Toyota Kenya on Thursday announced a business partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation to distribute Suzuki models in the country. The partnership will see Toyota partner with its fellow Japanese automaker to become the second Suzuki distributor in the country after CMC Holdings which has been the exclusive distributor of the Japanese vehicles.
Seven Suzuki models will be on offer under the partnership dubbed Suzuki by Toyota Kenya. At between $8,000 and $38,000 Suzuki models on offer are the Alto 800CC, Swift 1200CC, Ciaz 1500CC, Jimny 1500CC and the Vitara 1600CC.
During the unveiling of the partnership, Toyota Kenya Managing Director Arvinder Reel said the partnership which goes by the tagline ‘Compact Confidence’, will revolutionise the Suzuki brand in the market.
“We have continually developed a large network across the country by increasing the number of our showrooms and getting new partners as well. This will ensure that Kenyans from every corner of the country will get an opportunity to own a brand new Suzuki model,” he said.
Toyota Kenya has also entered into a partnership with NIC bank to assist consumers in acquiring the vehicles and financing of up to 90% of the cost of the vehicle.
Speaking at the same event, NIC bank’s Executive Director Mr Alan Dodd guaranteed the bank’s supporting saying the lender will provide quick processing of financing requests.
The introduction of these models comes as the government has proposed a reduction on the age limit of imported second hand vehicles of over 1500CC from eight years to five years.
Initially, the Suzuki models will be available in the Nairobi showroom, as roll out to the other branches happens after the launch.
Suzuki by Toyota also plans to introduce an additional model, the Ertiga 1500CC, mid this year.
