Toyota Kenya has introduced the 2019 Suzuki Ertiga MPV in the country, where station wagon is one of the best-sold body types
Under their newly announced partnership, Toyota Kenya has started selling Suzuki Ertiga MPV in the country. Toyota in Kenya announced their plans to sell Suzuki cars in February this year, shortly after Toyota and Suzuki announced their India plans. Toyota has now placed the Suzuki Ertiga MPV in its Toyota dealerships throughout the African country.
The multi-utility passenger vehicle was launched last year in India as a new model and the same has been introduced in Kenya to cater the rising demand of station wagons in the country. As per Toyota Kenya, the Suzuki Ertiga with a 1.5-litre petrol engine is best suited for small-sized businesses.
In fact, the sales data from the country suggest that there has been a trend of buying vehicles for transporting for passenger-cum-cargo, which is what MPVs and station wagons are made to do. In 2018, the majority of new vehicle registrations made were of station wagons recording an all-time high of 64,179 vehicles.
“The growing need for space pushes customers to look for spacious station wagons and the new Ertiga delivers this,” said Toyota Kenya, Managing Director, Arvinder Reel. The Suzuki Ertiga is available for Sh2.65million and has a 3-year warranty. The firm has partnered with major banks to offer purchase financing options. As for the Toyota and Suzuki tie-up, the Japanese brands agreed to share vehicles, vehicle architectures and electrified vehicle technology.
Toyota and Suzuki have been considering such collaboration since signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on February 6, 2017. In India, Toyota agreed to source the premium Baleno hatchback, which they are now selling as Glanza and compact SUV Vitara Brezza from Suzuki. Toyota will also source the Ertiga and the Ciaz from Maruti Suzuki to sell in India.
African countries like Kenya will get these India made products under the Toyota badge. Suzuki, in turn, would get two new electrified vehicles built on the Toyota platform: the RAV4 and Corolla Wagon for the European market. Both companies will also develop and share a C-segment MPV for the Indian market.