Toyota Kenya spends Sh200 million to expand its branch network as high interest rates dampen demand for new cars

By Today Financial News Reporter

Toyota Kenya has opened a new multi-operational branch in Westlands, bringing the total number of Toyota facilities in Kenya to ten. Toyota cars are popular in Kenya

These include five branches and five authorized dealerships.

Toyota Kenya is on an aggressive expansion strategy to bring its services closer to its customers across the country, with new branches and dealerships planned for major towns currently lacking in quality outlets and others in growing economic centers of Nairobi, to allow easy access for Toyota vehicles.

The program has so far seen it invest more than Sh200 million in new facilities and will rise sharply as it targets to open an additional five outlets in Nairobi and up country by 2015.

The new facility will offer its customers in Westlands and its environs, a full range of services including unit sales, parts and workshops, utilizing state of the art equipment and technical expertise that is as good as that available at Toyota Kenya’s main workshop on Uhuru Highway.

“The car in front is always a Toyota” has been our operating mantra for years and this can be supported by industry figures that attest to the fact that we are the number one motor company,” said Toyota Kenya MD Hylton Bannon at the official opening of the Westland’s branch.

“Despite the current gloomy economic atmosphere that has hit most businesses, ourselves included, we are optimistic that demand for vehicles will improve in first quarter of next year as we continue to consolidate our position in the market.”

The opening of the Westland’s branch closely follows the opening of the Eldoret branch in July and the ongoing renovations and improvements to the showroom at Uhuru Highway Headquarters.

The facility is being remodeled in line with Toyota Motor Corporation’s worldwide standards. The new showroom will boast more space, comfort, visibility and visual impact.

“The current escalation in interest rates has seen demand for vehicles decrease. In response to this, we are exploring options in cooperation with our group company Tsusho Capital to minimize the impact to our valued customers” he concluded.