Isaack Mutua’s bright blue Foton truck, which he has converted into a mobile photography studio, stands out in the bustling streets of Nairobi’s Gikomba Market, and he often has customers lining up to have professional portraits taken.

“This [Chinese] truck changed everything for me,” he said. “Before this, I struggled to maintain a [brick and mortar photography] studio. Now, I can take my business anywhere. My customers don’t have to find me. I find them.”

Mobile businesses are part of a growing trend in trade and services in Kenya. “The reliability of this truck allows me to work longer hours and travel to areas I wouldn’t have reached before,” said the 25-year-old Mutua.

“It’s not just a vehicle – it’s the heart of my business. I can now serve schools, weddings, funerals, and rural markets, and that’s opened up more income streams,” he said, adding that he’s even considering expanding the business by buying another Foton truck and employing someone to operate in a different part of Nairobi.?

“This kind of growth wouldn’t have been possible before,” said Mutua.

Encouraging local assembly

In fact, Mutua’s story represents something even bigger than growing mobile businesses. And that is the transformative impact of Chinese automakers on Kenya’s economy. Companies like Foton, BYD, Chery, Geely, Great Wall Motor, and Haval are not only producing vehicles locally, but also creating jobs and fostering industrial growth.

Chinese automakers and Kenya’s industrialisation drive have formed a symbiotic relationship. Kenya’s automotive market is rapidly evolving, with Chinese manufacturers playing a pivotal role. From electric buses to pickups and SUVs, Chinese companies are diversifying the market while investing in local assembly plants.

The Foton Motor, a leading Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer with a presence in Kenya, is positioning itself to significantly boost local production and sales. The company plans to leverage the growing demand for reliable, cost-effective transportation solutions in the country by scaling up its assembly operations and tailoring its products to meet local needs.

“Our goal is to scale up local production to meet the growing demand for reliable and cost-effective transportation solutions in Kenya,” said Gerald Simbo, sales manager at Foton East Africa. “By expanding our Nairobi assembly plant, we can introduce heavy-duty vehicles and specialised models tailored for industries like construction and agriculture.”?

Central to this effort is the potential expansion of its Nairobi assembly plant, which currently produces light trucks and buses. This move aligns with Kenya’s push to promote industrialisation and reduce the importation of fully built vehicles, which often incur higher costs and taxes.

Foton is also exploring partnerships with local suppliers to integrate more Kenyan-made components into their vehicles, fostering job creation and local expertise. “We are committed to fostering local partnerships. This not only creates jobs, but also strengthens local expertise, aligning with the country’s industrialisation agenda,” said Simbo.

Additionally, Foton is enhancing after-sales services by expanding their network of service centres and spare parts outlets across the country.?

“Accessibility is key for our customers, and we recognise the importance of affordable financing,” said Simbo, adding that by partnering with microfinance institutions and banks, their vehicles can be more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises. This initiative will empower more businesses to grow with reliable transport solutions.

They are also developing marketing campaigns highlighting the durability and cost-efficiency of Foton vehicles, appealing to Kenyan businesses looking for long-term value.

“Without the flexible financing Foton offered, I wouldn’t have been able to afford this truck. It allowed me to pay [off the vehicle] in installments, which kept my business afloat as I worked to expand my customer base,” said Mutua.

Foton aims to solidify its foothold in Kenya’s competitive automotive market while supporting the country’s economic growth and industrial ambitions.

Salim Mvurya, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for investments, trade and industry, believes this expansion marks a critical step towards industrial self-reliance.

“Kenya’s partnership with Chinese automakers is about more than just vehicles,” Mvurya said. “It’s about creating jobs, transferring technology, and laying the foundation for Kenya to lead in East Africa’s automotive sector.”?

Mvurya emphasised that the government’s industrialisation agenda focuses on reducing imports by encouraging local assembly and manufacturing.

“The more we produce locally, the more jobs we create, and the more we reduce our reliance on fully built imported vehicles,” Mvurya said.

“This strategy is crucial for boosting our economy and supporting small businesses that rely on affordable transport solutions,” he added.

Diverse Chinese brand options

While Foton focuses on light trucks and commercial vehicles, other Chinese manufacturers are carving out their own niches in the Kenyan market.

BYD leads the electric vehicle market, producing electric buses and cars designed to reduce Kenya’s carbon footprint.

Great Wall Motor specialises in pickups, targeting demand in agriculture and construction, while Chery and Geely are expanding SUV production, appealing to Kenya’s growing middle class.

Part of Chery’s expansion is the brand’s Omoda E5 electric vehicle assembly plant, a collaboration between Chinese automaker Chery and Kenyan firm Afrigreen Automobile. It was announced in July last year, with the plant assembly beginning construction a month later in August.

Hai Wei, director of Chery International Central Africa Region, said Kenya was selected for the establishment of the assembly plant because of its skilled workforce and position as an economic hub in Africa. The facility is expected to produce between 5,000 and 6,000 electric vehicles annually and create approximately 3,000 direct and indirect jobs in Kenya by the end of 2025.?

Apart from the Omoda E5, future plans include expanding the vehicle line-up to include electric pickup trucks, as well as an intention to export vehicles to other East African countries, positioning Kenya as a regional hub for electric vehicle manufacturing.?

Former Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian highlighted the broader economic benefits during a recent trade forum.

“These companies are not just selling cars, they are investing in Kenya’s future by setting up plants, training local workers, and sourcing parts from Kenyan suppliers. This strengthens our bilateral ties and promotes shared prosperity,” said Zhou.

Mutua’s optimism reflects this broader shift. “This isn’t just about me. I see more young people like me buying trucks and starting businesses. It’s changing lives,” said the young photographic entrepreneur.?

According to Simbo, Foton plans to produce 8,000 vehicles for the East African market by December 2025.?

“Putting 8,000 cars on the roads of East Africa from our Kenyan plant will be a big boost for the region. We have many plans that have been carefully crafted for in 2025,” said Simbo. He said the plan proposes to create 15,000 jobs and employ the use of artificial intelligence to compute with other global car manufacturers.