| |
New Suzuki Dealership Makes
Impressive Start in Promising
Caribbean Market
Aggressive sales strategy and modern facility achieve substantial first year growth.
| REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO |
| Lifestyle Motors Ltd. |
| |
 |
| Crowd enjoys the opening celebration of the new Suzuki dealership in Trinidad and Tobago. |
| |
 |
| Spacious new facility of Lifestyle Motors, Ltd. incorporates full service and parts. |
| |
 |
| Night-time lighting highlights showroom display of Suzuki vehicles. |
|
Lifestyle Motors, Ltd., opened January 2004 in Trinidad and Tobago as a joint venture of the Barada Group and Hadeed Motors of Antigua, has already contributed to a 27% increase of Suzuki sales in the island nation. Suzuki distributor Interamericana Trading Corporation established the new dealership with the goal of increasing Suzuki penetration of the Caribbean market, where preference for Japanese vehicles has traditionally been strong.
Since opening a spacious new 6,100m2 facility incorporating full service and parts in May, Lifestyle has made substantial gains in the local market, thanks to an aggressive and experienced sales force, a modern service facility with the latest equipment and a well-focused corporate image campaign. A 1,100m2 area of the showroom is dedicated exclusively to Suzuki.
The launch was enhanced when the dealership secured a tender to provide Liana sedans for the vehicle fleet of the Trinidad Police Service, as a test for potential purchase of more vehicles in 2005. The presentation by Lifestyle sales staff focused on the Service's satisfaction with their previous use of Grand Vitaras. In the end, the Police Service put 20% of their total investment into 13 Vitaras and 7 Lianas.
Officers immediately praised the interior space of the Suzukis, as well as the ease of entering and exiting the vehicles while wearing their full equipment. Police Service satisfaction with the Vitaras and Lianas remains high.
The joint venture also achieved a high profile in the Caribbean region by presenting Cricket World Record Holder Brian Lara of Trinidad and Tobago with a 2.0-litre Grand Vitara in recognition of his individual Test Cricket record of 400 runs. Lara previously held the record with 375 runs for the years 1994 to 2000, when Australian Matthew Hayden captured the title for a short time. |
