Japanese cars are common on Kenyan roads, given the annual imports done by motorists.
According to the global economics global center, Trading Economics, it is estimated that Kenyans imported cars worth Ksh13 billion from the Asian country in 2021.
Some of the most common Japanese cars include Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda and Honda.
Notably, Japanese cars are not only common in Kenya but in other European countries too.
Here is why Japanese cars are popular among motorists.
Affordability
The main reason why Kenyans prefer cars from Japan is that they are affordable compared to cars from other nations.
Motorists often get some of the vehicles for as low as Ksh1 million. The affordability has seen motorists settle for cars such as Probox, which are most common in rural Kenya.
The cars are also affordable compared to other cars with similar features which are manufactured in other countries.
Also, maintaining a Japanese car is easier because it is more fuel efficient.
Quality
Motorists also prefer Japanese cars because of the quality assurance of importing vehicles.
In a bid to maintain its global reputation for manufacturing cars, Japan has a detailed car inspection system that ensures that all exported cars go through quality checks.
Through this inspection, the Asian nation has channelled out reliable cars that have proven to last on the road. This has made them very attractive to motorists seeking long-lasting vehicles.
Availability of Spare parts
With the ever-increasing number of imported Japanese cars, car dealers and mechanics have been forced to seek spare parts for the vehicles.
The availability of spare parts has also decreased the cost of repairs compared to other vehicles.
Some car repairers also import spare parts from Japan to ensure that their customers get the right car parts.
Obsolete cars in Kenya are broken down to get spare parts for vehicles.
Notably, the availability of spare parts is one of the considerations motorists consider when buying vehicles.
