“Karenjy continues its mission: to promote local expertise, generate jobs, and demonstrate that it is possible to design and produce a vehicle in Madagascar,” explains Tesa, a company representative. Relaunched in 2016 by Le Relais Madagascar, a socio-economic enterprise, through its Soatao factory, the brand now claims nearly eighty-five vehicles produced and intends to continue promoting local industrial know-how.
After a long interruption in its activities since the 1990s, Karenjy is experiencing a resurgence. Since then, each vehicle has been assembled by hand in Fianarantsoa according to the specific needs of customers. The model currently marketed is the Mazana II, a vehicle inspired by 4x4s and adapted to the conditions of Malagasy roads. Equipped with a 112-horsepower diesel engine meeting Euro IV standards, it has an average fuel consumption of approximately seven liters per 100 kilometers, according to users. Its fiberglass body provides lightness and customization possibilities.
Unlike industrial manufacturers, Karenjy does not rely on mass production. The manufacturing lead time generally varies between two and three months. Buyers can customize various elements of the vehicle, from the upholstery to the exterior color, as well as specific equipment.
This artisanal production method partly explains its pricing. The base version of the Mazana II starts at 164 million ariary. For the company, the value of the vehicle lies as much in its local design as in its performance.
Karenjy also holds a special place in Malagasy industrial history. The brand notably designed the vehicle that transported Pope John Paul II during his visit to Madagascar in 1989. 30 years later, a model specially created by the teams in Fianarantsoa was also used during Pope Francis’s visit in 2019.
Between 2022 and 2024, the company also committed to the development of an electric vehicle with the E-Mazana prototype. However, this project has been put on hold to focus resources on the Mazana II, which is considered more adapted to current market realities.
Hasina Giovanni
Captured & Published at: 2026-06-18 22:00:03 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/06/secteur-automobile-karenjy-regagne-du.html