Used cars on sale on Mombasa Road. Sales of the vehicles grew 30.2pc in the first two months of the year. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
Toyotsu Auto Mart says that vehicles sold under the warranty programme will have a maximum mileage of 80,000 kilometres and be no older than eight years.
The firm’s warranty will start off with small vehicles before it is introduced for the larger buses and trucks.
Japanese used car reseller Toyotsu Auto Mart will offer a 60-day warranty on its second-hand vehicles in a bid to boost sales.
Toyotsu, a sister company of Toyota Kenya, said that vehicles sold under the warranty programme will have a maximum mileage of 80,000 kilometres and be no older than eight years.
The government requires pre-shipment quality inspection on used cars, but Toyotsu says its checks go beyond the minimum State specifications. Other used car dealers do not offer customers any warranty.
“The warranty is a 60-day certification which covers the engine, driving system, steering, suspension, brake systems and safety components,” said Juliana Kimeu, Toyotsu sales manager.
“The warranty is for 60 days because from experience we have noticed that if the car is problematic, this will be manifest in two to three weeks. With time and experience we might extend this warranty period.”
The inspection, dubbed Toyotsu Certified Programme, is designed to check the overall condition of the car and ensure the vehicle was not involved in accidents, is not stolen, has proper documentation and the engine is in good working condition.
It also covers the transmission, electrical and braking systems, the car interior and tyres.
The company started local operations in 2011 to tap into the huge potential in the second-hand car market that continues to record impressive growth. The company deals in Toyota and other brands like Subaru.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics data shows that sales of second-hand motor vehicles grew 30.2 per cent in the first two months of the year. 11,831 used vehicles were sold in the period to February compared to 9,080 units in the same period last year.
The 30 per cent growth is the fastest in five years. Most small businesses and the middle class prefer to buy second-hand vehicles, which has seen this class of cars account for more than 80 per cent of all vehicles sold in the country.
Toyotsu managing director Daisuke Toyooka said that with the inspection and warranty, they are targeting those individuals and companies like taxi and security firms that are looking at quality used vehicles.
The company will also be eyeing county governments, some of which like Machakos have broken from the central government trend of purchasing new vehicles only.
Toyotsu has sold over 2,800 units in Kenya since 2012 and is aiming to become the biggest second-hand dealer in the country.
Japanese Deputy Ambassador Mikio Mori said that Toyotsu’s programme will ease mileage and accident worries that constantly plague potential customers.
“Some of them (vehicles) you may feel there are some mileage problems or hidden accident history and so forth. The inspection by Toyotsu Auto Mart should satisfy the customers,” he said.
The firm’s warranty will start off with small vehicles before it is introduced for the larger buses and trucks.
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