The Kenyan team, comprising service technicians Wambui and Paul Mwangi, finished second out of 34 teams at the 21st I-1 Grand Prix held in Tokyo, Japan.

The Isuzu East Africa technical and aftersales team celebrates at the I-1 Grand Prix alongside Isao Wada, executive deputy managing director & board member, and Julius Mwangi, director, aftersales, leasing & channel development and other delegates/ HANDOUT

Isuzu East Africa has secured its first silver medal at the global ISUZU World Technical Competition, with Kenyan technician Martha Njeri Wambui making history as the first woman worldwide to compete in the contest.

The team was guided by coach Martin Mwangi, who was participating in the global competition for the first time in that capacity.

Japan’s Isuzu Motor Syutoken Co Ltd won the gold medal, while Thailand’s Tri Petch Isuzu Sales Co Ltd, the defending champion, took bronze. Kenya finished ahead of Thailand and Australia, which had previously placed third.

The silver-medal finish marks Isuzu East Africa’s best performance at the competition, highlighting the technical capabilities of Kenyan automotive professionals against international service standards.

Wambui’s participation also marked a milestone for women in the automotive industry, traditionally dominated by men, offering a prominent example of female representation in vehicle maintenance and engineering.

Organised by Isuzu Motors Limited under the theme “Bridge the Skills. Keep the World Running,” the competition brings together technical teams from across the world to test their diagnostic, maintenance and problem-solving skills.

First held on November 15, 2006, the I-1 Grand Prix has developed into an international platform for benchmarking technical expertise and promoting service excellence across the Isuzu network.

The Kenyan team's performance underscores the importance of technical training, practical expertise and teamwork in maintaining increasingly sophisticated commercial vehicles.

For the transport and logistics industry, effective vehicle maintenance is critical to reducing downtime, controlling operating costs and ensuring reliable delivery of goods and services.

The achievement comes as Isuzu East Africa also received international recognition for its aftersales operations, demonstrating the company's performance in supporting customers beyond vehicle sales.

Double Star recognition for aftersales performance

Isuzu East Africa earned Double Star recognition at the 2026 Aftersales Awards, placing it among only eight companies out of 66 participants worldwide to attain the distinction.

A total of 24 companies received star recognition in the awards, which assess performance in supporting customers and maintaining vehicle reliability.

Isuzu East Africa recorded an overall assessment score of 87 per cent, including 97.5 per cent in maximising vehicle uptime and 100 per cent in legal compliance.

The two achievements highlight complementary aspects of the company's operations: the technical proficiency of its service personnel and the systems supporting customers throughout their vehicle ownership journey.

Reliable aftersales support is particularly important for commercial vehicle operators, whose businesses depend on keeping trucks, buses and other vehicles on the road.

Breakdowns can disrupt delivery schedules, increase maintenance costs and reduce revenue for transporters, making timely servicing and effective fault diagnosis essential to business continuity.

The company's performance at the global competition and in the aftersales assessment highlights the role of technical skills and service standards in supporting Kenya's transport and logistics sector.