Universal Motors Limited exhibits Ghana assembled Volkswagen cars
Universal Motors Limited, sole authorised distributors of Volkswagen cars in Ghana, have showcased the full model range of the Volkswagen cars assembled locally.
The model range which was on display at the Labadi Beach hotel included the Polo hatchback, Passat, Tiguan, Teramont and the Amarok Pick-up.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Ghana, Jefferey Peprah, expressed his excitement of a promising future with the assembling in full flight.
“The new Volkswagen assembly plant in Ghana would lead to a vibrant used car industry in three years. The cars would change the outlook of the used car industry, providing a fresh and endless avenue for the industry to grow.
“The high resale value of our cars, coupled with the availability of certified aftersales service, would give a new impetus to the Ghanaian used car industry, creating new job opportunities for many”, he said beaming.
The German Ambassador to Ghana, Christoph Reztlaff, also shared his admiration for the speedy, yet professional manner in which the assembly plant was pulled off.
“I had my doubts when I was told of this project. Can Volkswagen build an assembly plant in Ghana? Can this project be executed? I wondered.”
He indicated that his doubts were thoroughly dispelled by the swift and professional collaboration between the key players.
On his part, CEO of Universal Motors Limited, Subhi Accad, pledged his organisation’s commitment to maintaining the most stringent and highest standards of German engineering in the processes of assembling the cars.
“Our technicians have received the best training from the Volkswagen Team in South Africa. And our Ghanaian team have been trained and certified for every single model out of the five present here.
“We will always strive to deliver quality products, assembled with the Ghanaian pride and workmanship for our customers,” he further assured.
The occasion was graced by state dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, business executives and lovers of the Volkswagen brand.
It would be recalled that Volkswagen contracted Universal Motors Limited to begin operating phase 1 of an assembly plant in Ghana.
Since the Volkswagen Assembly plant was launched in August last year, prospective customers have been keen to catch a full glimpse of the model range of the German brand.
The assembly plant, which was launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in August last year, has since seen several models being released.
Volkswagen is among three automobile companies that signed agreements with the government to establish vehicle assembly plants in the country.
The MoUs with the auto giants followed the government’s announcement of the Ghana Automotive Manufacturing Development Programme (GAMDP), which the President Nana Akufo-Addo first administration hoped would, among other things, generate high-quality skilled jobs in manufacturing, offer an import substitution and export promotion to improve the balance of payment.