FAW dealership to create jobs, improve transportation

Imperial Motors Malawi Limited, a subsidiary of South African-based Imperial Holdings Limited, has launched FAW dealership in Malawi, with a promise to improve transportation solutions and create jobs.

The dealership will be managed by Associated Motor Holdings (AMH) Africa, which operates as a subsidiary of Imperial Holdings Limited.

FAW Group Corporation is a Chinese State-owned automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Changchun, Jilin, China and manufactures buses, light, medium and heavy-duty trucks and auto parts.

Speaking during the launch in Blantyre on Thursday, AMH Africa managing director Tim Jaques said the dealership will not only be in infrastructure, but also in employment, training, people development, social initiatives and supply of quality products and after sales service.

He said: “We want to ensure world class service to our Malawian customers. So, in joint collaboration with FAW, we intend on using our combined capabilities to offer our customers in Malawi world class products and services like we do in all our markets.”

In his remarks, Imperial Motors Malawi managing director Jabulani Ndabambi said they positioned their company to supply the vehicles as well as provide expert sales service through parts availability and servicing.

“We are offering a full range of trucking haulage solutions from five tonnes units to 28 tonnes tractor horses for freight and other uses, tippers and cement mixers with a warranty of 60 000 kilometres or two years,” he said.

Ndabambi said with the haulage being manufactured in South Africa, the trucks will enjoy a duty-free waiver of the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) region which will have an adverse impact on reduced prices and a minimum downtime for its clients.

FAW Vehicle Manufacturers South Africa executive director Richard Heinze Leiter said Malawian customers can buy the vehicles at prices 30 percent lower than they could have bought them from elsewhere because of the duty waiver.

Blantyre City mayor Noel Chalamanda, who was the guest of honour at the event, hailed the dealership, saying it is such type of investment that improves the state of the country and livelihood of its citizens as well as bringing global perspective of business management within its employees.

Imperial Motors has over 250 dealerships in Africa and vehicle sales of about 200 000 units per year in 40 African countries.