NAIROBI, Kenya, April 8 – Motor vehicle distributor Simba Corporation today entered the light-duty truck segment with the unveiling of the Ashok Leyland ECOMET Truck model.
The launch coincided with the opening of a new dealership in Thika Town, Swanley Motors, which enhanced the company’s efforts in gaining market share by positioning the 7 tonne truck in the competitive 7- to 10-tonne truck category, which in 2023 registered total sales of 1,378 units.
According to Naresh Leekha, the firm’s Group Managing Director, Motors Division, the twin introductions are a significant drive for the company as they target growth in the Mount Kenya, Eastern, and Rift Valley regions.
“The launch of Ashok Leyland Ecomet model in Kenya, fulfils a gap in our product range and strategically positions Simba Corporation as a comprehensive transport solutions provider to meet the diverse needs of the Kenyan customer,” said Leekha.
“Competitively priced at Kes 4.5M, the ECOMET is a versatile solution that can easily convert into a 29 or 33 seater bus, which gives us an opportunity to tap into the larger public and mass transport segments of the market.”
Simba Corp is one of Kenya’s biggest auto dealers, with brands such as Mahindra, Mitsubishi, and Proton, among others.
Through its subsidiary, Deluxe Trucks and Buses, the firm aims to capture a wider market share as well as provide customer solutions beyond the traditional trucking needs, such as hardware, mattresses, water tanks, and other logistics segments.
According to Mohamed Varvany, the Chief Commercial Officer, Simba Corp will extend financing offers among other incentives for the ECOMET Truck, including an after-sales assurance of a 5-year warranty or 500,000 km, whichever comes first.
“With the current state of the economy, customers want a truck that is well priced and which they can easily present to their financing partners for support without the fear or concerns of failure to perform”, said Varvany.
