ROTIMI ASHER
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s average Nigerian auto buyers find it difficult to pay for new vehicles, due to recession, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), auto assemblers and sole distributor Toyota products in Nigeria, has resolved to focus on after sales as a way of keeping and satisfying its existing customers.
The company’s Managing Director, Mr Kunle Ade-Ojo, revealed this recently during a media briefing at TNL headquarters in Lekki, Lagos.
”We will be focusing more than ever on after sales, because people are going to be using their vehicles much longer,” he said. “The prices of vehicles have doubled as a result of difficulty in securing foreign exchange. This has made it difficult to buy brand new vehicles.
” We have carried out survey on some of our corporate customers. In the past, most of them will change their vehicles every four years. Some are looking at changing their vehicles between six and eight years now considering the cost of buying brand new vehicles.”
Ade-Ojo stressed that, while there is going to be major challenge about selling brand new vehicles in 2017, for TNL, there will be an opportunity in the after sales segment.
”Like you may know,” he pointed out, ” we are not just a vehicle selling organization, we are also in the business of maintaining those vehicles, which is why our major focuses in 2017 is on the after sales service aspect of the business.”
” We are not going to be looking at getting new clients. If they come, yes we will take them. I say that not because we do not want business. The products are not there, they are not enough. Even with what you have, the demand is higher than what is available. Our focus will be to ensure that our customers are kept; we will be working with them to ensure we do not lose them.’
”This is because a new customer is harder to get than somebody who is already loyal to you. Our main focus will be to retain them while on the side trying to get new customers. 80% of our energy will be focused on ensuring that the ones we have are satisfied.”
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