Leading motor vehicle assembler in East Africa, Isuzu has unveiled its multimillion-dollar electro-deposition Paint Plant in Nairobi, which aims to boost the assembly capacity of the local automotive industry.
President William Ruto officially graced the inauguration of the plant whose introduction will enable Isuzu’s production capacity to have a more than 60% increase, from 11,000 vehicles to 18,000 vehicles per year.
The president lauded the gesture, citing that it places Kenya as a spot-on investment destination, adding that the positive response is a result of the policy measures undertaken to provide incentives for investors to bring or increase their investments in the country.
“This is commendable especially because this commitment introduces the first electro-deposition paint plant in our region, and comes at the cost of Sh500 million… In total, Isuzu EA has invested Sh 1.3 billion within the last 4 years in the expansion and upgrade, sending a clear and bold signal of its confidence in Kenya as an investment destination,” the president said.
Managing Director of Isuzu East Africa, Rita Kavashe, stated that the unveiling of the state-of-the-art electro-deposition paint technology is the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa.
“Electro-deposition is a painting method that utilizes electric current to ensure even paint distribution on all vehicle surfaces, resulting in an exceptionally smooth finish,” Ms Kavashe noted.
The Paint Plant will also be accessible to other automobile manufacturers, including motorcycle and three-wheeler assemblers.
The MD commended the government’s vehicle leasing program, the ‘Buy Kenya Build Kenya’ initiative, and the revised assembly regulations for significantly contributing to the nearly doubled vehicle production in Kenya.
In just four years, the industry has progressed from manufacturing 7,000 units to 12,000 units annually, generating 10,000 jobs throughout the Isuzu EA value chain.
Kavashe emphasized that the full implementation of the KS1515 Standard will be a game-changer for the automotive industry, doubling commercial vehicle production from 12,000 units to 24,000 units per year within two years. This expansion would create an additional 10,000 job opportunities.
Over the past five years, Isuzu EA has invested Sh3 billion in facility upgrades, including the establishment of a Dynamic Test Center, Water Leak Test Booth, and a new pickup assembly line, along with the Electro-Deposition Paint Plant launched recently.
“These investments aim to position Isuzu EA as a significant player in the African Continental Free Trade Area. Moving forward, Isuzu EA will continue to strengthen and customize local production to meet the specific requirements of their customers, thereby contributing further to the development of the automotive industry in Africa.”
Isuzu East Africa Ltd (Isuzu EA) is offering a diverse range of Isuzu vehicles. With a strong reputation built over 45 years, Isuzu has achieved a dominant position in the market, selling over 150,000 units since the first vehicle rolled out of its Nairobi assembly plant in 1977.
