To help stimulate the T&T economy, Southern Sales and Service Limited is moving ahead with infrastructure plan to boost employment, says it chief executive Imtiaz Ahamad.
Delivering remarks at the launch of the 2016 Kia Sportage on the grounds of Queen's Hall, St Ann's, he said: "T&T is at a turning point. We as a people need to change our mindset. Further, businesses must re-engineer and focus on the competitive advantage in order to support staff and the national economy in these challenging times.
"We expect Government to stimulate the economy, but the level of spending will be determined by its revenue and commitments. There must be more interest and conversation on public-private partnerships and diversification and this time let us be serious and take meaningful action to drive the next cycle of growth."
Ahamad said the company is upgrading and modernising of its service departments in San Fernando and Port-of-Spain.
"I am pleased to inform you that designs are completed and first phase infrastructure works have begun in Port-of-Spain and started in San Fernando. These projects and others planned will contribute to the economy and will provide value added services and employment in the area of after sales to our many customers," he said.
At the launch, Southern Sales and Service Limited together with its business partner the Kia Motor Corporation rolled out the 2016 fourth-generation Kia Sportage. Ahamad said over the last three months, Kia had introduced two new models to the T&T market, the Optima and the Sportage.
He expressed his delight that the company, which is celebrating its 64th anniversary in the automobile business, has enjoyed a 23-year relationship with the Kia Motor Corporation.
"The relationship was born at a time when the country had just opened its doors for importation of completely built vehicles or CBUs as it is known in the industry. I'm certain some of you don't know or just barely remember models such as the Pride, Avella and Ceres.
The current models which you are more familiar with are Rio, Cerato and K2700. The brand, much like the dealership has grown by leaps and bounds. Kia models have been showered with praise around the world," he said.
"Over the 23-year relationship, both Kia and Southern Sales and Service have seen the coming and going of models and personnel, the improvement and modernisation of facilities and the rebirth of the brand.
Over the years the brand has grown, it has evolved and it has blossomed into the remarkable automotive manufacturer we know today with accomplishments both locally and internationally.
JH Yang, deputy general manager at the Kia Motor Corporation's regional headquarters in Central and South America, said with more than 1.6 million units of the third generation Sportage sold worldwide between 2010 and 2015, expectations are high regarding the sales projections of the latest addition to the line.
"With the launch of these all new generation models, we are targeting around 3.12 million annual global sales in 2016, after second consecutive-year three million-vehicle sales mark. We are on track to post our 13th consecutive year of global sales growth this year," he said.
"Speaking of our sales in Latin (America) and Caribbean region, despite the challenging market conditions, we aim to sell around 150,000 vehicles in 2016. I have no doubt with annual sales target of more than 26,000 units (in T&T) the all new Kia Sportage will contribute significantly to our success in this year. And, for this our continued growth and progress, I'm quite confident Southern Sales and Service Company Limited will play a leading role in the Caribbean region, as one of the most co-operative and excellent Kia distributors."