Kenya and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their cooperation in supporting the local automotive industry to spur skills development, adoption of modern assembly technologies, and promotion of green mobility solutions.
This was revealed by Germany’s Deputy Ambassador to Kenya and Trade Counsellor, Alexander Fierley, during his visit to the Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) premises in Thika.
Speaking during the engagement, the Deputy Ambassador hailed CFAO Mobility Kenya for taking the front seat in driving Kenya’s automotive assembly efforts through the investment in Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) and underscored Germany’s interest in fostering mutual partnerships that promote innovation and spur economic growth.
“Germany recognizes the critical role that the automotive industry plays in driving economic development. Our renewed cooperation with Kenya seeks to build stronger linkages between our industries, foster innovation and technology transfer, while supporting the country’s economic ambitions in supporting local manufacturing and regional competitiveness. We see KVM as a strategic step in the right direction.”
The move comes as KVM resumed the local assembly of Volkswagen vehicles, namely the Toureg, Tiguan, and T-cross, under the level 2 Completely Knock-Down (CKD) arrangement, signaling a renewed focus on localization, job creation, and technology transfer within Kenya’s automotive industry.
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CFAO Mobility Kenya Managing Director, Arvinder Reel, said: “We are proud to host the Deputy Ambassador of Germany and welcome the renewed partnership between these two countries. As CFAO mobility, our investment in KVM signals our confidence in the Kenyan automotive industry and our commitment to supporting our country’s economic growth. Through our investment at KVM, we are providing more job opportunities to Kenyans, offering innovation and skills transfer from global OEMs, supporting the growth of SMEs through local content input, and availing even more affordable vehicles to the Kenyan consumer.”
This visit is a demonstration of the strong partnership between Kenya and Germany and CFAO Mobility Kenya remains committed to using this gesture to boost value addition and create opportunities within the automotive value chain.”
The collaboration between Kenya and Germany is expected to unlock new opportunities for investment, innovation, and market development in the automotive industry as KVM continues to bolster its production capacity. Currently, KVM is a leading assembler, handling a multi-brand portfolio of leading reputable brands in Kenya, including Mercedes Trucks and Bus, Volkswagen, Sinotruk, Tata, Caetano – Renault, Hyundai, JMC Trucks & pickups, BasiGo – EV bus, Mobikey – Man trucks and Buses, Foton, GB Auto – Eicher, Kinglong van, and IEA – UD trucks.
