On the country's highways, byways, gravel roads, and mud flats, the Peugeot 504 was a familiar sight.
The late Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi both used this car as part of their convoy because of its speed and efficiency. The Peugeot 504 was a favourite among business magnates and government officials.
Since its introduction to the Kenyan market in 1958, under Kenyatta's rule, the French automaker Peugeot has built over 27,000 504 models there (between 1968 and 2004).
Its durability over the past 36 years is above average when compared to competing American automakers.
Among the car's many impressive features are a differential lock and a motorised winch for those times when the diff lock isn't enough to pull the vehicle out of a muddy rut.
As an added bonus, 504 replacement parts were widely available on the Kenyan market. In addition, mechanics of the time were experts in restoring automobiles to working order.
The vehicle, however, was more prone to breakdowns, rendering it unreliable, especially for cross-country journeys.
The lack of safety features such as crumple zones, traction control, stability control, and pretensioned seat belts became a focal point of the subsequent criticism.
During that time period, the multitude of newly manufactured cars boasting cutting-edge safety and technological features caused the once-popular Peugeot 504 to lose its shine.
Campaign for Uhuru's Comeback
Peugeot 3008 was locally built by PSA Groupe of France, and former President Uhuru Kenyatta and current French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the vehicle in 2019.
The release of the Peugeot 3008 was planned with consumer preferences in mind. The decision was made with the intention of preserving the Peugeot 504 brand.
Uhuru, who spoke at the automobile launch, claimed that the initiative was designed to strengthen Kenya's manufacturing industry.
Uhuru also made an announcement at the same time ordering all government entities to purchase and use only vehicles and spare parts that were locally built.
Uhuru explained that "our focus on manufacturing," "generating good jobs for our people," and "increasing technology transfer to our countries" would all benefit from this policy order.
The Peugeot 3008 is a strong, characterful vehicle that flaunts cutting-edge technology and a refined design.
It's equipped with a capacitive colour touchscreen and 3D navigation. The car's voice control and multi-touch features add to its usefulness.
Content created and supplied by: RealWorld (via Opera News )
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