Sixt targets revenue rise as it drives into Laos, Myanmar, VN
By expanding operations into Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, car rental company Sixt Thailand aims to increase its annual revenue by 20 per cent from the current Bt1 billion.
Sixt Thailand, which is operated by the Master Car Rental (MCR) business unit of Master Group Corporation (Asia) or MGC, plans to spend Bt100 million to enter these new markets and complete its Asean market coverage in five years.
MCR holds the license for the Sixt car-rent brand in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
According to MGC business development director Asa Piyarat, once all Asean markets are operational by Sixt, the current Bt1-billion annual vehicle rental revenues should increase. Sixt Thailand’s Asean strategy will offer flexible, high comfort mobility solutions and focus its efforts in key tourist destinations in the three countries starting with Vientiane (Laos), Yangon (Myanmar), and Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi (Vietnam), he said.
Asean alone represents a consumer market of 600 million customers with positive growth trends in economic, GDP and trade figures, he said.
“MCR has the resources, experience, and a strong presence in Thailand, which is why it entered into a partnership with Sixt AG as the Master Licensee for Asean,” said Rudiger Proske, senior vice president and franchise director of Sixt Rent A Car, one of Europe’s major and Germany’s largest car rental company. “We share the same vehicle-rental philosophy for the Asean region.
“Asean is one of the fastest growing economies and Sixt Thailand is aware of its enormous potential and global status as a major vehicle rental market,” he added.
Said Asa: “Sixt Thailand has a presence in every major airport in eight major cities to give it a total of 14 branches in Thailand. We have plans in the pipeline to open six more branches by 2014 to give Sixt Thailand a total of 20 branches. Sixt customers can make vehicle reservations through our 1798 Call Centre.”
He said Sixt Thailand offers a comprehensive rental vehicle fleet with a range of models including all vehicle classes – from small, medium, and large-sized cars to premium vehicles and SUVs.
“Sixt Thailand has more than 20 models from every Japanese auto-maker and one of the best luxury vehicles ranging from BMW to other premium European brands,” Asa added.
“The potential of the Asean vehicle rental market will drive MGC to achieve its goal of becoming a legitimate regional player in the automotive retail segment,” said MGC group managing director Sunhavut Thamchuanviriya.
