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Buyers of Isuzu’s MU-X SUV in East Africa are set to save up to Sh3.6 million as the company begins local assembly of the model.
The locally assembled 3-litre MU-X will now sell for Sh9.9 million, down from Sh13.5 million—a 27% price reduction. A higher-spec 1.9-litre variant will also be available at a lower cost.
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According to Isuzu East Africa Managing Director Rita Kavashe, the move allows Kenyans to purchase brand-new, zero-mileage seven-seater SUVs at prices previously associated with older imported vehicles.
“This means Kenyans can now own a brand-new, locally assembled, top-of-the-range seven-seater SUV for the same budget they would have spent on an eight-year-old import from Japan, the UK, or Singapore,” Kavashe said.
The Kenyan-assembled MU-X comes with additional ownership benefits, including three free services and a five-year warranty, demonstrating Isuzu’s confidence in the quality and durability of vehicles built locally.
The price reduction aligns with the government’s efforts to boost local manufacturing and shift the country from a predominantly used-vehicle market to a new-vehicle economy.
Isuzu said the lower prices are also expected to strengthen its nationwide service network as more vehicles hit the roads across Kenya.
“We are working to change the perception that Kenya is a used-car market and make it possible for Kenyans to purchase new, proudly Kenyan-assembled vehicles,” Kavashe noted.
The company is also promoting vehicle leasing as an alternative ownership option. Collaborating with financial institutions and fleet operators, Isuzu aims to make it easier for individuals, PSV operators, and businesses to access newer vehicles without paying the full purchase price upfront.
Additionally, higher local assembly volumes are expected to expand the automotive ecosystem by attracting used-car dealers, financiers, and service providers to the new-vehicle market, creating jobs and supporting long-term industry growth.
The MU-X assembly line in Kenya is the first outside Thailand, where the model is exclusively manufactured for the rest of the world.
