Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers has today officially commissioned a new Toyota Hiace assembly line at its Thika manufacturing facility, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s automotive industrialization journey and reinforcing the country’s position as a leading vehicle manufacturing hub in East Africa.
The new assembly line forms part of a broader modernization and expansion programme supported by a Ksh 2.3 billion investment by CFAO Mobility Kenya in KVM. The project underscores a long-term commitment to local manufacturing, technology transfer, skills development, and job creation while supporting Kenya’s industrial growth agenda.
The investment reflects a long-term commitment to local manufacturing and demonstrates confidence in Kenya’s ability to serve as a strategic automotive production center for East Africa.
The project is expected to facilitate technology transfer, create employment opportunities, and equip Kenyan workers with advanced manufacturing skills while increasing the availability of locally assembled vehicles in the market.
Toyota Hiace remains one of the most widely used commercial vehicles across Kenya and the wider region, serving sectors such as public transport, tourism, logistics, education, and corporate transport.
Local assembly of the vehicle is expected to enhance supply chain efficiency and improve access to competitively priced units for businesses and fleet operators
The expansion also aligns with the objectives of Kenya’s manufacturing agenda, which seeks to increase the contribution of the manufacturing sector to the national economy through investment in productive industries, skills development, and technological advancement.
The commissioning of the new assembly line comes at a time when Kenya is positioning itself as a preferred destination for automotive manufacturing and assembly in the region. The country’s strategic location, improving infrastructure, and growing consumer market have attracted increased interest from global vehicle brands seeking to establish or expand local production operations.
With the commissioning now complete, KVM and CFAO Mobility Kenya have signaled a new chapter for local vehicle manufacturing one that combines industrial growth, job creation, skills development, and technological advancement in support of Kenya’s long-term economic development goals.
