Six months into the year, the shape of the 2026 Kenyan auto market is finally clear. Here is what our dealer network is reporting. ## Demand is up, but shifting Unit volumes on used imports are up ~11% year-on-year, but the mix has moved sharply toward hybrids — Prius, Aqua, and the newer Corolla Cross HEV now account for almost 40% of sub-KES 3M imports. ## Financing is finally cheap Central Bank rate cuts have pulled effective asset-finance rates below 15% p.a. for the first time since 2022. Approval rates at Tier 1 banks are up notably. ## The luxury segment is quietly booming Range Rover, G-Wagon and Cayenne demand at the top end of the market has surprised everyone. Wait times on landed G63 stock currently run 8–14 weeks. ## EV pilots BYD and Neta are shipping small volumes through official channels; the charging network is still the bottleneck outside Nairobi metro. ## What to expect in H2 Expect continued yen and pound softness (positive for import buyers), tighter KEBS enforcement, and — for the first time in a decade — real competition at the sub-KES 1.5M end from Chinese EVs. Stay close to your dealer. The next six months reward decisive buyers.

Kenya's Auto Market H2 2026: What Dealers Are Actually Seeing