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Change of direction

Follow us on B friday, mARCH 6, 2020 // www.phnompenhpost.com/post-auto Mercedes V-Class: The versatile vehicle for all occasions

The Mercedes V-Class transports the family in comfort, luxury and style, and comes with an array of high-tech features.

he versatility of the The V-Class’ diamond grille is provinces, people began buying we were able to convince families, relations at Mercedes-Benz Vans. Buying a Mercedes from Star Mercedes V-Class is the face of the changing landscape sedans. Now they are buying the leisure adventurers and business Prices for the V-Class start at Auto also means benefiting from proving increasingly of Cambodian motoring, with the V-Class, which is a multipurpose customers alike – from Europe around $131,000, and Chantha the German car giant’s renowned Tattractive to the Cam- revamped Mercedes-Benz MPV vehicle that can carry more than right across to Asia. says this is some $50,000 less the after-sales service. bodian car buyer, drawing the featuring a sportier look. five people in comfort,” he says. “Proof of this can be found in V-Class’ nearest competitor in the “Our after-sales service is the Kingdom’s motorists away from Chantha says the Kingdom’s While outside Cambodia the the 209,000 or so V-Class units luxury MPV segment, while even best in the country, with our in- the ubiquitous SUV. auto sector has travelled far in a V-Class is available in three that have been sold since its V-Class MPVs bought on the grey ternational technicians – includ- The strength of the luxury peo- short space of time. wheelbase lengths, Star Auto market launch, as well as in the market cost more. ing from the UK and Australia – ple carrier is its multi-functional- “There is a very long history of sells only the extra long version fact that the vehicle has one of “The prices at Star Auto are so having been trained by Mercedes, ity, says Khun Chantha, sales and the SUV in Cambodia, even back – and it is a lot of car for your the youngest buyer groups across affordable because of the great while our local technicians are marketing director at Star Auto to the [post-conflict] days of the cash, all beneath the prestigious Mercedes-Benz. support from Mercedes, with very experienced with Mercedes, (Cambodia), the only authorised early 90s, and with the country Mercedes badge. “As of the beginning of 2020, special prices from the factory with at least five to 10 years’ distributor of Mercedes-Benz having very poor road conditions, “With the introduction of the we’ll be continuing this success to offer Cambodians the chance experience. vehicles in the Kingdom. many Cambodians dreamt of V-Class five years ago, we showed story. With the facelift, we’re to own a very special vehicle,” “In the unlikely event that a “The V-Class can be used having an SUV. that a stylish and dynamic pres- building on the strengths of our Chantha says, while financing is problem can’t be fixed here, we for daily use, or for trips to the “But with the roads a lot better, ence is also possible in XXL [extra MPV in a targeted manner,” says available to get you behind the can have a technician come over province at weekends, as busi- even from Phnom Penh to the long version] format. In doing so, Wilfried Porth, director of labour wheel of your dream car. from the Mercedes-Benz regional ness transport, or to carry VIPs from the airport to their hotel,” Chantha says. And with large, plush “cap- tain’s” chairs, a cool box, ambient lighting, Burmester surround sound system, climate control and a strong yet elegant design, whatever you use it for, you will do so in comfort, luxury and style. The growing popularity of the six-, seven- or eight-seat (depend- ing on your chosen configuration) multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) reflects the importance of the family for Cambodians. “Customers choose the V-Class to transport the family in luxury. In many Cambodian families, the father may have one car, his wife another, while the son and daughter will have their own cars. “With the V-Class, the whole family travels together, strengthen- ing their relationship while saving money, whether this is for week- end trips or special occasions, or

for daily use,” Chantha says. su pp lied Photos friday, mARCH 6, 2020 // www.phnompenhpost.com/post-auto C Mercedes V-Class: The versatile vehicle for all occasions

office or from Germany, depend- ing on the case. We also have a body and paint workshop, which nobody else in the country has,” Chantha says. The focal points of the V-Class range include a striking, restyled front ​​​end, as well as the introduc- tion of the OM 654 generation four-cylinder diesel engine, with the V250 reaching 211hp. The V-Class also offers unparalleled safety, scoring a full five-star rating after Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) testing, and carries the latest technology safety and assistance systems. The V-Class line from AMG is proving to be Star Auto’s biggest seller, with bodystyling from the high-performance division im- pressively enhancing the MPV’s dynamic appearance. The front apron with its The cockpit of the V-Class features high-quality recessed switches and inputs integrated into one extensive wave shape. prominent air inlets, diamond- pattern mesh and chrome trim, the expressive spoiler lip and the diffuser-look rear apron empha- sise the muscular character of the MPV, with AMG 19-inch light-alloy wheels in a seven-twin-spoke de- sign rounding off the sporty look. “When you buy a Mercedes from Star Auto, you are getting a premium car without equal, and we are less expensive than our competitors and even the grey market. A vehicle from Star Auto is guaranteed to be unmodified – a real Mercedes – while the V- Class is the right car for the family and for business,” Chantha says. Temperature-controlled double cup holder. Perfectly formed five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels with 245/45 R19 tyres. D friday, mARCH 6, 2020 // www.phnompenhpost.com/post-auto Great expectations Photos su pp lied Photos The Haval H6 SUV comes with a host of features.

