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In an exciting new move to boost market share in Sub Saharan African and create job opportunities at the manufacturing plant in Kenya, Isuzu Motors South Africa in Port Elizabeth has begun to export Isuzu D-MAX pick-up kits in knocked down (KD) format to this affiliate manufacturing facility in the East African territory.
This move follows in the wake of Isuzu's previous announcement that they will be taking steps to grow the volume of production and distribution throughout its African demographics. The infrastructural investment is a vote of confidence in the Kenyan manufacturing plant that seeks to grow Isuzu's already sizeable 44.5% market share in the country's bourgeoning new vehicle market.
The plant had previously mainly focused on the assembly of busses and trucks, and the addition of the KB kits will provide the Kenyan operation with increased operational flexibility that will allow it to remain profitable in a very competitive local economy. Up until now, fully assembled bakkies were imported from the South African plant at costly import tariffs; the rates on the KB kits are far less and will result in a more affordable vehicle overall. Not to mention the job opportunities it will create, of course. Best of all? The job creation in Kenya will not impact on the opportunities available in South Africa, so both plants stand to benefit.
Isuzu Motors South Africa CEO and Managing Director Michael Sacke believes that the initiative will be mutually beneficial for all parties involved and praised his team for putting the project together in a record amount of time. He was quoted as saying that the Kenyan team had already completed their manufacturing training in PE, and that the first vehicle kits have arrived safely on Kenyan shores.
DID YOU KNOW?The first bakkie-derived body-on-frame SUV was introduced to SA motorists by Isuzu in 1998, after the need for such a vehicle became abundantly apparent. Isuzu was also the first manufacturer to bring direct injection engines and double cab configurations to South African shores.
Keep an eye on the blog in coming weeks and months as we share more info on this inspiring initiative as it becomes available. Would you like to find out more about our ITC models, or book a test drive? Get in touch with your nearest ITC branch to speak to a knowledgeable Isuzu representative, and pave the way for effortless trucking in South Africa.