Isuzu Leads Kenya’s Vehicle Market as Sales hit 9,757 Units

Isuzu has tightened its grip on Kenya’s new vehicle market after selling 4,724 units in the first seven months of 2026, accounting for nearly half of all vehicles sold during the period.

Latest data from the Kenya Motor Industry Association (KMIA) shows that the motor industry sold a total of 9,757 vehicles between January and July, with Isuzu East Africa commanding a 48.4 per cent market share.

The company sold 734 vehicles in July alone, maintaining a wide lead over other players in the market as demand for commercial vehicles continued to support the industry.

KMIA said the industry recorded 1,677 vehicle sales in July, bringing the total number of units sold since the beginning of the year to 9,757.

“The Kenyan automotive industry recorded 1,677 units sold in July 2026, bringing the calendar Year-to-Date industry total to 9,757 units,” KMIA said.

Toyota ranked second in cumulative sales with 1,977 units sold between January and July. Sinotruk followed with 995 units, while Tata sold 470 vehicles and Mitsubishi recorded 349 units.

In July, Toyota sold 358 vehicles, followed by Sinotruk with 230 units. Tata sold 80 vehicles while Mitsubishi recorded 52 units.

July, however, marked a slowdown from June, when the industry recorded 1,912 sales. The 1,677 units sold in July represented a drop of 235 vehicles or 12.3 per cent.

Of the vehicles sold in July, 1,644 were purchased locally while 33 were exported. Cumulative local sales stood at 9,371 units, while exports reached 386 vehicles.

The latest performance comes after the new vehicle market showed signs of recovery during the first half of the year, supported by cheaper credit, a stable shilling and increased activity in sectors that rely heavily on commercial transport. Construction, agriculture, trade and logistics have remained important sources of demand for trucks, pickups and buses.

KMIA linked the industry’s performance to the stable exchange rate and the Central Bank Rate of 8.75 per cent, saying the lower rate was helping make asset financing more accessible to customers.

The Central Bank of Kenya has maintained the benchmark lending rate at 8.75 per cent since February, including at its August 11, 2026 Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

CBK data further shows that the average commercial bank lending rate stood at 14.39 per cent in July, slightly lower than the 14.4 per cent recorded in June.

Isuzu’s strong position has largely been driven by demand for its trucks, pickups and buses. The company has also continued investing in local assembly and aftersales services as it seeks to strengthen its presence in Kenya and the wider East African market.

Monthly sales this year stood at 1,120 units in January, 1,166 in February, 1,373 in March, 1,143 in April, 1,366 in May, 1,912 in June and 1,677 in July.

With nearly one out of every two new vehicles sold by Isuzu, the latest figures underline the company’s continued dominance in a market where commercial vehicles remain central to business activity and economic growth.