In an effort to address recurring after-sales challenges communicated by its customers and other stakeholders through the dealership’s feedback mechanism, Coscharis Motors, one of the two franchisee’s for the Ford brand in the country in collaboration with Ford sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) last week in Lagos launched what it called Certified Parts Wholesale Dealer (CPWD) network.
Giving insight the CPWD event, with the theme; “Safety on our roads- Imperative of Genuine Spare Parts,” Cosmas Maduka, chairman of Coscharis Group, who was represented by Cosmas Maduka Jnr, the executive director, special duties of the company, said that the background to the challenge is that Ford has gained wide acceptance in the Nigerian automobile market leading to the rapid increase in demand for the brand.
With increase in sales, he noted, came consequent increase in demand for after-sales services and spare parts. “Some of the customers he mentioned live in or operate their businesses in remote areas of the country and as such, do not have easy access to our facilities whenever they have issues bothering on spare parts, lubricants and other products and services.”
Some of their people, he regretted, end up patronising unscrupulous spare parts dealers who specialise in selling counterfeit and sub-standard spare parts and lubricants to unsuspecting members of the public. The use of counterfeit products has exposed some motorists to untold and avoidable hazards including breakdowns, parts failure, accidents and sometimes leads to loss of property and or lives.
To tackle the menace, Coscharis Motors had in the recent past invested a great deal in after-sales facilities, setting up ultra-modern service centres. It also opened the Quick Service Centres and Quick Lane facilities manned by factory trained and certified technicians in strategic locations across the country.
The company boss representative added that, “We have come to the understanding going by the rate at which the brand is growing in our market, that we cannot provide all the after-sales needs all by ourselves.” This gave rise to collaborating with spare-parts dealers in the market to make Ford Motorcraft spare-parts to customers who may have need for parts from time to time.
After delivering a speech on the theme of the event titled, “Safety on our roads- Imperative of Genuine Spare Parts,” Chidiebere Nkwonta, FRSC sector commander for Lagos State, reminded the Ford spare-parts dealers and the audience of the dangers of using fake spare parts and the consequent loss of human lives emanating from this.
Nkwonta said the FRSC will always avail its services to Coscharis Ford at anytime and for whatever purposes that will advance the campaign against fake and counterfeit spare-parts in its campaign. The launch of CPWD witnessed a raffle won by a Ford dealer. He is entitled to 15 percent on any spare parts bought on or before first week of next month. Guests were conducted on a tour of the workshop and after-sales facility by Felix Mehan, brand manager of Coscharis Ford.
