Kenyan New Car Sales Recover After Ease in Covid-19 Curbs

Posted on : Thursday, 1st October 2020

Sales of new motor vehicles have incorporated recovering from the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic following the reopening of the economy starting July.

Travel restrictions and the panic induced by the disease saw orders plummet to a low of 568 units in May.

Sales have, however, increased steadily to reach 1,044 units in August and nearly matched the peak of 1,049 units in February.

Data from the Kenya Motor Industry Association (KMI) shows that orders in the eight months ended August are still down 26.3 percent but the downward trend has been reversed.

Dealers including Isuzu East Africa, Toyota Kenya and Simba Corporation sold a total of 6,580 units in the review period compared to 8,940 units a year earlier.

"Restoring the economy is a major factor for the rebound in sales," said Rita Kavashe, the chief executive of Isuzu East Africa