East African countries are closer to an agreement that could boost motorcycle assembly in the region.   The EAC Secretariat has appointed a team of experts from each member state to develop a proposal that will promote value addition and motorcycle assembly in the region.   The experts will identify imported motorbike parts that can be excluded from taxation in order to lower the cost of production and encourage industrialisation.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th July 2016

Kia Motors will build training centres for mechanics in Ethiopia and Kenya in a bid to contribute to their economies by providing education for young people.   According to Korea Times, a Kia Motors official said Sunday that the company held a groundbreaking ceremony for the center in Ethiopia on Friday and another in Kenya on Saturday.   Chung Jin-haeng, President of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, participated in the ceremony held.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 1st June 2016

South Africa's hydrogen fuel cell industry received a boost on 31 March with the unveiling of a prototype hydrogen fuel cell forklift and refuelling station at Impala Refining Services in Springs, east of Joburg.   Over the past three years, Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats) has provided HySA Systems with funds of R6-million to enable the prototype development. Implats plans to use hydrogen fuel cell technology as its main source of.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th April 2016

 NAIROBI (Reuters) - A construction boom in Kenya has fuelled a rise in commercial truck sales for market leader General Motors, which is investing $7.9 million in 2016 to upgrade its assembly plant in Nairobi and more than double output, a senior executive said on Thursday.   GM East Africa Managing Director Rita Kavashe said 20,000 new vehicles were sold in Kenya last year, the highest on record, and 98 percent of those were trucks.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 8th April 2016

Truck bodybuilders in the UAE are keen on stepping up their presence in African markets as they look to venture outside the GCC.    Dubai-based Gorica Industries, one of the biggest names in the segment, is already active in Africa, says managing director Ivan Fornazaric.    “Our main markets are the Middle East and Africa. This is where we sell,” he said. While the GCC is the company’s focus, Gorica.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th April 2016

A Local car manufacturer, Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), is in talks with at least four automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) about establishing a vehicle manufacturing industry in Uganda, a government minister has said.   Prof Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa, the minister of state for Higher Education and chair of the KMC technical task team, told a stakeholders' consultative seminar at KMC gardens in Ntinda, Kampala last.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 4th March 2016

Arusha — Foreign-manufactured motor vehicles, mostly used in Tanzania and East Africa, may be compelled to set up assembling plants in the region as leaders mull reducing importation of cars from overseas.   The new strategy mulled by the EAC Heads of State might lead to automobile manufacturers specialising in such popular and fast selling brands as Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen and Yutong in Japan, China, and Europe to starting to.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 4th March 2016

Ashok Leyland which is the second largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in India and fourth largest manufacturer of buses in the world is planning to construct a US$ 5m assembly plant in Kenya that will help in the expansion of the commercial vehicle market.   The company’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Gopal Mahadevan confirmed the reports and said that they are aiming at constructing at least three assembly plants in Africa,.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 18th February 2016

As a child, Ugandan Paul Isaac Musasizi always had busy hands. He regularly pulled apart the family television, and used motors from old cassette players to make toy cars.   Now, in his mid-thirties, he's the CEO of technology company Kiira Motors Corporation and the brains behind Africa's first solar-powered electric bus which makes its debut on February 16.   "In Uganda, we have non-stop sun," he says. "No other.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 18th February 2016

With the laying of rail tracks set to be complete by December, the completion of the Standard Gauge Railway is going to be one of the big stories this year. The modern railway is expected to open to first commercial traffic in June 2017.   Transport CS James Macharia is already sounding optimistic, lauding the progress made so far and noting that big impact on the economy will be recorded this year even as the tracks are laid on the.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 6th January 2016

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming said Tuesday China is keen to strengthen cooperation with Ethiopia in the infrastructure development and transportation sector. Zhang made the remarks after he visited the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit constructed by the China Railway Group in the capital of the East African country. Zhang said infrastructure development and transportation sector are among the various fields China and Ethiopia are.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 6th January 2016

Africa's automobile sector may contribute at least 4.5 per cent of 2016 global automobile sales as a result of the country's increased investment in the automobile sector in 2015, which encouraged local production.   This was contained in the review report of the trends in the automobile sector in Nigeria by online vehicle marketplace, Carmudi.com.ng.   According to the report, "In 2015, investment in the automobile industry.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 4th January 2016