Toyota Tsusho Corporation ("Toyota Tsusho") announces today it will start knock-down production (vehicle assembly) of the Toyota Hilux pickup truck in the Republic of Kenya on October 25, 2019. The expansion of local manufacturing is based on Toyota Tsusho's memorandum of understanding* signed with the Kenyan government at the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7).

Toyota Tsusho has produced the Land Cruiser and Hino trucks in Kenya through the local assembly plant, Associated Vehicle Assemblers Ltd. (AVA) and has sold the vehicles through its distributor. The production lines at AVA have been expanded to add Hilux to the lineup, with the plan of producing approximately 1,200 units a year.

In January 2019, Toyota Motor Corporation transferred all sales and marketing operations for Africa to Toyota Tsusho as part of the effort to strengthen the automotive business in Africa. Toyota Tsusho is dedicated to contributing to Africa's industrialization through local production business model. The KD business will be a linchpin in expanding automobile production in Kenya and expanding business to other African nations.

Today, dignitaries from the Kenyan government, Toyota Tsusho and other representatives will attend a line-off ceremony at the AVA assembly plant in Mombasa as from 11:00 a.m. local time (5:00 p.m. Japan time).

* "Comprehensive MOU on Collaboration for the Realization of the Kenya Big 4 Agenda"
The MOU promotes flagship projects between Toyota Tsusho and the Kenyan government, including proposals on automotive policy.

Assembled Hilux	Knock-down production line