hile it may have Cambodians own new cars, and been unusual in he says his vehicles have the low- the past for the est down payments available in WKingdom’s car the Kingdom, at 15 to 20 per cent, buyers to choose a Chinese ve- and generous after-care, with free hicle over Japanese and European yearly servicing for the dura- marques, this is changing rapidly. tion of the financing and five- to The chairman of Worldwide seven-year warranties. Motors Company (WMC) – He called on banks to assist Cambodia’s leading distributor him in this goal by supplying of Great Wall vehicles – says greater credit options to both exciting times lie ahead for the buyers and distributors, and Chinese automotive industry in invited more investors to come the Kingdom. on board. Peang Mann, who also is Mann said the build quality the CEO of WMC, says recent of Chinese cars was reflected in developments are paving the way their safety scores. “Haval and for the increased presence of Chi- other brands have been awarded nese vehicles on the Kingdom’s the maximum 5-Star ANCAP roads. [Australian New Car Assessment Changing perceptions among Program] safety rating. Cambodians of Chinese auto- “The build quality of our makers – coupled with even more Chinese vehicles is at least on par competitive pricing and generous with those from Japanese, Korean, after-sales – will result in many American or German manufac- more cars from the Asian giant turers, with many of these being being bought, he says. made in China,” he says. “The main negative view was Indeed, perceptions of the that Chinese cars are low priced build quality of Chinese vehicles and must therefore be lower have been changing for some quality. However, people are in- time. creasingly starting to realise that Robin Page, the senior vice- the quality of Chinese vehicles is The H6’s stylish dashboard is packed with digital technology. president of design at Volvo, said at least as good if not better than back in 2018 that the quality other products on the market,” untapped markets in Asean – of Chinese manufacturing was Mann says. including Myanmar, Vietnam and impressive after the Swedish With the demand for Chinese Laos – and increase market share carmaker opted to build vehicles cars increasing, WMC plans to in the countries it already works in China. open a new 33-50ha assembly ” in – including Cambodia – along “What we’re finding is that plant in Prey Veng province near with Malaysia and Indonesia, the quality of the cars is actually the Vietnamese border this year, The build quality of where it already has great trac- better in China than in Europe. with technological assistance our Chinese vehicles tion, he adds. Everyone was worried about qual- from Great Wall and its other is at least on par WMC, which sells a compre- ity, but as soon as [the Chinese] marques to ensure every car is hensive range of Chinese vehicles started, the quality was even of the highest quality before it with those from – including Great Wall saloons higher than in Europe,” Page told reaches the customer. Japanese, Korean, and pick-ups, SUVs from Haval, Australia’s Go Auto. “The plant has the capacity to Zotye, Huanghai, Traum and Mann is confident that the cars assemble 50,000 cars a year. We American or German FAW, as well as BAW minivans – sold by WMC are more than a hope to initially assemble 500 to manufacturers, began operations in 2013. match for any other. 1,000 units a year in the first few Prices range from $20,700 for The H6’s interior is laid out in luxurious leather. “People are increasingly years, but this will increase as with many of these the Great Wall Voleex C30 four- becoming aware of how attractive more investors come on board,” being made in China door saloon to $45,000-$68,000 that is packed with a raft of high- a 60 per cent increase in sales of Chinese cars are due to their de- Mann says. for the Haval H6, and up to end and luxury features, and Chinese cars last year compared sign, range of features and build Additionally, Great Wall buy- $73,000 for the premium Haval comes at a reasonable price. to 2018, up to some 500 from quality. Try a Chinese car and you ing General Motors’ factory in Peang Mann / WMC chairman H9 SUV. The H9 is a large, capable With word quickly spreading of around 300. will see for yourself how good Thailand will ease expansion into and well-specified seven-seater their high build quality, WMC saw Mann is committed to helping they are,” he says.