Kenya’s automotive industry has joint together with the local assembly of the Toyota Hiace at the Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) plant in Thika. A move that has been hailed both an industrial milestone and a cultural one, giving Hiace an iconic role in transforming public transport since the 1990s.
For decades, the Toyota Hiace has been the backbone of Kenya’s matatu sector, replacing with the older vans and minibuses, offering great comfort, reliability and mobility to the public, reshaping urban and rural transport.
The initiative will create job opportunities and strengthen the local industries; building technical skills and growing Kenya’s manufacturing capacity.
This comes as Kenya partners with Ford Africa to expand the local assembly and produce vehicle parts that will boost the production of automotive hub.
Speaking during the launch, Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said he more than 200people have been employed at KVM encouraging planning for further expansion.
The local assembly will increase the reliance on3 locally produced parts, creating indirect opportunities across supply chains. It will also provide with technical training for workers, strengthening Kenya’s industry while boosting its capacity to compete as a regional automotive hub.
This will provide a stronger legislative framework in Kenya to attract more global manufacturers with the aim to supporting reliable transport to millions for Kenyans.