Imperial Motors Zambia, part of Motus Africa, has added UD Trucks to its dealership offering following an official launch in Lusaka on 1 October. The brand will be represented at three operational locations in Lusaka, Kitwe and Solwezi.
More than 90 guests attended the launch at the Imperial Motors Zambia facility on Kafue Road in Lusaka. They included customers, industry stakeholders, media representatives and senior leadership from UD Trucks and Motus Africa. Fredrick Mwalusaka, Permanent Secretary at Zambia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics, was the Guest of Honour and took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Imperial Motors Zambia brings 12 years of experience in the Zambian automotive market to the arrangement. UD Trucks joins an existing portfolio that includes Nissan, Omoda and Jaecoo. Tim Jaques, Chairman of Imperial Motors Zambia and CEO of Motus Africa, said the addition builds on that portfolio and reflects the dealership’s ambition to broaden its offering while continuing to develop its facilities, people and customer service capabilities.
The Zambian launch follows the introduction of UD Trucks in Malawi in 2025, also through Motus Africa. Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director of UD Trucks Southern Africa, described the local partner as a base for the brand in the country.
“Zambia is an important market, and our partnership with Imperial Motors Zambia provides a strong foundation for building the UD Trucks brand locally,” he says.
The two companies describe their approach as a total transport solutions offering, covering the full operating life of a vehicle. That runs from product selection and acquisition to maintenance, servicing and ongoing operational support. The target customers work in mining, agriculture, construction, logistics and distribution.
Christophe Henning, General Manager of Imperial Motors Zambia, says the dealership’s responsibility does not end at the point of sale.
“We recognise that our responsibility extends well beyond the initial vehicle purchase. Customers need dependable products, access to genuine parts, skilled technicians and professional aftersales support throughout their vehicles’ operating lives,” he says.
Graham Kolm, SSA Markets General Manager: Trucks Southern Africa, spoke about what a truck means to the businesses that run them. “For businesses operating in demanding industries, a truck is much more than a vehicle. It is a critical business asset, and its performance, availability and operating costs directly influence productivity and profitability.”
Over the next three to five years, Imperial Motors Zambia aims to expand its UD Trucks customer base and strengthen its market position. It also plans to keep investing in facilities, technical expertise and aftersales capabilities as customer needs change.
In his address at the launch, Fredrick Mwalusaka spoke about the role of transport and logistics in Zambia’s economic development. He pointed to trade and to industries such as agriculture, mining and manufacturing. He also spoke about the country’s potential to strengthen its position as a regional transport and logistics hub.
For UD Trucks Southern Africa, the Zambian dealership network forms part of a wider plan to build a stronger regional presence. Imperial Motors Zambia now has the three sites, the staff and the aftersales commitments in place to begin that work, and its progress against its three-to-five-year targets will show how the arrangement develops.
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