DC Consultants rings changes to pave way for partners

Chief marketing officer Wit Sittivaekin has been promoted to chief executive officer, while former CEO Danai Chanchaochai will take up a new role as chairman of the advisory board. 

The board includes Sohn Chongsrichan, founder and chief brandologist of Brand Anything, executives from Optimum Media Direction (Thailand) and experts.

 

BMW opens showroom

to sell big bikes

BMW Group Thailand recently launched the BMW Motorrad showroom at Cherdchai Autohaus in Nakhon Ratchasima to serve increasing demand for big bikes in the lower Northeast. 

“In 2014, BMW Motorrad achieved extraordinary performance results, with an all-time sales record of 700 deliveries, reflecting a full 75-per-cent growth,” president Matthias Pfalz said yesterday. 

With over 16 years’ experience as the authorised BMW dealer in Korat, Cherdchai Autohaus’ showroom and service centre features state-of-the-art sales and service facilities of over four rai (6,400 square metres). 

With over Bt200 million of investment, sales and aftersales services to the BMW global standard are offered in every aspect. The sleek facade and interior vehicle display areas are designed to enhance the brand experience for customers. The new car showroom offers six display units, while the BMW Motorrad area features capacity of up to 10 units. 

 

Unprecedented demand 

for new Honda HR-V

Honda Automobile (Thailand) has received orders for more than 15,000 of its new HR-V sport crossover in just three months since it was launched.

Pitak Pruittisarikorn, chief operating officer, said yesterday that despite the slow market for new cars, Honda HR-V has won good acceptance. 

“With these figures, the new HR-V has not only secured the top spot on the overall sales ranking of crossovers and SUVs in Thailand, but also established the new segment of compact crossovers in the Thai market,” he said.

Delivery has surpassed 8,000 units.

 

Ford launches full-featured Thai-made Ranger

Ford has unveiled its face-lifted Ranger pickup truck, which it claims is the smartest in the market. The Ranger, which is assembled at the AutoAlliance Thailand factory in Rayong and exported to more than 180 countries worldwide, features a host of new technologies usually offered only in passenger cars. 

They include SYNC 2 connectivity, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, driver impairment monitor and front/rear parking sensors. Brett Wheatley, vice president for marketing, sales and service at Ford Asia-Pacific, introduced the improved Ranger, which comes with a new front-end design and interior upgrade. 

The new ranger will be made public today at the Bangkok International Motor Show, where Ford is also launching the Everest pickup passenger vehicle based on the Ranger platform. Matt Bretley, president of Ford Asean, said that while the automobile market has been declining at 12 per cent during the first two months of the year, Ford’s sales have plunged by 35 per cent. Auto sales are expected to reach 850,000 units, and Ford targets a market share of 4.4-5 per cent, up from 3.4 per cent last year, with growth expected from the Ranger as well as the Everest.