Audi Colombo opens new showroom with big plans for 15% growth in 2014

Friday, 13 December 2013 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Continued permit usage will spur sales in luxury Audi brand due to better spec cars in range
Rs. 700 m Audi office and showroom in the pipeline

By David Ebert Local Audi dealer Senok Automobiles launched its state-of-the-art, super luxury Audi Colombo Showroom located on R.A. De Mel Mawatha on Wednesday, 11 December. The new showroom will look to redefine sophistication and craftsmanship with all aspects designed and sourced to match global

Audi dealership standards. Epitomising modern European sophistication with clean lines and open spaces in an uncluttered interior, the showroom will look to pamper customers with efficient service and a luxury setting, for that all important decision of which Audi you would want to take home. Replete with tones of white, accentuated with chic ultramodern furnishings, the showroom also boasts a special handing over room, where customers first meet their brand new Audi. It is a relationship that Audi holds sacred with its reputation for making large reliable, powerful and most importantly reliable vehicles that more often than not remain one-owner cars. Speaking at the launch Senok Automobile Ltd. Director Marketing Rajieve Fernando said: “The new showroom is a testimony to Senok’s capabilities and versatility in adapting to the latest standards. Built to reflect the brand values of Audi, the new showroom is true to the representations of Audi as an upscale brand.” Fernando revealed that sales Audi cars in Sri Lanka have been on a steady rise in the recent past and revealed that the company

expects a confident 15% rise in car sales in the coming year attributed mainly to the increase in permit usage. “The use of permits is still continuing and our offerings such as the A6, which is a fantastic spec car if you compare it with its competitors and this includes the A4 and the SUVs too. We did move some good decent numbers this year, so we feel with the permits continuing, we are confident of good numbers next year as well.” Senok also has plans for a new extension to their workshop as well as development on a new Audi office and showroom with a Rs. 700 million investment which is due to be completed in five years. Fernando also revealed that the company has spent considerable time strengthening the Audi workshop capabilities with engineers sent overseas for further specialised training and train the trainer programs as well and extensive certification and inspection visits by engineers from Audi AG Germany. Fernando added that due to the high reliability of the cars its existing customers, “not only drive the cars but drive the brand and also sell for us in a way”. The showroom will display Audi’s flagship A8 model, the A6, the A4 sedans, the Q3, Q5 and Q7, and also will look forward to the new A3 next year of which the left hand drive model is already on sale in Europe. Senok has already sold over 200 Audis in Sri Lanka this year, in addition to the 1000 + vehicles already plying the roads. Globally Audi has committed itself to gaining the No. 1 position in global luxury vehicle sales in the next two years; a task which will find it going head-to-head with current No. 1 and German compatriot BMW. Pix by Upul Abayasekara