Toyota Kenya Limited stands as the sole distributor and service provider of Toyota, Yamaha, Hino, and Case IH brands in Kenya. With its Head Office in Nairobi and branches in Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu, and Lodwar, the company also maintains regional dealer representation in various towns including Nyeri, Nanyuki, Nakuru, Kericho, Meru, Kitale, Kakamega, Naivasha, Malindi, and Voi.
The journey of Toyota in Africa is deeply intertwined with the history of Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC). Toyota Tsusho’s ties to Africa trace back almost a century, beginning with its importation of raw cotton in 1922. In the 1960s, TTC started its automobile business in Africa, expanding its automotive value chain from CBU exports and dealers business to include captive financing and leasing, used vehicle sales, and small-scale local production.
A significant milestone was achieved in 2012 when Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) acquired the Corporation for Africa & Overseas (CFAO), which was based in Paris, France. In 2016, CFAO was converted into a wholly owned subsidiary. At the time, CFAO was France’s largest trading company dedicated to business in Africa.
According to Mr. Arvinder, CFAO Motors will continue to remain the exclusive distributor of brand new Toyota vehicles and genuine parts in Kenya as well as exclusively offering Toyota manufacturer’s warranty. Besides this we are also the distributor of other new quality cars and equipment such as Suzuki vehicles, Yamaha motorbikes and Hino trucks.
Expansion and Diversification
As part of their expansion strategy, Toyota Kenya now offers quality used cars under the trade name of Automark, as well as parts offering through Winparts. “We believe this change in name puts us in a better position to offer diversified mobility solutions to all our customers and business partners.
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Top Reasons Why Toyota Dominates the African Car Market: The Most Used Car in Africa Explained!
Commitment to Social Responsibility
Toyota Kenya aims to be an innovative company that contributes to the creation of a prosperous society through wide ranging business as well as CSR activities. They have therefore continuously sought avenues to partner with like minded organisations towards promotion the welfare of their community.
Toyota Kenya Foundation
The Toyota Kenya Foundation seeks to provide opportunities for Kenyan children from disadvantaged families pursue either Basic and/or High School Education. Eligibility is limited to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). The foundation also supports college education in the fields of medicine, engineering, environmental management & agriculture - as well as Kenyan children from disadvantaged families who have passed the basic education and high school but are not able to raise fees for higher education.
Toyota Tsusho’s Africa Strategy: “WITH AFRICA FOR AFRICA”
Given this background, Toyota Tsusho, which is engaging in business in Africa with a medium- and long-term perspective, established the Africa Division in April 2017 to integrate its Africa-related business. It is made up of four strategic business units(SBUs): the Mobility SBU, which is developing business by leveraging a sales network covering the entire continent; the Healthcare SBU, which aims to expand business based on CFAO’s 70-year track record in pharmaceutical wholesaling in Africa; the Consumer Goods SBU, which is engaged in local production and retailing of consumer goods such as beverages and ballpoint pens; and the Technology & Energy SBU, which is promoting renewable energy and the harbor development business.
For example, all businesses launched in Africa are based on the philosophy of “WITH AFRICA.” That is, their ideals are to have leadership provided by people from Africa and to operate businesses based on the wealth of know-how and experience locally accumulated over the decades. Furthermore, decisions on whether to launch new businesses include a “FOR AFRICA” perspective, considering whether the businesses have the potential to help resolve local social issues. These businesses provide long-term support for regional economic development and the enrichment of peoples’ lives.
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In our Africa business, we also reflect the “WITH AFRICA FOR AFRICA” philosophy in our human resources, striving to create a management structure with personnel from Africa at its core. Locally, compensation are based on performance in relation to defined KPIs, and we have introduced fair, highly transparent performance management systems.
As part of its Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) program, the Republic of South Africa is appealing to foreign enterprises to strengthen partnerships with black-owned companies in the country.
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