The Kenya Motor Industry Association (KMIA) motor show is set to take place in Nairobi from November 27-29, with about 50 exhibitors confirmed to participate. The event will feature a range of vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs), passenger cars, two-wheelers, commercial vehicles, trucks, and agricultural machinery. This will provide consumers and businesses with an opportunity to explore emerging transport solutions.
According to KMIA chairman Arvinder Reel, the motor show aims to provide an opportunity for motorists and industry enthusiasts to understand the changes that have taken place in the sector since the previous exhibition four years ago. The event will allow visitors to view and test-drive vehicles ranging from motorcycles to heavy trucks, as manufacturers seek to expose consumers to new technologies and models entering the Kenyan market.
Electric mobility is expected to be a key attraction at the motor show, with most of the EVs on display likely to be passenger vehicles. Reel stated that exhibitors will showcase a range of vehicles, and it will be up to them to decide what they want to bring to the show. The increased presence of EVs reflects the gradual transformation of Kenya's automotive market, with consumers and businesses becoming more interested in alternative technologies and cleaner transport options.
The exhibition will also provide potential buyers with an opportunity to ask manufacturers questions about electric vehicles, including their technology and suitability for the Kenyan market. NCBA has committed Sh12 million to sponsor the motor show, reflecting its broader focus on the mobility ecosystem rather than traditional vehicle loans. The bank's Group Director and Asset Finance Manager Lennox Mugambi stated that the lender is looking at opportunities across the wider transport value chain.
The shift in focus by financial institutions like NCBA could see them increasingly provide products designed around the different needs of motorists, transport operators, and businesses. This is rather than relying solely on conventional asset-financing loans. Commercial transport is expected to form another major part of the exhibition, with companies set to showcase trucks and other vehicles aimed at businesses involved in logistics, agriculture, and other sectors.
The inclusion of agricultural machinery is expected to widen the appeal of the event beyond individual motorists to businesses seeking equipment for production and transportation. Organisers said the show will bring vehicle manufacturers, dealers, financial institutions, and other mobility-related businesses together with consumers and corporate buyers. The event comes at a time when the automotive industry is navigating changes in consumer preferences, technology, and financing.
The three-day event will provide a platform for manufacturers and mobility companies to demonstrate new products while giving consumers a closer look at the technologies expected to shape Kenya's transport market in the coming years. For consumers, the exhibition is expected to provide an opportunity to compare models and technologies in one location, while businesses can assess vehicles and machinery suited to their operations.
Key points
- The motor show will feature electric vehicles, commercial vehicles, and agricultural machinery.
- The event aims to provide an opportunity for motorists and industry enthusiasts to understand the changes in the sector.
- Financial institutions are shifting focus to provide products designed around the different needs of motorists, transport operators, and businesses.
