• Jacques described the new model as the future vehicle for Africa.
• He said the expedition is meant to demonstrate the capacity of the new model.
Image: GILBERT KOECH
A convoy of Nissan Navara pick-ups, representing the entire range that is manufactured in South Africa, are in the country in an epic adventure.
The five Nissan Navara pick-ups and an X-Trail SUV are driving through eight countries.
The expedition dubbed ‘Daring Africa 2024' started in South Africa on March 26. They will have completed more than 7,000km of tough African terrain once the convoy gets to Cairo, Egypt, in the coming weeks.
Nissan leadership said on Tuesday the expedition is meant to showcase the abilities of the new models.
They said Nissan Navara has been built to withstand the most severe road conditions in Africa.
Motus Africa CEO Tim Jaques said the ongoing consolidation of models will not affect jobs.
“It will not affect jobs, as there will be no change in the number of people working,” he said.
In each country, the expedition team takes on new terrains and exciting adventures to put the Navara to the test in uniquely African environments.
En route, they visit beautiful landmarks.
Jacques said the expedition, composed of five cars, has traversed South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya and will finally snake their way to Cairo.
Jacques described the new model as the future vehicle for Africa.
He said the expedition is meant to demonstrate the capacity of the new model.
Nissan Kenya managing director Christoph Henning said the aim is demonstrate Nissan products have the ability to traverse rough roads.
“They are specially made for Africa,” he said.
The expedition team visited Nairobi National Park on Tuesday, then to Lukenya on Wednesday.
The journey started at Nissan Kenya showroom at Sameer Business Park, before making a stopover at Wildly Café at Nairobi National Park.
Heine Engelbrecht, a team leader for the expedition, said they have not encountered any challenges since the expedition started.
Nissan has been expanding its market share by introducing new products.
Last year, Nissan Africa opened new markets for Navara in Algeria and Libya, with the vehicle scheduled to be introduced to Egypt later this year.