In June 2023, a delegation from South Africa made a study tour to Kenya and visited several parts manufacturers. The delegation comprised of African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), and was represented by the CEO, Dave Coffey, and The German Association of Automotive Industries (VDA) between 5th and 9th June 2023.
The objective of this study tour was to expose interested component manufacturers to the Kenyan automotive opportunity and to support Kenya and East Africa in the industrialization and growth of their auto sector. Depending on the product, the initial focus was on aftermarket components for the Kenyan and East African markets developing into OEM assembly supply as the volumes grow and/or for supply into the existing sizable motorcycle assembly market. Opportunities also exist to partner local manufacturers who need support to develop OEM capability and to grow.
During the 5-day exploratory visit, component manufacturers had the opportunity to engage with key government ministries, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, vehicle assemblers, local manufacturers, franchised dealers, investors, the financial sector, industry associations, standards authority and other stakeholders in the Kenyan auto industry. These engagements provided an overview of the market for interested manufacturers to explore a potential business case and/or entry strategy.