GM quickservice Centers set auto maintenance standards for the region

The expansion plan, which aims to build 15 additional facilities, comes in light of the huge success that the existing network has achieved in the past few years and aims to enhance the customer ownership experience across all of GM's brands in the region: Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, HUMMER, Saab and Opel.

The GM quickservice Center concept, with its promise of "29 minutes or the next one free" was a completely novel idea to the region when the first facility was launched in Dammam back in April of 2004. Once a vehicle is logged into the center's system for Lube, Oil, and Filter special, a GM quickservice receptionist presents the customer with a 29-minute countdown timer, helping them monitor the progress of the service on the vehicle, other services include a 15 point inspection which is offered at a fixed price for most GM vehicles.

"If I want to take my car in for its regular maintenance, I don't want to spend my whole day at the garage," says Joe Elenz, General Motors' aftersales director in the Middle East. "That was the whole idea behind the GM quickservice centre concept."

"The need for more centers and faster, more advanced service comes largely as the result of the excellent growth of our business in the region, our 2005 vehicle sales have exceeded 113,000 units and growing at fantastic rates on a yearly basis" explains Elenz. "Our focus on aftersales and service will help us provide and enhance our customer ownership experience and ensure the best levels of service are provided to GM vehicle owners, whether in their own home countries or while they are travelling by car across the region."

The success achieved by each new centre within weeks of its opening compelled GM to accelerate its launch plans for the rest of the region. There are now 12 GM quickservice Centers across the region, with 15 new centers planned for launch across 10 cities in the region including, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Kuwait, Doha, Manama and Damascus.

GM quickservice Centers set new standards for quick, high-quality servicing for GM vehicles, providing a Lube, Oil and Filter change at a competitive price in 29 minutes or the next one is free,

These specially-designed and equipped centers are manned by highly qualified technicians who have been trained to provide customers quality service within the shortest time possible.

Other services offered at GM quickservice include wheel alignment and balancing, A/C checks up, automatic transmission service, engine tune-up, brake and service belt replacement, wiper blade replacement and car wash facilities. The centre also offers regular scheduled maintenance such as the 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 kilometre services. The total number of GM quickservice Centers in the region now 12, with 15 more to be launched by end of 2006.