The maiden edition of Multi TV’s automobile fair has been launched. The 4-day fair which opens on November 17 will serve as a convergence point for all stakeholders in the automobile industry to network as well as make purchases. Speaking on Multi TV’s current affairs show, pm: EXPRESS, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Multi TV, McBen Adu-Asamoah said the show will bring together a mix of players in the automobile industry including prospective buyers who can take advantage of the opportunity to receive answers to their nagging questions. According to Mr. Adu-Asamoah, whereas the automobile market is faced with a myriad of problems, there is a general lack of information on how to make the right decision when purchasing an automobile. He noted that one of the main problems prospective car buyers face is how to source financing to purchase their car adding that even in cases where the prospective buyers are able to raise the required amount, they often lack the kind of information which will enable them make sound purchasing decisions which will inure to their benefit. The auto show is thus designed to help prospective car owners and those looking forward to trade off their current cars to receive expert advice on how to go about their purchase. The concept for the auto show Mr. Adu-Asamoah noted “is for the financing; buying or purchasing i.e. of the car, it’s maintenance and then allied services which include the insurance firms, the banks and the OMCs”. A Sales Consultant at Japan Motors, Raphael Yaw Annan whose organization is partnering the auto show, said they decided to partner the auto show because “we see Multi TV as a very credible medium by which we can reach customers out there and looking at your reach, we believe that where we have our various branches – Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi and Tema – we will be able to reach all our customers and beyond”. He however raised concerns over the mushrooming car markets which he said are threatening to put licensed car dealers out of work. He thus cautioned car buyers who patronize from such garages to be careful with their purchase since such cars lack warranty and are not conditioned to suit our local. On the rising concerns that automobile firms do not give customers flexible payment terms, Mr. Annan explained that the flexibility to pay over a period of time is a special consideration given by players in the automobile industry, a luxury the garage dealers cannot afford. “Here in Ghana, we are in a way trying to do same and so we partner with some financial institutions to help finance some of these purchases and so ask [prospective buyers] to speak to their bankers. The challenge only is that the interest rates are so high and this deters individual customers and even some corporate organizations from going for those facilities” he noted adding that “people of good standing in reputable firms can also have some form of flexible payment terms though only if it is guaranteed by their companies so as to cushion the dealers in case of default. So we tell you, you pay 45 percent and then we spread the reminder over a period of time for you” Mr. Annan hinted. The Multi TV Auto Show will opens on Thursday 17 November through to Sunday 20 November at the Accra International Trade Fair Center. Partners for the Auto Show include Fairlop International dealers of Jaguar and MG Rover brand of cars, Toyota Ghana Limited, Mechanical Llyod, BMW, Platinum and Japan Motors with Stanbic Bank, the biggest auto financiers also on board. Mr. Annan said patrons will get the opportunity to test drive the different models of Nissan vehicles that will be on display at the show including the newly launched as well as celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Nissan Patrol which was made in 1951. The fair will also be used to launch 4 new brands of vehicles –2011 editions and will also be used to launch the Joy FM drive safety campaign for 2011.