Headlines
- NCBA Unveils Kenya’s Most Attractive EV Financing Deal as Electric Vehicle Adoption Accelerates.
- Kenya’s Auto Import Sector Sees Quality Boost with Cars Kenya’s ISO Milestone.
- Africa is pushing for electric vans made from Chinese EV kits, with Nigeria and Kenya at the forefront.
- Roam Establishes an Electric Motorcycle and Tuk-Tuk Charging Network in Kenya.
- The TVS Apache RTR 180 is Introduced in Kenya by TVS Motor Company
- Tad Motors opens first electric vehicle line in Nairobi
- Russia Aims to Increase Its Automobile Presence in Ethiopia
- The Kenyan Market Will Soon See The Introduction of American Pickup Trucks.
- Sinotruk of China Unveils New Truck Models in Kenya
- Isuzu East Africa intends to introduce an electric car in Kenya in 2025
Volkswagen plans vehicle production in Kenya
Volkswagen is planning to start production of the Polo Vivo in Kenya at the end of 2016. An agreement to that effect was signed in Nairobi yesterday by the Kenyan government and Thomas Schaefer, chairman and managing director of Volkswagen South Africa in the presence of H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, president of Kenya. This is seen as an important step by the Volkswagen brand towards engaging further in new emerging markets.
Volkswagen is planning local production of the Polo Vivo in the Kenyan city of Thika near Nairobi. The project which will be jointly realised with the importer DT Dobie, will be Volkswagen's third production facility in Africa - alongside the South African factory and a local production facility in Nigeria. It is planned to build up to 5,000 units of the Polo Vivo per year at the plant operated by Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) from 2017.
"We are taking the successful Polo Vivo from South Africa to Kenya to leverage the enormous growth potential of the African automobile market and participate in its positive development. This compact model is the best-selling car in the sub-Saharan region - so it is the ideal entry model for the promising Kenyan market," Thomas Schaefer commented at the signing ceremony.
"With this move, we are strengthening the brand's overall position in Africa and taking an important step towards expanding our commitment in the region," Schaefer continued.
President Kenyatta said: "The investment by the Volkswagen Group in Kenya is a key milestone in my administration's determined push to grow the manufacturing base and industrialised the nation."
In addition to production of the Polo Vivo from the end of 2016 it is also planned to establish a local training centre to qualify production workers and provide further training. The centre will initially focus on the needs of the Volkswagen production team. Later on it is planned to provide basic training for young people to learn general industrial skills, thereby increasing employment opportunities in the region in general.
Kenya is one of Africa's emerging markets. The country plays a prominent role among East African nations and with a GDP of some $63 billion, it is one of the strongest economies in the East African Community (EAC). Kenya is also an important transit country for trade throughout East Africa. The good economic relations between Kenya and Germany also benefit from ongoing strategic political support.
Posted on : 05 May,2026 | News Source : ABNews
Automart is Africa's leading directory and market news website for the automotive spare parts, automobiles and auto accessories industry | Kenya | Tanzania | Ethiopia
Exhibitions In Africa
- 27th Autoexpo Kenya 2026
KICC, Nairobi, Kenya - 27th Autoexpo Tanzania 2026
Diamond Jubilee Expo Centre, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
