AutoXpress eyes revenue growth with Petronas distribution deal

Regional based motor vehicle parts fitter AutoXpress has inked a deal with global lubricants giant Petronas to distribute the manufacturer’s products in the local market.

The pair of firms will seek to leverage on each other to grow their respective footprints with AutoXpress seeking to advance its market position in the region while Petronas Lubricants International (PLI) tests the waters in the regional market.

“This partnership brings another dimension to our brand portfolio and increases the range of quality lubricants available to the Kenyan market,” said AutoXpress Managing Director Sandeep Shah.

On his part, PLI Head Marketer for Africa and the Middle East Andreas Deges backs the deal to anchor the manufacturer’s presence in the region by providing a platform for the company’s expansion into the greater Eastern African region.

“The market is growing and Petronas is seeking to leverage on this potential by partnering a firm with knowledge of the market,” he said.

AutoXpress has a network of 50 branches across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda and is set to remain on a regional expansion quest with new outlets lined up in the near term.

Meanwhile, Petronas will be seeking to find favour in the domestic market as it goes head to head with peer lubricant dealers in the local market.

According to data from the Petroleum Institute of East Africa (PIEA), the East African lubricant market is dominated by Total and Vivo who hold considerable market shares of 38.5 per cent and 35.5 per cent respectively as of the end of June 2019.