German motor vehicle manufacturer Daimler AG is set to open an office in Nairobi aiming to expand its market share in East and Central Africa’s truck, bus and van business.
The office, to be officially unveiled next Tuesday, will be responsible for managing sales of vehicles and parts in the region.
Daimler already has a presence in Kenya through its appointed dealers DT Dobie, which sells its Mercedes cars, trucks and buses; and Simba Corporation which sells its Mitsubishi Fuso trucks.
The Daimler Commercial Vehicles Regional Centre, to be opened by the multinational’s director Wolfgang Bernhard, is expected to be more of a liaison unit in the initial stages. It could later offer full support to the regional dealerships including DT Dobie.
Daimler has the biggest market share in Kenya’s heavy commercial trucks business, selling about 500 units of Mercedes Actros prime movers last year.
Daimler joins a long list of German Companies that have taken a move to set up their own offices in Kenya, rather than continue using dealers and affiliates. Other German companies that have recently entered the Kenyan market include: Thyssen Aufzüge, BASF, Bosch, Allianz among others