The news follows the closure last Thursday (Mar 1) of three Phuket showrooms operated by Anuphas Vividhkarn Co Ltd – on Chao Fa West Rd in Wichit, on Phang Nga Rd in Phuket Town and on Thepkrasattri Rd in Thalang – as well as the Anuphas Vividhkarn Co Ltd Honda showroom in Phang Nga.
The move by Anuphas Vividhkarn Co Ltd brought to an end 32 years of the company serving as the sole Honda car dealer in Phuket. (See story here.)
However, also last Thursday, Honda Maliwan Co Ltd opened its doors as the new – and currently only – Honda showroom and service centre in Phuket.
Kanokwan Koodcharo of Honda Maliwan confirmed to The Phuket News today (Mar 5), “Honda Maliwan Co Ltd is now operating, open daily from 7am to 8pm.
“We provide sales and all kinds of service except paint and repair centre, as that section is not ready yet,” she added.
Honda Customer Relations Officer Jarudech Kittichokwattana in Bangkok told The Phuket News today that other Honda dealers and service agents may be introduced in Phuket in the future, but cautioned that the process is involved and takes quite some time.
“There are many procedures for opening a centre, such as the qualifications of the dealer. So it’s better for us to work with one who has worked for Honda before, and so Honda Maliwan now will serve and help customers,” Mr Jarudech explained.
“We plan to expand the number of branches in Phuket in the future, which may or may not involve Maliwan. However, if we do take on a new dealer (that is not Maliwan), it will involve a long process,” he added.