KNBS Ranks Vehicles Kenyans Are Buying Most in 2018

A report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicates that majority of Kenyans who bought cars in January and February 2018 opted for station wagons.

The report outlined that Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) had registered 8,385 new station wagons in the two months.

Some of the most popular station wagons in the country include; Toyota Fielder, WishSienta, Nissan's Wingroad, Subaru Impreza, Honda Fit, and other models.

Vans and pick-ups were second in the rank with 1,741 vehicles registered in the two months.

[caption caption="File image of cars parked at a port"][/caption]

Motorcycles recorded the highest number of transport means Kenyans registered in the two months at 32,418.

Secretary-General of the Kenya Auto Bazaar Association Charles Munyori spoke to Kenyans.co.ke conveying that Kenyans were most inclined to buy the vehicles with a 1300cc - 1500cc engine capacity.

"The statistics don't indicate the precise models that can be categorised as station wagons. It would seem that any four-seater vehicle in Kenya can fall into that category.

"However, in my experience, most Kenyans are buying those vehicles that are between 1300cc and 1500cc, the Beltas, Vitz, Fit and such," he relayed.

He added that car sales had shot up in 2018 despite a unit price increase of Ksh100,000.

According to the data from KNBS, a bulk of the new and second-hand vehicles imported to Kenya were manufactured in 2011.

"The higher demand for 2011 cars came amid limited supply that pushed up prices by about Sh100, 000 per unit, as does happen in every first quarter. This will, however, ease off from April onwards until next year similar period, other factors held constant," Mr Munyori explained in a Business Daily interview.

[caption caption="KNBS statistics on vehicle registration between 2017 and 2018"][/caption]

Giving an example, the official noted that a seven-year-old Toyota Belta had shot up in price from Ksh650,000 in December to Ksh800,000 at the beginning of 2018.

He also noted that the 24 percent increase in prices was among the highest Kenya has recorded in many years.

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