KAMPALA — Victoria Motors Limited is targeting Ugandan motorists who rely on used-car imports, offering a 5% discount on Mitsubishi Triton pickups during a four-day vehicle exhibition at Kampala Marriott Hotel.
The exhibition, running from October 8 to 11, features the Triton pickup, Outlander SUV and Destinator, as the authorised Mitsubishi distributor seeks to encourage buyers to consider brand-new vehicles.
Customers who place orders for the Triton during the exhibition qualify for a discount of approximately $2,700, bringing the price down from $54,000. The advertised price includes a service plan covering 50,000 kilometres or two years, whichever comes first.
Emmanuel Muyunga, Victoria Motors’ Assistant General Manager for Lease, said the campaign was intended to challenge the perception that new vehicles are too expensive for many Ugandans.
“Many people are so hell-bent to drive grey market vehicles, they think brand new is expensive, but we’re here to show you that brand new is not expensive,” Muyunga said.
He said customers could buy vehicles outright, obtain bank financing or access operating lease arrangements depending on their financial circumstances and business requirements.
Victoria Motors has partnered with I&M Bank, Centenary Bank and Stanbic Bank to provide financing options extending up to five years. According to Muyunga, the Triton could be financed at approximately Shs4.4 million per month under the payment plans being promoted.
The company is also targeting corporate clients, non-governmental organisations, oil and gas operators, mining companies and government agencies with operating leases that incorporate maintenance into fixed monthly payments.
Fuel Economy and Maintenance
Muyunga said Victoria Motors had prioritised the 2.4-litre diesel-powered Triton for the Ugandan market, citing fuel consumption, affordability and maintenance considerations.
“The 2.4 compared to the 2.8 which you had previously, has a lower consumption rate,” he said.
He added that manufacturers were increasingly developing smaller engines capable of delivering improved power output while reducing fuel consumption.
“The smaller engines that we have today have a better consumption rate, which in turn translates to lower maintenance costs for the customer,” Muyunga said.
The company puts the Triton’s fuel consumption at approximately 14 kilometres per litre in urban and highway driving, although actual performance depends on driving conditions, load and vehicle use.
Muyunga said the vehicles could be maintained relatively easily when owners followed recommended servicing schedules and used genuine replacement parts.
“Mitsubishi is among the top brands that have very easy maintenance, as long as you treat it right, give it the right parts, genuine parts which we do have,” he said.
Victoria Motors also offers a warranty of up to 10 years or 180,000 kilometres, according to Muyunga. He cautioned, however, that vehicle handling and use could affect mechanical performance and the applicability of warranty coverage.
“Denial comes with abuse; if the vehicle is abused, for example, you drive it out today, and then you say the clutch is blown tomorrow, that’s about usage, that’s about handling,” he said.
Fuel Quality Concerns
The company also emphasised the importance of fuel quality in modern diesel-powered vehicles.
Midraj Koire, a sales executive at Victoria Motors, said the vehicles required high-quality fuel and warned that contaminated or poor-quality diesel could damage engine components.
“These vehicles are meant to take the very premium quality of fuel,” Koire said.
He identified Shell, Total and Stabex among fuel providers the company considers to offer fuel meeting its quality expectations.
Koire said using poor-quality fuel could cause problems with diesel injectors and fuel pumps, potentially resulting in expensive repairs.
“All the vehicles on the market, Mitsubishi and the rest, you use bad fuel then you have problems with diesel, with the diesel nozzles and pumps, etc,” he said.
Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure
Victoria Motors officials acknowledged the growing shift towards electric mobility but said inadequate charging infrastructure remained a challenge for vehicles expected to operate over long distances, particularly commercial pickups.
Muyunga said the company recognised the need for cleaner transport but argued that Uganda’s infrastructure was not yet sufficient to support the operational requirements of its flagship pickup.
“This campaign is about a diesel engine, a two-ton engine. I appreciate the fact that we are all looking towards green, green energy, but I’ll go out on a limb and say our infrastructure is not yet there,” he said.
He also pointed to improvements in vehicle emissions technology, saying newer models had moved beyond the Euro 3 emissions standard. The specific emissions standard of the models displayed was not detailed in the information provided.
Outlander and Destinator on Display
Besides the Triton, the exhibition features the seven-seater Mitsubishi Outlander and the Destinator, a newer addition to the manufacturer’s sport utility vehicle range.
Muyunga said the Destinator was expected to begin appearing on Ugandan roads within weeks.
Visitors can attend test drives and technical walkarounds during the exhibition, which runs until October 11. The event is scheduled to open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Through the promotion, Victoria Motors is seeking to make new-vehicle ownership more accessible through discounts, bank financing and leasing arrangements, while emphasising the servicing support and warranty options available to buyers of its vehicles.