BMW Group has officially begun assembly of the X3 SUV at the Roslyn Plant in Pretoria South Africa. This will be the first BMW SUV to be built outside Europe/America. BMW upgraded the facility so as to improve efficiency with peak output set at 76,000 vehicles, distributed all over the world. The African built X3 will be available in Kenya at a cheaper price as transportation costs will be significantly lower compared to if it was built in Europe. The decision to build the X3 in South Africa was a no brainer as the SUV segment is the fasted growing in the world with analysts predicting that 50% of total vehicle sales will consist of SUV by 2025.
Volkswagen Readies for Rwanda Plant Opening
Rwanda is the next frontier for Volkswagen’s expansion strategy as it gears to open the country’s first vehicle assembly next month. Volkswagen is keen on developing future mobility solutions, more so electric cars and autonomous vehicles and Rwanda was chosen as the ideal country. The USD 20 Million facility will produce 5000 vehicles and will produce the Jetta, Teramont and Polo models. Cheki will bring you the exclusive report live and direct from Rwanda in a few weeks’ time.
CMC Motors Unveils New Ford Kuga
Local Ford dealer has unveiled the latest incarnation of the Kuga SUV in to the Kenyan market. This model is an evolution of the current version with visible changes seen on the trapezoidal grill, headlamps and bumper treatment. Inside Ford has upgraded the multi-information display by introducing the Ford-Sync 3 voice command module, allowing driver to access several vehicle functions without taking the hands away from the steering wheel. Powered by a 132Kw/240Nm 1.5L Ecoboost engine, the Kuga’s got plenty of grunt and efficiency to spare. Prices start from Ksh 5.3Million. Visit www.cmcmotors.com for more details.
Mahindra to open assembly plant in South Africa
Indian Vehicle manufacturer Mahindra has set up an assembly facility in South Africa. According to Mahindra the facility will be able to assemble the popular Bolero and Scorpio models, making the retail price competitive and affordable. The Plant will also supply the greater Southern and Eastern Africa with the above-mentioned models. Locally the Mahindra is represented by Simba Corporation and they also have a wide array of Mahindra products built specifically for the Kenyan market.