Business / Local
Japanese car dealer opens branch in Bulawayo
31 May 2015 at 08:45hrs | Views
SBT country manager Mr Syun Sawaki with some of the Bulawayo office staff
A LEADING Japanese car dealer, SBT Global Car Exporter, has spread its wings to Bulawayo as it seeks to tap into the growing market of people seeking to buy Japanese cars from the southern parts of the country.
This brings the number of SBT branches in the country to two after the one in Harare which was opened over 10 months ago.
In interview on Thursday, company country manager Mr Syun Sawaki said the decision to open a branch was reached after realising that there was a high demand for cars in the southern part of the country.
"Upon realising that over 40 percent of clients we have dealt with so far are from Bulawayo and the surrounding areas we saw it prudent that we bring our services to the people by opening a new branch in the city," Mr Sawaki said.
He said the opening of an office closer to the people was the company's way of appreciating customers for the trust and support they had shown to his company.
The new office is expected to cut the cost and hassles of procuring cars from Harare as clients will be collecting their vehicles at the Bulawayo office.
The new branch has also created 12 job opportunities.
Mr Sawaki said car dealing business in Zimbabwe was lucrative especially among the youths and expressed optimism that in the next 10 years the country would be a leading market for Japanese cars.
"Zimbabwe is a good market for us and if the current economic stability is to be maintained this country will be Africa's leading market for Japanese cars," said Mr Sawaki.
At the moment Kenya, which buys more than 7 000 cars every month, is SBT's leading market in Africa.
The Harare branch is handling an average of 400 cars a month.
"This is a fair and pleasing performance for a company which has been operating in the country for just 10 months," he said.
However, Mr Sawaki expressed worry over the increase in the number of unscrupulous car dealers who masquerade as SBT agents while defrauding clients of their hard earned cash.
"I am aware of the presence of bogus dealers who misrepresent SBT and the opening of this office will bring to an end their dirty tricks," he said.
He also advised prospective car seekers to avoid internet buying as this exposed them to fake websites in Japan.
This brings the number of SBT branches in the country to two after the one in Harare which was opened over 10 months ago.
In interview on Thursday, company country manager Mr Syun Sawaki said the decision to open a branch was reached after realising that there was a high demand for cars in the southern part of the country.
"Upon realising that over 40 percent of clients we have dealt with so far are from Bulawayo and the surrounding areas we saw it prudent that we bring our services to the people by opening a new branch in the city," Mr Sawaki said.
He said the opening of an office closer to the people was the company's way of appreciating customers for the trust and support they had shown to his company.
The new office is expected to cut the cost and hassles of procuring cars from Harare as clients will be collecting their vehicles at the Bulawayo office.
The new branch has also created 12 job opportunities.
"Zimbabwe is a good market for us and if the current economic stability is to be maintained this country will be Africa's leading market for Japanese cars," said Mr Sawaki.
At the moment Kenya, which buys more than 7 000 cars every month, is SBT's leading market in Africa.
The Harare branch is handling an average of 400 cars a month.
"This is a fair and pleasing performance for a company which has been operating in the country for just 10 months," he said.
However, Mr Sawaki expressed worry over the increase in the number of unscrupulous car dealers who masquerade as SBT agents while defrauding clients of their hard earned cash.
"I am aware of the presence of bogus dealers who misrepresent SBT and the opening of this office will bring to an end their dirty tricks," he said.
He also advised prospective car seekers to avoid internet buying as this exposed them to fake websites in Japan.
Source - sundaynews
