There are cars and then there are CARS.
While ordinary Kenyans were on Thursday scrambling in supermarkets to get the Sh100 Unga, a new Sh4o million Range Rover L460 was being launched.
It is the fifth generation Range Rover from the Land Rover brand.
The launch by motor dealers Inchape Africa was at Kenya Land Rover Showroom, Oracle Tower, on Waiyaki Way just a few metres from Naivas Supermarket where the 'unga scramble' was on.
There are currently only four units of the new Range Rover available for sale in Kenya this year, according to management.
Its features are said to be some of the most sophisticated in the industry, including chassis technology.
The integrated chassis control system monitors the road up to 2.5 kilometres ahead and prepares for corners using navigation and speed data.
"It can adjust the suspension at speed to ensure maximum comfort and efficiency,” Inchcape Africa managing director Francis Agbonlahor said.
It also has pioneering cabin air purification pro-system, which helps to reduce odour, bacteria, and viruses from the cabin.
The New Land Rover’s body is also said to be 50 per cent stiffer than before, creating a safe and strong body designed to accommodate the new 23-inch wheels– a first for Land Rover – and 815mm diameter wheel combinations.
Its value can get you three E-Class Mercedes Benz cars from DT Dobie, each at Sh12.9 million, and leave you with Sh1.3 million in change.
The amount is also able to buy up to three 3-bedroomed apartments in Kilimani.
According to property consultant firm-Hass Consult, the average price of a one to three bedroom property offered in the mid to upper class property market is currently 12.7 million.
The average value for a 4-6-bedroom property is currently 39.7 million.
Inchcape Kenya targets the high-end market in Kenya and the region.
"More orders are expected", management said without being specific.
This adds to the list of luxury SUV’s (sport utility vehicle) the company offers under its Jaguar Land Rover franchise.
“In addition to the New Range Rover, the Range Rover SV is also available for sale in the Kenyan market,”Agbonlahor said.
The country’s official distributor of Land Rover, Jaguar and BMW is targeting to increase its market share on new cars, currently below one per cent.
Isuzu continues to dominate the industry.
Even so, majority of the Kenyan middle-class continue to import used-second hand cars from Japan.
The launch comes as assemblers and dealers in the country project a positive year on sales, albeit the country’s general elections.
Kenya Motor Industry Association (KMIA) data shows at least 6,492 new (showroom) units have been sold in the year to date, almost half the total 14,250 units sold in full year 2021.
In 2019, new vehicles sold in the country totalled 10,977.
Last month, dealers sold 947 units, which is about 18.4 per cent lower, compared to 1,121 vehicles sold in the same month last year.
Of the total sold units year-to-date, heavy duty and light trucks dominated (2,778 units) the market reflecting the continued activities in building and construction, and cargo haulage.
Single cabin pick-ups, which are common with farmers, wholesalers, businessmen and light movers, were the second most bought type of cars where 1,017 units moved.
Isuzu (East Africa) continued to dominate the market with a 44.2 per cent share; KMIA data shows, selling 2,867 units.
Toyota was second with 1,375 units which accounted for 21.2 per cent share while Mitsubishi had a 9.4 per cent share with 608 vehicles bought.
Other dealers with a sizeable share were Tata (5%), Ford by CMC (3.6%), Mahindra sold by Xylon Motors (2.5%), and Scania (East Africa) 2.2 per cent.
Inchape sold a total of 18 BMWs (0.2% of total new cars sold in the industry), eight Land Rovers and 10 Range Rovers.
There were low sales in new salon cars and small SUVs of between 1,500cc and 2,600 cc, industry data shows, reflecting the continued high imports on used cars.
Between January and June this year, only 64 saloons of below 1800cc (engine capacity) were sold.
Used-cars imports mainly from Japan (80%) continue to dominate the Kenyan roads with the individuals and dealers bringing in between 8,000 and 12,000 units a month, on a good business environment.
The numbers are however reported to have dropped by at least 35 per cent on a global shortage of the units, occasioned by a chip shortage, which has since 2020 affected assembly lines across the world.
Monthly average imports now stand at between 5,000 and 7,000, according to the Car Importers Association of Kenya.
“The rate at which car owners are availing used cars for re-sale has remained low,” National Chairman Peter Otieno told The Star on telephone.
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