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Largest Honda dealer expanding
SANTAN SANTIVIMOLNAT
Sales staff mark the opening of the new Phraram 3 Honda Cars Co showroom on Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road. |
A major Honda dealer in Bangkok opened its 100-million-baht fifth showroom and after-sales service centre yesterday, making it the single largest Honda's dealership in Thailand.
Executives of Phraram 3 Honda Cars Co said the opening reflected the dealer's confidence in the automotive market despite ongoing political turmoil, inflation and skyrocketing fuel prices.The company has increased its sales target this year to 3,800 units from 3,000 units sold last year, with the Civic model commanding the lion's share.
The new showroom on Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road opposite Tesco Lotus joins four other locations at Sathu Pradit, Bang Kholaem, Phra Pradaeng and Dao Khanong.
Managing director Kiat Tangtrongsakdi said the 13-year-old company saw high potential in the new location, where a lot of condominiums, offices and other properties have been developed over the past decade. It has invested 100 million baht to build the showroom and service centre, including a car body and paint centre on 2.5 rai of land with usable space of 8,000 square metres and parking for 100 cars.
According to Mr Kiat, the new facilities have more than 20 working bays to service at least 80 cars per day, 15 bays for body and paint, and two paint shops able to serve more than 200 cars per month.
The company plans to promote the new location with a novel ''midnight test drive'' campaign from Sept 11-17 for customers who have little time during the day.
With the new facilities, Mr Kiat said the company's five locations now had bays capable of serving 430 cars per day for maintenance and 1,200 cars per month for body and paint, making it the largest Honda dealership in Thailand.
Mr Kiat said politics, interest rates and fuel prices would be the key factors deterring growth of the automobile market this year. The pickup truck market has shrunk notably because of high diesel prices but sales of small or fuel-efficient cars have done well.
Director Tana Tangtrongsakdi said the company would consider another new service centre in inner Bangkok later this year to serve the increasing number of Honda cars.
''We will invest a little bit to renovate the old service centre with only 10 bays which has been abandoned by a dealer of another car brand,'' said Mr Tana.
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