CarView, an online Japanese car sales site, has launched operations in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, injecting KSh50 million (US$571,000) into its regional expansion plan.
The website offers used cars for sale from overseas to the country, joining established car sale websites such as Cheki.
The legitimacy of car buying websites has been a concern. The Kenyan Embassy in Japan reported that over 30 Kenyans had been swindled by non-existing car exporters to the tune of KSh25 million (US$280,000). The benefit of CarView is that it can make its presence felt in the country rather than maintaining a website from afar.
The company has assured its buyers that if they fail to ship the cars as agreed, it will fully compensate the money paid.
Speaking to Business Daily, Moses Mbugua, a manager at CarView, said: “We are able to offer our clients not only a secure payment platform, but they are also able to track their vehicles at any given time using the platform which is available in our store.”
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics puts the number of registered vehicles in Kenya in 2011 at around 206,000, indicating a rise in demand for personal transportation.
The market remains robust, with new buyers eager to purchase new and used cars. CarView will have to fight it out with Kenyan market leaders such as Cheki, which claims to have listed over 21,000 cars on its website and has expanded into Nigeria.
