Kia Motors to expand vehicle service facilities with the launch of Sorento
View(s):Kia Motors (Lanka) Ltd, recently declared ‘Asia’s Distributor of Distinction’ of Korea’s KIA vehicles, is to expand its vehicle service facilities with setting up of a fully-fledged logistics centre on a 3.5 acre site in Malabe at a cost of Rs.600 million, company officials said.
Korean Ambassador Jongmoon Choi inspects a Sorento
KIA Motors had options on several new sites for service facilities to support the increased flow of KIA vehicles in to the country, Mahen Thambiah, Managing Director of KIA Motors (Lanka) Ltd told the Business Times on the sidelines of a ceremony held in Colombo recently to celebrate the ‘Distributor of Distinction’ award won by the company. The vehicle service infrastructure expansion plan would be in two stages and represents a significant value addition for KIA customers in Sri Lanka, he said.
The company is also investing in branches and service centres in Malabe, Matara, Kurunegala and in future it will enter Kandy to accommodate their growing customers.He also disclosed that they intent to open their first franchise operation in a 1.5 acre land on the Colombo-Kurunegala main road in Kurunegala, which is a Rs 70 million investment.
That would also include a service centre and showroom, he said, adding that they hope to finish both these projects by the first quarter of 2014.
However, he noted that the vehicle sales and imports have come down in the country due to the increase in taxes on vehicles but KIA Motors (Lanka) Ltd is depending on tax slashed government permits issued to state sector top officials who sell the vehicle permits at a high price.
“Kia’s approach of creating design-driven vehicles with all the advances of technology, performance, features and comfort are exemplified in the 2013 model Sorento,” said Mr. Thambiah. There was great demand for all models including the 2011 KIA Optima luxury sedan previewed in Colombo in May. Two new models, the new Rio mid-sized hatchback and the five-door compact Picanto, are eagerly awaited by a fast-expanding KIA fan base, he disclosed.
In fact some customers are still on the waiting list to buy the five-door compact Picanto, he noted.
More than 300 guests including sports celebrities were present at the preview of the 2013 model Sorento at the Oak Room of the Cinnamon Grand hotel in Colombo.
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