Toyota Kenya limited has denied claims that HINO FC500 model vehicles are unfit for sale in the Kenyan automotive industry on allegations that they develop a multiplicity of problems and even lack spare parts.
Toyota denied the allegations by several motorists while responding to the law suit before high court judge Justice George Odunga.
They further dismissed allegations that that it agreed to convert the Kenyan market into a dumping grounds for vehicles that could not be sold or services in Japan.
Toyota Kenya argued that the HINO brand is of high quality, are durable and reliable if maintained and serviced in accordance with the manufactures recommendations and use of genuine spare parts.
The General Manager of HINO Kenya which is a division of Toyota Kenya, Gerald Muli said that any defects or problems in the motor vehicles, including any overheating problems arose as a result of lack of maintenance of the motor vehicles as per the manufactures recommendations.
“Toyota Kenya is a leading motor vehicle dealer in Kenya, subscribes to the highest ethical standards and good corporate governance and would not engage in such practices, “Muli said.
In the suit filed by City star Shuttle Company Limited, Chania Prestige Shuttle Limited, Beauty Wholesale Kenya Limited and eight others, they argue that HINO FC 500 model truck and PSV busses have developed fatal engine and overheating problems.
The plaintiffs add that the model has brake systems failures, and chasis cracking during the subsistence of the respective warranties that rendered them unfit for the purpose.
They claim that no brand new vehicles develop such a multiplicity of problems resulting in total grounding even lack of spare parts replacement without a manufactures defect.
Through lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui, the plaintiff claimed that they have exhausted all avenues of resolving these paten manufacturing problems and the defendants have failed to respond to their plight.
According to the court documents, as brand new HINO FC500 model truck and PSV busses, they could not have developed such engine failure, overheating problems and break failure during the subsistence of the warranty.
