MAC Ghana launches new Chevrolet cruze

MAC Ghana, exclusive dealers for General Motors and Isuzu, has officially launched the 2016 model of Chevrolet Cruze onto the Ghanaian market.

According to the Country Manager of Mac Ghana, Mr Raman Malhotra, the move is intended to give Ghanaians the opportunity to experience the new brand of Chevrolet salon car which has become the toast of many in the last few years.

Impact of the taxes on foreign firms

Mr Malhotra said foreign companies who had their branches in Ghana were feeling the impact of recent taxes introduced by the government.

According to him, most companies had no other option than to pass on some of the increase to customers.

He said the company was doing well and was poised to maximise its margins.

Touching on the efficiency of the new car, Mr Malhotra stated that the Cruze brand had penetrated the USA and Asian market, hence would do same in Ghana.

He pointed out that the car had a special feature that does not require a key to start the ignition.

Government concerned 

A Minister of State at the Presidency, Mr Akwasi Oppong Fosu, encouraged investors in the automobile industry to invest in Ghana.

He gave assured that the government was creating an enabling environment to urge investors to invest in the industry.

Vehicle market in Ghana

Last year, sales of brand new vehicles went up by 31.3 per cent to 8,201 units, according to data from the Ghana Automobile Dealers Association (GADA).

Although the figure is an improvement on last year’s numbers, which were 6,248 units, it is still below the 13,123 units sold in 2012.

After peaking in 2012, brand new vehicle sales by the GADA, a group of about 30 automobile companies in the country, have been dropping, mainly as a result of dampened consumer sentiments, declining economic fortunes and the growing influence of ‘grey importers’ in the vehicle retail business.

Last year’s increment is, however, heartwarming for the dealers, given that it came on the back of dwindling consumer sentiments and dampened economic growth which were inspired mostly by the energy crisis and deteriorating currency depreciation within the period.