General Motors opens Sh100m city assembly plan

PHOTO | SALATON NJAU From left – General Motors Africa President Mario Spanenberg, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure Eng. Michael Kamau, General Motors East Africa Managing Director Rita Kavashe and GBPolo Bus manufacturing company CEO Wafa Tawfillis during the commissioning of a bus assembly plant in Nairobi on October 28, 2013.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary
The company said the plant is designed to build bus bodies and will also serve as training grounds for local body builders
The firm’s strategy market share in East Africa stands at 25.4 per cent

 By Nation Correspondent
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General Motors East Africa has invested Sh100 million in the construction of a bus assembly plant in Nairobi to strengthen its lead in the commercial vehicle market.

A statement from the company said the plant was commissioned on Tuesday and is designed to build bus bodies and will also serve as training grounds for local body builders to improve skills and transfer technology.

“As a market leader in this industry, we are committed to investing in the growth of the bus segment. The centre will work as a benchmark for safety, quality and technology,” said managing director Rita Kavashe during the launch.

NEW ISUZU CRUISER

The firm’s strategy market share in East Africa stands at 25.4 per cent.

The firm also unveiled a new Isuzu Cruiser bus. “The bus targets hotels, tour operators, schools, institutions and public service vehicle sector,” Ms Kavashe said.

She said it has enhanced safety features and improved fuel efficiency.

She said that Egyptian bus manufacturing company, GB Polo, will provide materials and technological expertise to assemble the bus body.

Ms Kavashe added: “We are currently importing some bus body parts that have been assembled but in the near future, we will concentrate on importing unassembled pieces that will be built from the new assembly plant.”