We aim to double market share this year

Kathmandu, July-19 Toshihiro Otsubo is the senior vice president of Marketing at SML Isuzu. Otsubo was recently in Nepal to study the market with an aim to expand their dealership network and launch new products. The Kathmandu Post caught up with Otsubo to talk about Isuzu’s performance here and future plans.

How is SML Isuzu performing in Nepal?

SML Isuzu has been in Nepal for the last 27 years, and National Motors is doing well as its authorised distributor. We want to boost sales by launching new product ranges along with aggressive marketing activities. We are totally focused on this market for the next two years. We command a 10 percent market share, but we aim to double the figure this year.

Which segment are you focusing on, light commercial vehicles or buses?

Our main focus would be on light commercial vehicles as we see huge potential. But we will also be focusing on the bus segment, including school buses, executive buses and tourist buses. The demand for luxury buses is also growing.

What is your strategy for Nepal? How much are you spending in branding and marketing?

We will launch various vehicles in tipper, trucks, premium trucks, super trucks and buses segments. Besides, we need to expand sales and service network for growth. The pricing will also be very competitive. We are equally prioritising Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the SAARC region.

There are various brands in the commercial vehicles segment, what are SML Isuzu’s specialties?

Our strong point is the “T-series” engine which is the most powerful engine in commercial vehicles. The maintenance cost is low and our vehicles are very competitive compared to other brands.

So what are new product line-ups for Nepal?

We are planning to launch a new range of S7 staff buses soon. The vehicle has 5,100mm wheel base and has width of 2,262mm. It is a 41-seater vehicle. Other features are airbrake, power steering, progressive suspension, high head rest and air conditioning, among others. We recently launched the S7 school bus and it was a hit. We will also launch a range of luxury buses and trucks suitable for Nepali roads. As we are focusing on light commercial vehicles too, the market will see a new range of these vehicles.

Source: The Kathmandu post