Operation in Africa

Toyota Tsusho Corporation ("Toyota Tsusho") announced today that it started SKD* production of Toyota Motor Corporation ("Toyota")'s Fortuner SUV at the Mombasa Plant of Associated Vehicle Assemblers Ltd. ("AVA"), a vehicle production contractor in Kenya, on July 29, 2023 (Japan time).

* SKD: Semi-knockdown. A method of vehicle assembly that the welded and painted body is imported and the components parts are assembled with body and chassis, or its parts configuration.

Toyota Tsusho currently produces Toyota's Land Cruiser　Pickup, Hilux, and Hiace at the AVA Mombasa Plant. This new production of Fortuner is Toyota Tsusho's first SKD production of an SUV in Kenya, with production planned to be 350 units per year. Demand for SUV vehicles has been increasing in Kenya in recent years, and the market is expected to expand further in the future. Through this SKD production of Fortuner in Kenya, it will be possible to shorten the lead time for supply of the vehicles to customers in Kenya.

To mark the start of production, a production start-up ceremony was held at the plant in the presence of Kenyan President William Ruto; Moses Kuria, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Kenya; and Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, Ken Okaniwa.

Based on the "WITH AFRICA FOR AFRICA" philosophy, Toyota Tsusho seeks to grow with the people and communities of Africa, and aims to contribute to the further development of Kenya's automobile industry through the local production of Fortuner.

Toyota Tsusho Corporation ("Toyota Tsusho"), acting through Toyota Kenya Limited ("TKEN"), began SKD* production of the Toyota Hiace at Associated Vehicle Assemblers Ltd. ("AVA"), a vehicle production contractor, using parts supplied by Toyota Motor Corporation ("Toyota"), on November 9, 2021. The planned Hiace annual production volume is 500 units. Investment associated with the addition of the Hiace as a production model was approximately US$600,000 (equivalent to approximately 70 million yen; including equipment, tools, and training of assembly personnel).

The Hiace vehicles to be produced will be used as matatu, privately-owned minibuses operated in Kenya. Under the "With Africa For Africa" philosophy, which seeks to achieve growth with the African people and African society, the Hiace will be produced locally to provide safe and secure means of public transportation in Africa.

In conjunction with the local production of the Hiace, provision of the MaaS Package, which is intended to enhance the quality of bus services, also started. This package uses a service provided by Data Integrated Limited, which develops and provides operational management systems for bus transportation operators, and is expected to improve bus operation information. Toyota Tsusho invested in Data Integrated through Mobility 54 Investment SAS.

A ceremony marking the start of Hiace production was held at the AVA Mombasa Plant from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (local time; 4:00–7:00 p.m. Japan time) on December 15. Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Betty C. Maina, attended the ceremony, at which President Keiji Masui of Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. and President Ichiro Kashitani of Toyota Tsusho presented messages via video, conveying their commitment to contributing to Kenya’s further development through production of the Hiace.

*      Abbreviation for semi knock down. Unlike completely knocked down (CKD) production, the welded and painted auto bodies are imported, and the main parts are installed on the body and chassis locally. Only relatively simply assembly work is performed.

The Corolla Cross Line-off Ceremony was held at manufacturing plant of TOYOTA South Africa Motors (Pty) Ltd (TSAM) in Durban.

TSAM hosted the president of South Africa, Mr. Ramaphosa, and the Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition of South Africa, Mr. Patel.

This will be Toyota’s first local production of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) in African region and we achieved a major step forward in Carbon neutrality with South Africa together. 

Also, the introduction of the Corolla Cross and corolla Cross (HEV) has generated a total of 575 new jobs at the TSAM plant while over 1200 direct jobs were created in the component supply base.

The president Mr. Rmaphosa expressed maximum appreciation and expectation for start of production of new model including HEV even in tough situation of Covid19 and shown that government will do utmost to support this new challenge.

• To watch the highlights of the Corolla Cross Line-Off Ceremony, please click here: Corolla Cross Line-off Ceremony - YouTube
• To read more about this News, please click here; PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA JOINS TOYOTA SOUTH AFRICA TO CELEBRATE TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS AHEAD OF ITS LOCAL MEDIA LAUNCH　ー　TSAM web site