Director of BMW visits Mechanical Lloyd Company

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 Nov. '99

About 30,000 BMW cars have been sold in Africa this year constituting two and a half per cent of the company's total sales.

The cars range from the BMW seven series, which cost 240 million cedis each, the three series selling around 105 million cedis and the Land Rover (Free-lander) costing 107 million cedis.

The Director, Mr Leuder Paysen said the two and half per cent for Africa is not enough and there is a further opportunity for business growth.

Mr Paysen made the comments when touring the offices of Mechanical Lloyd Company Limited in Accra to familiarise himself with the progress of the company.

He will also discussed how best to enhance their business opportunities and to strengthen their support base with their local partners.

This is the first time the Director is touring West Africa. He has already visited Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire and will visit Nigeria.

He said the visit is in recognition of the growth and potential of the BMW Group business in Ghana and the commitment of Mechanical Lloyd to do business with the company towards current and future projects.

Mr Paysen, the highest ranking BMW Group Official ever to visit West Africa, expressed his confidence in the management team of Mechanical Lloyd adding, "they have been very successful, hardworking and business-like".

In an answer to a question as to whether the German car maker is planning to establish an assembling plant in West Africa, the Director said it has a plant in South Africa and establishing one in West Africa would be expensive since it would only produce small quantities.

He said it is the strategy of BMW to stay independent and supply all range of cars under various brand names adding "big mergers globally would not work since they would be too big to control".

Mr Paysen said BMW is an acknowledged leader world-wide in the motor industry and the combination with Land Rover and Rover cars including Rolls Royce to be taken over totally by the year 2003 would provide an excellent brand portfolio and sales potential for the group.

He was accompanied by Rudolf Wallisch, General Manager, Africa and the Caribbean and Mr Kevin Coon, Area Manager, Ghana.

Mr Terry Darko, Managing Director of Mechanical Lloyd, said BMW has been represented in Ghana by his company for the past 29 years.

"Over the period the BMW business in Ghana has grown steadily through passion, dedication and long term vision making BMW today the leading brand for luxury sedans in Ghana."

GRi../