For decades, DT Dobie was a prominent brand name in Kenya’s automotive industry, synonymous with a franchise of luxury brands, including Germany’s Mercedes-Benz.
The DT Dobie brand is, however, formally exiting the scene 76 years after it was formed, carrying with it the nostalgia of ‘class and elegance’ that was especially synonymous with its flagship Mercedes-Benz franchise.
“Pursuant to the provisions of the Insolvency Act, take notice that the official receiver was appointed as liquidator of the property of D.T. Dobie and Company(Kenya) Limited (the company), following a special resolution dated June 3, 2025,” said Mark Gakuru, the official receiver and liquidator.
“Creditors of the company are required on or before September 15, 2025, to send full particulars of all the claims by filing proof of debt they may have against the company.”
Founded in 1949 by World War II British Army Veteran Colonel David Theodore Dobie, the company initially began with the Mercedes-Benz franchise for East Africa, comprising both passenger and heavy commercial trucks.
Colonel Dobie developed an interest in automotive as he fought on the frontline of World War II in Germany.
The company later grew by leaps and bounds over the years, embracing additional international brands such as Nissan, Volkswagen, Renault, and Hyundai trucks and buses.
DT Dobie’s fortunes, however, hit a rough patch about a decade ago as it lost a series of its flagship franchise brands. For instance, in 2014, the company lost its rights to distribute Nissan and Renault brands in Kenya to South Africa’s Imperial Group. This was largely due to the acquisition of DT Dobie's parent company, CFAO Motors, by Toyota Motor Corporation.
The loss of the Nissan franchise, which DT Dobie held for 50 years, was a weighty blow, representing a large portion of its business.
In a strategy to weather the market turmoil, DT Dobie, on April 1, 2023, formally merged its operations with CFAO Motors Kenya (formerly Toyota Kenya), forming the largest automotive distributor and service provider in the country.
In 2016, Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) acquired 100 percent shares in CFAO. With this acquisition, TTC, as part of an internal group reorganisation, decided to integrate all its African operations, including those previously under Toyota Kenya, under CFAO.
“The intention was to create a significant automotive network in Africa by leveraging on CFAO’s established markets in West Africa with TTC’s considerable presence in Eastern and Southern Africa,” CFAO Mobility said in May 2023 following the merger of operations with DT Dobie.
“Accordingly, TTC transferred the shares it directly held in CFAO Motors Kenya (formerly Toyota Kenya) to CFAO, resulting in CFAO’s direct ownership and control of the Kenya TTC group entities, including CFAO Motors Kenya and DT Dobie,” it added.
CFAO, therefore, decided to conduct its Africa operations under a single “CFAO” brand by harmonising and integrating the operations of its various subsidiaries in Africa, including CFAO’s Kenya automotive distribution business.
