Making their presence felt
WHEN it comes to cars, it is not just a man's world. In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad (“Cycle & Carriage Bintang”), Malaysia’s largest authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer network, celebrates the role that women play in society and organisations.
There is a growing presence of women in the automotive industry as customers or employees.
Cycle & Carriage Bintang CEO Wilfrid Foo said: “Our customer profile is diverse. To understand and meet our different customer needs, we believe in the diversity of our employees.
“This gives us the different perspectives that enable us to deliver first class service.”
He added, “In automotive, where is commonly considered a ‘man’s world’, women actually make up 30% of Cycle & Carriage Bintang’s workforce nationwide.
“We are honoured to share that we have a highly qualified and certified female technician within our after-sales network.
“This is indeed encouraging, attesting to changing stereotypes and inspiring more women to pursue careers in automotive.”
Female apprentice mechanic at Cycle & Carriage Bintang Nur ‘Izzah ‘Atiqah Ahmad is a testament of the company’s diverse workforce.
Sharing her experience, ‘Izzah said, “I have always been curious about repairing cars after seeing many of my male family members working in the industry.
“On one occasion, I saw a stalled vehicle by the side of the road and stopped to help. I was pleased to find I was able to identify and fix the problem. I believe that women can accomplish anything with passion and hard work.”
The increasing number of women in the workforce means greater skills, self-confidence and financial stability.
The total income tax paid by women has grown by 18.4% between 2013 and 2015.
This indicates more women joining the workforce and consequently, with higher disposable incomes and purchasing power.
Correspondingly, credit card spending by women increased by 125% over the last five years compared to a 71% rise in credit card spending by men for the same period.
Cycle & Carriage Bintang sees a similar trend in its ownership database, with a steady increase in female buyers of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Cycle & Carriage Bintang is partnering with The Star Media Group for The Star’s Women’s Fiesta.
Cycle & Carriage Bintang will be featuring fascinating MercedesBenz vehicles and merchandise curated to celebrate women.
There will also be a special session presented by MercedesBenz Malaysia’s general manager for marketing passenger cars Elaine Hew, on a signature platform dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women to unleash their best called “She’s Mercedes”.
It is a canvas of an “Inspiration Circle”, where women can connect and exchange ideas, share experiences and learn from one another — a hub for sparking conversation, offering new perspectives and supporting ambitions.
Listed on Bursa Malaysia, Cycle & Carriage Bintang has the largest Mercedes-Benz motor vehicles dealer network in Malaysia.
Operating 12 outlets across the country, it provides high quality retail and after-sales service.
■ For details, look out for the advertisement in this StarSpecial.