While people flock to the coastal cities to take advantage of the summer months, automotive companies are also looking to take advantage of the summer season to promote their cars and after-sales services.
Daily News Egypt is taking a look at the direction automotive companies are moving in, including Kia, Toyota, BMW, Renault, and Nissan. Many automotive companies are focusing on the North Coast to be a major venue for advertising their cars, and to be a centre for promoting their after-sales services.
Many companies have sought to compete by creating new techniques to display their latest models for the Egyptian market.
Kia
EIM Group, the distributor of Kia Motors in Egypt, displayed its car Cerato 2017 this year with its new look, which was announced days prior to its reveal. The car was put on display along the sea, surrounded by beach goers, who were offered special discounts on the car booking in the North Coast.
Displaying the car in a new way, EIM Group put the Cerato 2017 on a glass pick-up truck, which visited different resorts along the North Coast.
The Cerato 2017 comes with front and rear-end lights, and a newly designed front grid, in addition to sporty 16-inch rims in a new sporty design to improve the quality of the car, making it more comfortable and satisfying all customer needs.
The model comes with a 1,600 cc engine and 130 hp, an automatic gearshift with six speeds, equipment such as 7-inch touch screens that display the rear camera’s view, videos, movies via USB, and an MP3 player via AUX, air conditioning for the rear seats, automatic welcoming lights, and LED front lights that provide clear vision.
The car’s equipment has four categories. These include front and rear glass, electric control of the mirrors, LED side-mirror signals, as well as CD, MP3, and radio. The second category comes with Bluetooth controlled from the steering wheel, sporty 16-inches rims, an ABS brakes’ system—to maintain the car passengers’ safety under any conditions—as well as two airbags for the driver and the front passenger.
The third category comes with an electric roof, front LED lights, and cruise control controlled from the steering wheel.
The fourth category comes with a front and rear corner sensor, a 7-inch touch screen that displays the rear camera’s view, and the ability to manage and turn off the engine without a key.
Toyota
Toyota Egypt provided discounts of up to 10% on spare-parts and workmanship fees for car maintenance in the North Coast, Marina area gate 2, and in Smouha, Alexandria.
The company is preparing to unveil its Toyota Corolla 2017 model, which will have a whole new look compared to the previous editions.
The new Toyota Corolla is being introduced to the Egyptian market with a new look, but has the same engine. It features new safety measures, including alarm systems added to the new model—to go off when the car leaves the track and before collision— and xenon front lights.
Corolla’s updates are modest and appear mainly at the front through the new LED lights.
The car is supplied with newly designed rear LED lights with chrome finish. The only addition is a line that connects the rear lights manufactured from chrome metal.
As for the car sides, they are completely different, given that the door handles are fully manufactured of chrome. Corolla is available in 16-inch, 17-inch, and 19-inch rims.
BMW
Bavarian Auto Group, BMW’s dealer in Egypt, has opened a service centre in the North Coast at Marina 1. This aims to serve its clients there and introduce them to the BMW X that was launched in May.
Bavaria Auto Group has launched two new models: X4 and X6, to be the latest additions to the X family in Egypt. The series is now manufactured in Egypt in 6th of October City and offered at a price 30% less than the imported cars.
Yahia Abdel Kodouss, marketing director of BMW at BAG, said that the company will showcase X4 and X6 during the Automech Formula Exhibition, adding that roughly 1,700 units of X1 have been sold, while X3 was the most successful car of the series, after introducing X5 in March 2015.
He noted that the locally manufactured models cost 30% less than their imported counterparts; whereas the X6 is offered at EGP 1.325m and the X4 at EGP 825,000.
Renault
Renault has begun to offer maintenance for its cars at Total gas station located in front of Marina 5 gate to serve clients in the North Coast.
The carmaker offered three new models during the Automech Formula last year. These models were Lodgy (7-passenger), KADJAR 1,200 Turbo, and the new Renault Megan.
General manager of Renault Egypt Rami Gad had previously noted that Renault was able to boost its sales in the Egyptian market over the past three years, becoming the number one selling brand among European models in Egypt.
He said that the expected sales volume in the coming years is stipulated to the market situation and the US dollar crisis taking hold in the country.
“If the US currency is made available, sales, of course, would improve,” he added.
Nissan
Nissan launched its summer application, Nissan EG, to assist its clients with booking maintenance anywhere and anytime.
As for the manufacturer’s cars, Nissan has recently launched the all-new locally-manufactured Nissan Sentra for the first time at a price ranging between EGP 139,900 and EGP 149,900. The new price is EGP 20,000 less than that of the same imported model.
Nissan’s goal is to compete with its rival, Toyota, especially the Corolla model, as both cars come very similar in design, class, and specifications.
Mitsubishi
The Japanese carmaker has begun to market its SUVs Pajero and Outlander.
The newest brand models are the Lancer EX—which is the second best selling Japanese model in Egypt—following Nissan Sunny, with 3,761 units worth EGP 658m.
Geely
Geely put up safety signs for the owners of its models while on the road. The signs also highlight the company’s service centre GB Auto, its exclusive dealership in Egypt.
Geely is now offering the Emgrand 7, Pandino, and X Pandino. The US dollar shortage has forced Geely to stop importing the Pandino and X Pandino.
Competition in Chinese model sales in Egypt has been limited in 2016 between Geely and Chery, after Chery joined GB Auto as well.
Geely Emgrand 7 was able to seize back the lead in Chinese car sales in Egypt, having sold 1,790 units worth EGP 185m. Chery Tiggo was ousted to second place with sales of 1,781 units worth EGP 279m.
