Monday, September 24, 2007 Auto dealer constructs showroom, offices amid growing Cebu market
AN automotive dealer is investing in a multi-million peso showroom in Cebu to cater to its growing number of customers.
Mazda Cebu showroom near SM City Cebu at the north reclamation area in Cebu City is 95 percent finished, said branch general manager Carlos Yu Abellanosa, adding that the company will be moving in by the end of the month.
At present, Mazda Cebu has its office and showroom at the groundfloor of the Gaisano Countrymall in Banilad, Cebu City.
“It will be the only car dealer showroom that’s near a mall, which is an advantage,” Abellanosa said.
He said with completion of the new showroom, Mazda will provide car service to shuttle customers between SM City and its new office.
The showroom, which will house six to eight of Mazda’s latest car models, will have a floor area of 2,000 square meters. It will rise on the company’s two-hectare property at the north reclamation area.
Acceptance
Apart from the showroom, the Mazda building will also house a service and parts center that can service 10 to 12 units per day.
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, Abellanosa said he has observed a growing acceptance of Mazda, a Japanese brand, in the province as well as in Bohol, Davao and Leyte.
This is evident in the seven to eight Mazda cars sold every month, he said.
Among the company’s popular models are the latest Mazda 3 sedan and the Mazda Tribute, a smaller type of sport utility vehicle (SUV).
Instead of bulky-looking vehicles, Abellanosa said motorists nowadays prefer buying smaller SUVs because of the narrow roads in Cebu and the “not-so-good road conditions.”
He also attributes the popularity of Mazda 3 and Mazda Tribute to their competitive prices.
Mazda 3 is priced between P700,000 and P1 million while the Mazda Tribute has a price tag of about P1.17 million.
Because of their sporty look, both cars are targeted for the middle-income market and young professionals, Abellanosa said.
Mazda 3, in particular, features a tiptronic system that allows both automatic and manual transmissions, making it comfortable for drivers and ensures better fuel efficiency.
Abellanosa also said Maz-da will introduce seven new car models in the next three years.
Mazda Philippines has five dealerships nationwide — four in Metro Manila and one in Cebu.
Its assembly plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna exports car parts to major Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. (MMM)
