Simba Corporation, a big player in Kenya’s car industry, has just revealed the new Ashok Leyland ECOMET Truck model. This is part of their plan to become a top player in the light-duty trucks market. The unveiling of the new truck happened at the opening of a new dealership in Thika Town called Swanley Motors. This move helps Simba Corporation to compete in the seven to 10-tonne trucks category, which had 1,378 units sold in 2023. So far this year, Simba Corporation has sold 165 units, putting them in third place behind Isuzu and CFAO Motors.
Company Goals
The Group managing director of the motors division, Naresh Leekha, sees these launches as a big step for the company’s growth in the Mount Kenya, Eastern, and Rift Valley regions. The Ashok Leyland ECOMET model fills a gap in their product range and positions Simba Corporation as a top transport solutions provider in Kenya.
Pricing
The ECOMET truck is priced at Sh4.5 million and can be turned into a 29 or 33-seater bus. This allows Simba Corporation to tap into the public and mass transport markets. The company aims to capture a bigger market share by offering solutions beyond just trucks, like hardware, mattresses, and water tanks.
Financing and After-Sales
The Chief Commercial Officer, Mohamed Varvany, mentioned that they will offer financing options and a year warranty or 500,000 kilometers for the ECOMET Truck. This makes it easier for customers to get support from their financing partners. The current economy makes customers want affordable trucks that perform well.
Target Market
Simba Corporation is targeting corporate and public service transport, agribusiness, construction, and education transport sectors with the new Thika dealership. This will also help boost sales of other Simba Corporation brands.