NAIROBI, Jun 29 – Japan based trucks and buses manufacturer Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Company (MFTBC) has pledged to upscale its presence in the Kenyan market by enhancing its association with Simba Colt Motors (SCM).
The company which is part of the German motor conglomerate Daimler AG is strategically moving to enhance its local presence through a joint market development programmes valued at more than Sh20 million largely centred on dealer development, marketing support and technology transfer initiatives.
Speaking during a business review meeting with Simba Colt Motors CEO Adil Popat, MFTBC Overseas Executive Nobuyoshi Tojo disclosed that the firm had enhanced its mutual collaborative partnership with SCM to ensure customer satisfaction.
By up scaling its association with Simba Colt Motors, MFTBC will further be seeking to maintain and further rev up its local market leadership position in the medium duty trucking segment where its Mitsubishi Fuso, Mitsubishi FH215 and Mitsubishi Canter are enjoying a more than 60 percent market share.
Among other efforts, MFTBC will continue to support tropicalisation projects and local content sourcing for its vehicle models assembled at the Mombasa based Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA) plant. For MFTBC vehicle models, AVA sources assembly content including batteries, exhaust pipes, and windscreens among other items locally.
On his part, Mr Popat confirmed that Simba Colt Motors, an indigenously owned firm, which is currently enjoying a steady sales growth from its Mitsubishi Fuso models, will also be seeking further alliances with MFTBC as part of a value addition programme.
“As a major international trucks manufacturer, we are keen to foster further mutually beneficial business and support relations with Simba Colt Motors which has been our sole distributor for the benefit of our local customers,” Mr Tojo said.
“In the medium term to long term, we shall be overseeing the full implementation of technical tropicalisation aspects on all our vehicle models to ensure their optimum performance in the unique local road conditions while facilitating training for Simba Colt staff, dealer team and local content sourcing.”
Based in Kawasaki, MFTBC is one of Asia\’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. Last year (2009) the company sold more than 99,500 vehicles including light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses.
In MFTBC, Daimler AG owns 85 percent of MFTBC shares and various Mitsubishi group companies own 15 percent of MFTBC shares.
