Kenya’s Auto market in 2021 gains 2.3% with 5,156 sales, reporting a double-digit drop in the second half of the year. Isuzu overtakes Toyota and becomes the new market leader.
Market Trend
Kenya’s car market this year grew slowly but dropped in double-digits in the second half of the year.
Following a quite positive period, which ended with the all-time record hit in 2015 with 19,549 vehicles (including HCVs & Bus) sold, the Kenyan vehicles market was hit by the economic crisis and started falling down, losing in two years over 40% of volume., with 2017 total vehicles (including HCVs) at 10,831 (-19.8%).
In 2018 the mood changed and the market recovered, sustained by private consumption and the market score a recovery above expectations. Indeed, according to data released by the Kenyan Motor Industry Association, the market grew, gaining 31.2% from 2017, with registrations at 14,251.
In 2019 despite a very good start, with the Q1 ended up in double-digit, the market has progressively lost steam ending the Q4 with a sharp decline. Full-year sales have been 13,298, down 6.7%. While the HCVs segment was steady, the car passengers dropped down in double-digits.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic sales significantly decreased in 2020. In fact, sales have been 6,942, reporting a fall of 47.8% compared to 2019.
In 2021 the year started positively for the Kenyan market, in fact, in Q1 1,530 units have been sold, reporting a 69.8% increase in sales compared to Q1 2020, and in Q2 sales kept growing due to the incredibly low levels of the previous year, reporting a 41.6% increase with 1,410 units sold.
In Q3 sales were falling in double-digits, losing 14.9% sales with 1,114 units, and fell further (-39.9%) in Q4 with 1,102 units sold.
Indeed, Full-Year sales for 2021 have been 5,156, reporting a 2.3% increase compared to 2020.
Brand-wise, this year the new leader Isuzu (+43.7%) gained 7.5% market share, followed by Toyota (-16.2%), which lost 11.2% share. Nissan (+105%) reached third place and gained 2.2% market share.
The most sold model in the country is the Toyota Land Cruiser P/U with 692 sales (-25.6%), holding 13.4% market share.
