Motor dealer DT Dobie on Friday stepped up its game to reassert itself as the number one dealer in new and used cars.

“The recently introduced Volkswagen Polo Vivo five-door hatchback is an attractive and cost effective alternative to buying a used car and brings new car ownership in reach of many more Kenyans. The Polo Vivo is on sale now starting at Sh1.65 million and is displayed at the DT Dobie showroom in Lusaka Road, Nairobi,” said the auto dealer in a statement sent to newsroom.

Used car sales account for about 80 per cent of total vehicle sales in Kenya and DT Dobie is keen to exploit this market by touting the new vehicle as a better alternative to used, imported cars.

DT Dobie CEO Zarak Khan during the unveiling of the plant last year said the new Volkswagen Vivo demystifies the thinking that locally assembled vehicles are limited in options with its wide range of standard features including alloy wheels, CD players and other features.

The Thika based assembly plant in which the Kenya government has a 35 per cent stake has set a target to assemble 1,000 cars annually from January.

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The car comes with a warranty of three years, or the equivalent of 120,000 kilometres.

Additionally, buyers can sign up for the Sh99, 000 three-year service plan, which is equivalent to Sh2, 750 per month.

“By purchasing a new Volkswagen Polo Vivo the owners are spared the worries of buyers of used cars which are often unsuited for Kenya roads and tend to require frequent repairs… there is the satisfaction of knowing that the Polo Vivo will have to be driven for four, or five years before it has reached the mileage of a used imported car,” it said.

Servicing of the Volkswagens will be done by DT Dobie’s engineers and technicians.