Autochek Ghana set ambitious dealership target
Autochek, an automotive startup that combines technology and data to create a single marketplace for car sales, car loans and car repairs, has set an ambitious target to increase its dealership from 300 to about 1,000 across the country, by the end of the year.
The move according to the company is part of an expansion drive and makes its services available to more clients.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghanaian Times, Yvonne Ahile, Human Resource and Business Compliance Manager, Autotchek Ghana, said in Accra alone, the company, which had more than 20,000 vehicles on its platform, was seeking to board more than 500 dealers onto its platform.
“What we are looking out for at Autochek is to get a lot more dealers on our platform, more financing partners to make it easy for customers to get the cars they want at attractive interest rates,” she said.
She said the company would leverage its partnership with various organisations including Automobile Dealers Union, Ghana (ADUG) and others to execute the expansion drive.
Ms Ahile said it would also use enhanced marketing strategies to increase its dealership and customers by linking patrons to financial partners and account managers to help address concerns and guide the application process.
Touching on its operations and partnerships, she said the company was working to bring onboard more banks onto the platform.
On the benefits of dealing with Autochek, she said, customers enjoy zero per cent down payment from some of the partner banks offered by some banks and the rigorous checks conducted on the vehicles to ensure that customers get value for money.
“Consumers can buy cars and access car loans via the Autochek app or website, knowing that every listed car has undergone a 150-point inspection process. The inspection service can also be used for cars outside the Autochek network,” she said.
On her view on Ghana’s automobile industry, she said, “We are very happy about the developments in the country’s automobile industry. The coming in of global giants in the country makes the outlook very bright.”
Ghana’s automotive industry has experienced significant change as a result of the 2019 Ghana Automotive Development Policy which aims to attract investment into the industry, encourage local manufacturing and make affordable vehicles more readily available.
With more cars being built locally, there is an opportunity to create more jobs and improve technical expertise in the automotive industry in Ghana and across Africa.
“The automotive industry in Ghana is one of the most advanced in Africa but there is still some work to be done, especially with regards to the day-to-day experience for consumers, dealers and workshops,” she said.
She cited access to finance, availability of after-sales support, pricing differences and standardisation as some of the challenges confronting the automobile industry in Ghana.
BY DAVID ADADEVOH
