Money Markets
Kebs warns used car dealers to adhere to age limit
A truck carrying imported cars drives past a trailer on Mombasa Road. Used car importers no longer have a three-month grace period in the new year to bring in cars that exceed the age limit. Photo/FREDRICK ONYANGO
Posted Thursday, November 12 2009 at 00:00
The number of used car imports has grown by about 40 per cent every year since 2002. Currently, the ratio of used cars to new ones is almost 1:7.
But Mr Munyori says this year’s vehicle imports will be lower than 2008 when some 121,831 units were registered.
In the recent past, there have been ongoing discussion about how to eliminate used car imports.
This comes against the background of the global economic crisis which continues to deal a blow to new motor vehicle dealers.
About 80,000 units are imported annually while locally assembled units are estimated at about at 13,000.
There are two types of motor vehicle assembly plants in Kenya: Franchise assemblers and contract assemblers.
General Motors (EA) is a franchise assembler for Isuzu while Associated Vehicle Assemblers (Ava) in Mombasa and Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers in Thika are contract assemblers contracted by local franchise holders to assemble vehicles for them.
Kebs only recently appointed Jevic to conduct Pre-export Roadworthiness Inspection (RWI) of used motor vehicles from Japan and Dubai, destined for use within Kenya.
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