Volvo says to start assembling trucks in Kenya

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Reuters Africa  /  May 18, 2017

NAIROBI - Swedish truck maker AB Volvo is to start assembling vehicles in Kenya, part of a series of investments aimed at boosting the company's presence in the region, the company said on Thursday.

The East African nation undermined what was a thriving local assembly industry in the 1990s with policies that encouraged cheap secondhand imports. It is now seeking to attract manufacturers back to help create jobs and support growth.

Volvo is only the latest vehicle maker to announce plans in recent months to start assembling locally, following moves by Volkswagen, PSA Peugeot and CNH Industrial's Iveco.

Volvo will also open an office in Kenya to serve East Africa, open 20 workshops around the region and a parts warehouse, it said in a statement.

The company said it was partnering with local firm NECST in the plan, which will create about 300 direct jobs.

"There is a significant potential for the premium truck business as regional economies grow, infrastructure investments expand and the business environment remains investment friendly," Claes Nilsson, president of Volvo Trucks, said in the statement.

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Volvo to set up Sh2.5b assembly plant in Mombasa

The Standard  /  May 19. 2017

Swedish truckmaker Volvo plans to set up a Sh2.5 billion vehicle assembly plant in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa.

Volvo said the factory would be ready for commissioning in early 2018 and would have a capacity to produce 500 units, which would be scaled up over time to reach 2,000 units.

Senior Volvo management said yesterday the plant would also serve the region.