Importing a vehicle into Kenya remains one of the most popular ways for individuals, businesses, ride-share operators, and fleet managers to acquire reliable, cost-effective cars—especially in a market where new-vehicle prices often exceed KSh 5–10 million for popular SUVs and saloons. In 2026, the process is tightly regulated by three core authorities: the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for customs valuation and taxation, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) for pre-shipment conformity and age/roadworthiness compliance, and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for final registration and road-use approval. The landscape shifted significantly at the start of 2026. Effective January 1, 2026, KEBS enforced a stricter interpretation of the long-standing eight-year age limit under KS 1515:2000 (Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles) and Legal Notice No. 78 of 2020. Only Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles whose year of first registration is January 1, 2019, or late...
The electric revolution has fundamentally changed the forces acting on a vehicle's structure. The Body-in-White (BIW) and chassis must now manage a new, massive load: the battery pack. Weighing hundreds of kilograms, the battery pack demands an unprecedented focus on lightweighting without compromising safety or structural rigidity . This has ushered in the era of the Multi-Material Design (MMD) —a complex blend of advanced high-strength steels, aluminum alloys, and carbon fiber composites. This material alchemy is solving the weight paradox but introducing immense new challenges in manufacturing, joining, and cost management for the automotive industry . I. The Lightweight Imperative: The EV’s Range Equation Weight reduction in an EV has a direct, linear relationship with performance and range. Removing $100\text{ kg}$ of mass can add several kilometers to the driving range and improve acceleration, directly impacting the car's market competitiveness. The EV chassis must...