembly, sales, and aftersales support for UD Trucks in Kenya.

Ms Kavashe emphasised that the acquisition of distributorship for UD Trucks reinforces Kenya's manufacturing sector.

“We are assembling this product locally, creating job opportunities and deepening manufacturing within Kenya for the larger East African market. The strategic acquisition of distributorship rights for UD Trucks demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with the highest quality vehicles that meet their growing expectations,” she noted.

She commended the National Automotive Policy and the tax incentives supporting local motor vehicle assembly, noting that such policies are critical for attracting new investment.

Vehicle assemblers benefit from a waiver of import duty and excise tax, with a potential to be exempt from value-added tax of 16 percent if they can achieve local content of 30 percent.

“The automotive policy is now being rolled out, and we are already witnessing the benefits. As we progress, we will see more local manufacturing in our region,” Ms Kavashe added.

In August 2024, Isuzu East Africa began assembling two UD Trucks models, the heavy-duty Quester and the medium-duty Croner, at the Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) Plant in Thika.

In addition to local assembly, the venture includes comprehensive after-sales support, offering expert technical assistance and a reliable supply of genuine parts, ensuring a seamless ownership experience in Kenya and the broader Eastern Africa region.

UD Trucks, a leading Japanese manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty diesel trucks, buses, and engines, operates in 60 countries and has a history dating back to 1935.

Tetsuya Ikemoto, Director of the Board and Managing Executive Officer of Yokohama-based Isuzu Motors said the alliance's long-term vision is to offer East African customers more choices by introducing innovative vehicle technologies that meet their logistics needs.

“I congratulate the Isuzu East Africa team for their hard work in building strong relationships and brand loyalty with our customers in this market,” said Mr Ikemoto.

Chairman of UD Trucks Corporation, Koichi Ito, highlighted the shared values between UD Trucks and Isuzu East Africa in delivering top-quality products and comprehensive after-sales support.

“Kenya is a major logistics and transport hub in Africa, and UD Trucks is honoured to have a strong partner in Isuzu East Africa to support our customers and growth opportunities,” he said.

The customer launch in Mombasa follows Isuzu East Africa's appointment as the first Isuzu Motors Limited subsidiary to distribute both Isuzu and UD Trucks brands under one organisation in early 2024.

The company has established two dedicated UD Trucks service centres in Nairobi and Mombasa, serving as training and best practice hubs to meet customer requirements in the region.

Isuzu says it has sold over 150,000 units since the first Isuzu vehicle rolled off its Nairobi assembly plant in 1977.

“With over 15 models in its line-up, the Isuzu brand has dominated the new vehicle segment for 12 consecutive years since 2012, achieving a market share of 60 per cent in the commercial vehicles segment by the end of 2023,” said Ms Kavashe.

She added that Isuzu East Africa is well-positioned to meet customer needs through an extensive dealer network backed by strong financial and technical resources. In 2024, Isuzu East Africa officially became the importer, assembler, distributor, and full-service provider of the UD Trucks brand in Kenya.

→ [email protected]