of a dealership agreement with Premier Auto Services (PAS) that paved way
for the return of Land Rover vehicles to the country.
The deal was described as a new era for the Zimbabwe motoring industry.
Under the dealership, PAS will import and sell complete vehicles and provide
back-up service locally. Other aspects of the agreement will see the
extension of the franchise, enabling PAS to sell branded Land Rover goods in
their outlets.
This week businessdigest chief business reporter Paul Nyakazeya (PN) spoke
to PAS Business Development director Cosmas Marimo (CM) on their operations
and the motoring industry in general.
PN: Your recent acquisition of the Jaguar Land Rover franchise pre-supposes
that a number of high tech diesel and petrol-engine vehicles will be
imported. How will these vehicles cope with the fuels available in Zimbabwe
given that there is apparently no local legislation to define the octane
rating of petrol and the sulphur content of diesel?
CM: Prior to our landing the importer status, we acquired detailed
documentation from most of the reputable international oil companies
operating in Zimbabwe, on the quality of fuel available on the market. It
was concluded that the locally available fuels were within acceptable norms.
You must also agree with me that we do not produce our own fuel, but import
all our fuels either through Mozambique or South Africa. On the other hand,
these are very robust engines and our advice to customers is to carry out
regular scheduled maintenance to avoid contamination.
PN: The issue of unleaded petrol is also wholly relevant as failure to use
this fuel will be detrimental to modern vehicles. How will you handle this?
CM: As a country we have made strides towards rectifying these fuel issues.
For instance we are made to believe that all the petrol coming through Beira
is unleaded and that there are mechanisms to ensure compliance. We are also
aware of government initiatives to enforce the use of unleaded fuel since
2006. High sulphur diesel has also been 'banned' in Zimbabwe.
You can clearly see that as a country we had prepared adequately for the
coming of the Jaguar. However, our discerning motorist should always be
vigilant and guard against buying low quality fuel.
PN: Will manufacturer-based warranties and service plans be available to
Zimbabwe customers?
CM: Premier Auto Services (Pvt) Limited is the only authourised / accredited
Jaguar importer in Zimbabwe and is fully authorised and capable to handle
all warranty issues.
On the other hand, I am sure you see facilities in the banking sector
opening up, credit becoming available and so on. I am sure it will not be
long before you see enough support coming through to cover service plans.
You see lease hire arrangements creeping back in already.
PN: Will the warranty be conditional on proof of use of an approved Jaguar
Land Rover service centre in the event of any claim being lodged?
CM: For any warranty claim to be valid, one has to use an accredited service
centre. These vehicles now require TLC (tender loving care) and we need to
ensure that they receive attention from properly / sufficiently equipped
facilities and trained technicians.
A service booklet is supplied with every car and authorised service centres
stamp them at each service.
PN: It was obviously a requirement that you invested in the latest
diagnostic equipment for your two new brands. Do you have the requisite
equipment and staff know-how from Jaguar Land Rover?
CM: Yes we have invested modest amounts in the infrastructure, equipment and
human capital. The latest diagnostic equipment -- Symptom Driven Diagnostic
(SDD) and Integrated Diagnostic Systems (IDS) -- have already been acquired
and being used in our workshops. Software and programmes on this equipment
are updated three times a week and we are confident that we are always
abreast of any changes or developments.
The technicians have been well trained as well as seconded to regional and
overseas dealerships. Training, of course, is on-going and all technicians
have access to internet- based training as well.
PN: What are the advantages of using this diagnostic equipment?
CM: The one upside is that this equipment is the only means of effecting any
sort of diagnosis on the vehicles. The SDD and IDS leads us to pin point
faults as well as display the faults and rectify them. What effectively was
a long process of guesswork in the past is narrowed down to a quick
resolution by using IDS and SDD.
PN: Given the relatively low volume of sales that can be expected in
Zimbabwe, how will you handle the supply of parts for the two brands?
CM: We have actually got stock on the shelf already and we are always
updating our stock fortnightly. Remember there are ageing Jaguar units in
Zimbabwe already and we have started supporting them through our workshop.
You will actually be surprised at the vehicle park in Zimbabwe; these
vehicles are not actually very few.
PN: Obviously high value parts can not be kept sitting unsold on shelves, so
what sort of delay will your customers face when parts have to be ordered
from outside?
CM: We are confident that we are building sufficient stocks of parts and
anticipating flows through the parts counter and the workshops. However, in
situations where we have to order against an enquiry, we have entered into
an arrangement with regional and overseas partners to have urgently needed
parts couriered to us within five to seven days.
PN: In the event of delays, will customers with cars under factory warranty
be offered courtesy vehicles as what commonly happens in established
markets?
CM: The Jaguar brand demands world class service, we have had to invest in
the best for the best. This is definitely one issue we are looking into as a
way to exceed our customers' expectations.
PN: Modern engines demand modern, purpose-formulated lubricants. What will
PAS (Premier Auto Services) be doing to comply with manufacturer specs in
this regard?
CM: I am glad that you asked this question and I know it is mainly targeted
at the 5,0l supercharged engines. Yes we have imported the special
lubricants for these high-performance engines. The overseas international
suppliers of these lubricants are represented here in Zimbabwe and
procurement is now within arms' reach.
By Paul Nyakazeya
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