Amtec targets 15pc market share

AMTEC Motors says it expects its share of the country’s new vehicle market to be around 15 percent this year.

Managing director Lucas Taruvinga told The Herald Business that the company has been making moves to extend its dealerships across the country.

“We anticipate Zimbabwe’s total new vehicle market share (all brands) to be around 3 000 for the year, and we expect to take 15 percent of that market.”

Amtec has Nissan and Mazda dealerships and recently started retailing of BAIC vehicles, which are assembled locally by Willowvale Motor Industries.

“We are looking to expand to areas like Victoria Falls, Masvingo, Chinhoyi and Chiredzi. In certain cases we will start by setting up satellite facilities before brick-and-mortar establishments. Within the next three years we should have covered the indicated areas,” he said.

Currently Amtec is the only dealer in Zimbabwe who has a Nissan Accredited Master Technician overseeing their technical and training requirements.

The Nissan Accredited Master Technician level is one of the highest automobile training programmes conducted by vehicle manufacturers. With four dealerships in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare, Amtec is also freshening up its brand by sprucing up facilities countrywide.

“But for Nissan per se, we are not the only dealer in the country, there are about four Nissan dealerships in the country, and as Amtec we should have around 30 percent of that particular market share,” said Mr Taruvinga.

Mr Taruvinga said the company has been able to aggressively grow its brand through restructuring internal business processes, including leveraging on tie-ups with financial institutions that provide retail finance.

On Tuesday evening, Amtec unveiled the all new Nissan X-Trail.

The latest X-Trail is styled similarly to the smaller Qashqai, but it still has a lot to offer the large SUV class. Although it’s a recent crossover model, the X-Trail is easily one of the most practical SUVs on the local market, with first-rate passenger room and the option of seven seats.

The X-Trail’s cabin is similar to the Qashqai’s, too. But even better, it is bursting with equipment on top-spec models.

Amtec management said the all-new X-Trail is a vehicle for middle-management, and the dealership has supply arrangements with a number of companies and Government institutions.