Posted on :Saturday , 23rd May 2015

Arusha — TANZANIA has started manufacturing special cars and going to the extent of exporting them to as far as South Africa and Europe.

The Arusha-based factory, Hanspaul Automechs Limited, which fabricates specially designed 'Safari' vehicles, has started exporting its products, popularly known as 'War Buses' to the neighbouring country of Kenya, South-Africa and European countries.

Vice-President, Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal, recently presented the company with, not one but two 'Presidential Manufacturer of the Year' awards, issued annually by the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI), this being the first time that Hanspaul won the accolade.

Group Managing Director, Mr Satbir Hanspaul, expressed gratitude to the CTI and the government of Tanzania for recognising efforts of his company.

Hanspaul Automech Limited, which manufacture the war buses won in the 'Metal and Metal Works' category while its sister company, Hanspaul & Sons Limited scooped the award in 'Building and Construction' category.

"Many people will not believe that countries that have car-making factories such as South Africa and those in Europe are now being compelled to buy vehicles from Tanzania, but they are doing just that," said Mr Satbir.

He explained that the specially designed 'War Bus' structures remain to be Tanzanian innovation which other countries find interesting, that is why they keep ordering the safari trucks from Arusha.

"And to make sure that some clever persons out there do not imitate the fabrications, we change the designs and specifications every two or three months so that whatever comes out of our factory lines remain innovative, fresh and out of reach," boasted the HAL company director.

Previously Toyota Motors Company of Japan recognised Hanspaul Automechs Limited (HAL) as preferred Conversion Company permitted to build the so-called 'war buses' Winnebago models on top of its Land-Cruiser series 70 chassis.

The elongated safari vehicles whose idea was hatched in Arusha have now become an international sensation such that many countries have started ordering them from Tanzania.

While Kenya, Uganda and South Africa import the 'War Buses' from Arusha to use as their Safari vehicles to ferry tourists into national parks, overseas countries are reportedly buying the specially designed trucks to be used in the armed forces there.

Depending on preference, Hanspaul Automechs, which operates from the Industrial Area of Themi Hills (Njiro), manufacture the 'war buses' on Toyota, Nissan and Land-Rover frames. The works are done with specially automated robotic machines inside factory lines that look like any other vehicle manufacturing set up in Japan.

Group Chief Executive, Mr Kamaljit Hanspaul, who founded the company explained that key to its success was the firm's adherence to quality and dedication to innovations.

HAL assembly lines can produce between 30 and 35 'war buses' in a month but the factory manufacture the Winnebago models by order. "Our market is highly dependent on the tourism industry but this year 2015 has started slowly due to the industry slump," stated Mr Hanspaul.