Heavy commercial vehicles may soon be required to get their licencing done by the Transport Licensing board if new recommendations are adopted.

Police Commissioner Matthew Iteere says he has written the Minister for Finance to reinstate a law that will see heavy commercial vehicles get TLB licensing, in order to weed out unroadworthy ones.

The announcement came hot on the heels of a massive inspection operation along Nairobi’s Thika road aimed at ensuring that traffic rules are obeyed by motorists.

Deputy traffic commandant Leornard Katana who led the operation, now says public transport vehicles operating along the highway will from Monday be expected to use service lanes and not the main highway.

Article originally published on Homeboyz Radio

http://www.homeboyzradio.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=176:heavy-commercial-vehicles-to-get-tlb-licensing&catid=43:politics

The German tuning outfit has just released details about its latest project for the BMW 5-Series Touring with the M Sports Package. First up, there’s a range of visual enhancements made up of a stainless-steel grille kit for the front bumper intakes, new side skirts, and a diffuser for the rear bumper with apertures for the 90mm quad tailpipes. A sport spring kit lowers the 5-Series Touring by 30mm.

The company’s ‘Hamburg’ alloys are available in silver, platinum, silver polished and matte black finishes, and can be ordered as 19- and 20-inch rims. Power upgrades has seen the stock 535d output increase from 313hp and 465lb-ft to 376hp and 558lb-ft of torque; while the 550i gets boosted from 407hp and 443lb-ft to 490hp and 531lb-ft of torque.

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Article originally published on Car Buzz

http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2012/5/15/BMW-5-Series-Touring-by-Kelleners-Sport-7708793/

Motor dealer DT Dobie has re-launched the Renault brand with two new models after a two-year absence of the French car maker’s brands in the market. In a renewed bid to boost its vehicle sales market share, the dealer said it’s focusing on Kenya’s upper middle class and mid-tier executives – segments emerging as key drivers of demand for new cars.

Established dealers are currently facing intense competition from imported second-hand vehicles from Japan and the Emirates, as well as from Chinese manufacturers who have ventured into the country.

Imports for second-hand vehicles into the Kenyan market now account for more than 70 per cent of the market, according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), signalling a decline in the number of new vehicles sold in the country.

DT Dobie’s launch of the Renault brands is however a show of rising confidence among new vehicle dealers hoping to recapture the market. “We strongly feel there is a very important new market that is emerging in Kenya, mainly backed up by the growing upper middle class,” said Zarak Khan, DT Dobie’s managing director.

The dealer had ceased supplying Renault brands two years ago but now says the new models – the Fluence executive saloon and Koleos SUV launched yesterday – will do well in the Kenya market. “People are now going for new cars with latest technology, trendy and affordable,” said Khan.

“We need to cater for Kenya’s young and upcoming, and our challenge is to appeal with the best in technology and affordable pricing. Now we have the appropriate models.”

The price tag for the Renault Fluence is Sh2.85 million while Koleos SUV is priced at Sh4.9 million – inclusive of VAT. “Buyers are now realising that new vehicles are better because they are covered by warranty and it’s easier to get financing for new cars,” said Khan.

Kenya’s motor industry is primarily focused on retail and distribution of new and second hand vehicles, with established dealers being Toyota EA, DT Dobie, CMC, General Motors and Simba Colt.

The firms are however facing stiff competition from Chinese dealers who have ventured into the market and have already struck deals to supply some government agencies with vehicles.

Article originally published on The Star

http://www.the-star.co.ke/business/local/75555-dt-dobie-re-introduces-renault-brands-as-confidence-rises-for-new-cars

Motorist will now pay more for fuel consumption after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) increased pump prices on Monday.

Toyota is currently working on a convertible version of the GT-86/Scion FR-S sports coupe. Not long ago this was a rumor, but it’s become evident that Toyota product planners fully intend on going forward with the plan in order to broaden the car’s appeal. Specifically, they’re targeting the Mazda MX-5, which is due for a redesign very soon.

Some inside sources also told Car and Driver that Toyota is looking to stretch the sports car’s platform a bit in order to build a small rear-wheel-drive sedan or an even larger two-door coupe. The GT-86/FR-S convertible will likely be on the market for 2014, right after the debut of the new MX-5.

The Nissan Juke’s 1.6-liter DOHC turbocharged 4-cylidner engine has been upgraded from an output of 190hp and 177 lb-ft of torque to a respectable 225hp and 203 lb-ft of torque.

The gaudy red color has made its way into the interior, where Philips Silver Vision Chrome flashbulbs and LED indicator lights have been installed as well.Senner has yet to release pricing information for their Nissan Juke ’20′ Tzunamee Candy Red edition.

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Toyota clearly went through a drought period over the past several years.

Toyota is clearly working to bring some excitement to their lineup and with enthusiasm going strong for the GT-86, Motor Trend is reporting that Toyota is now considering a proper Supra replacement.

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The Kisumu City Council has introduced a new levy for motorcyclists and boda boda operators in the city, nearly three years when it was repulsed by operators.

The Council’s Principal Revenue Officer Nicholas Okola says that they’ve been engaging the operators for the last three months until they reached an agreement.

Okola says motor cyclists will be expected to pay Sh300 while the boda boda cyclists will part with Sh100 every month.

The earlier levy was pegged at Sh500 for motor cyclists and Sh300 for boda boda cyclists, sparking running battles between police and operators who vehemently opposed the plan, for one week.

Okola says the fee is meant to regulate the operations of the cyclists and at the same time raise the council’s revenue base.

He noted that the council would use the revenue to improve service delivery and efficiency in their work.

Okola discounted the use of force to implement the directive since all the parties had agreed to abide by the law and embrace dialogue and consultation in future engagements to avoid confrontation.

The 15th edition of Auto-expo Kenya is slated for next week, starting Thursday, at the usual venue of the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).

Organisers say that the number of exhibitors and visitors this year is expected to rise by at least 25% since an aggressive campaign was launched last month.

Trade visitors from all over East & Central African countries are being invited directly and in collaboration with several regional trade bodies in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, and Mozambique.

Most of the East African companies who attended 2011 event have already shown interest in participating at this year’s Exhibition.

“Kenya is the largest economy in East and Central Africa. It enjoys a liberalized economic regime and participants at AUTO EXPO KENYA 2012 should take full advantage of this. There is the advantage of Kenya being a member of two powerful economic groupings. One is the East African Community consisting of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The other is the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), an economic block stretching from North Africa down to Southern Africa,” organizers said in a statement.

This annual event is organized by EXPO GROUP and sponsored by ABDAS, Dubai Exporters & Afrotrade. The main motive of the exhibition is to introduce the latest products and technology in the country to keep Kenya at par with the rest of the world.

Among opportunities expected at be presented at the venue are:

- Kenyan Companies to source new products, equipment & technology from worldwide.

- Kenyan Companies to update their existing customers / agents.

- Launching new products & services.

- Promotions and Special offers.

- Companies from all over the world to showcase their Automotive products,equipment and machinery in the African market.

- The business community to consolidate and strengthen distributorship network.

- Kenyan and other International Companies to learn and enhance export & import trade in order to capture available privileged and ready arranged markets worldwide.

The ‘Technology Project Hybrid combines a 2.2-liter diesel engine with two in-wheel electric motors from Protean Electric that each churn out 110hp and 590lb-ft of torque. When combined with the oil-burning engine, the car can sprint from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds.

According to Protean Electric, fuel economy is apparently boosted by up to 30 percent using the electric motors in applications such as the Technology Project Hybrid.

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