GM empowering Saudi work force

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Maurice Williams, GM Middle East president and managing director, said that the company is offering training courses specifically for Saudi nationals which aim at empowering Saudi workforce.
He confirms that GM has comparative advantages in the crossover and SUV segments in addition to Cadillac.
The GMC brand is only available in the Middle and North America and is greatly appreciated by the regional consumers, Williams said.
Williams also highlighted the fact that GM has a presence in over 25 locations throughout Saudi Arabia, in many instances, more than one facility per city, and this is growing.
This year the company will launch seven new models including Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe.
Later in the year customers in Saudi Arabia would be able to get their hands on the all-new 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe.
These are the highlights of the interview:

What are the main challenges facing GM dealers in the Saudi market based on your own experience?
GM dealers are working to help potential car buyers see that the cost of ownership for Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac vehicles is incredibly competitive.
We want to remind them that, along with our world class ‘big’ cars and trucks, we also have an entire range of small cars and crossover vehicles: a vehicle to suit everyone’s needs.
Customers will find more than what they expected when they step into one of our vehicles and experience it for themselves.

How can GM help in ironing out these challenges?
GM works alongside our dealers to get these messages out to customers through a number of channels.
These include our marketing campaigns and our digital channels such as our websites, gmcarabia.com, cadillacarabia.com and chevroletarabia.com, and our Facebook and Twitter accounts: gmcarabia, cadillacarabia and chevroletarabia.
Customers can also learn about our extensive range of vehicles and low cost of ownership through our activity in the media, and of course, through our helpful sales staff in the dealerships.

What is GM’s strategy in the Saudi market this year and what new models are you introducing to the market?
We truly value the Saudi Arabian market and as such have some exciting developments in store for our Saudi customers.
Specifically we’re launching a number of new vehicles this year including some all-new models. We’ve already launched the Cadillac CTS earlier this year and in May, our heavy-duty trucks; the GMC Sierra HD and the Chevrolet Silverado HD will hit the showroom floor.
In late summer, we will see one of our most highly anticipated launches; the introduction of the next generation of Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban SUVs.
Later in the year, customers in Saudi will be able to get their hands on the all-new 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe, a car that provides all the features, quality, styling and power you expect from a luxury car in a sporty coupe design.

Describe GM’s efforts in training Saudi nationals, especially at managerial levels.
GM is dedicated to enabling and empowering its people.
We provide live, hands-on training to our local sales and service teams throughout Saudi Arabia.
Our dealers have literally hundreds of training courses available to staff — covering all parts of the business and all levels of experience.
Amongst these, we have created training programs specifically for Saudi nationals.
For instance, local hires can access our custom-made 20-week training program that mixes practical, on the job training with classroom sessions and mentoring to further develop and empower our Saudi workforce. We also offer a number of major Middle East wide competitions aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skill levels of staff in which representatives from our Saudi Arabia dealerships have excelled.
For example, Saudi Arabia is home to the best Service Adviser in the Middle East region, as well as two more who placed in the top 5 in our Service Advisers Championship.
Fifteen dealer technicians in Saudi Arabia qualified to compete in our Technician Skills Competition, which is open only to the top 40 technicians in the Middle East.

How is the plan to expand customer facilities in Saudi Arabia progressing this year?
Our plans to expand our network of facilities are progressing well.
GM dealers are now in more locations in Saudi Arabia than ever before, and we’re continuing to build on this.
In what segments does GM have a competitive edge in Saudi Arabia and how are you building on that?
GM pickups and SUVs have always had a strong presence in Saudi Arabia.
The GMC brand, only available in the Middle East and North America, is greatly beloved for its strength and performance, the Cadillac Escalade has always been synonymous with uncompromised luxury, and the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban and Silverado are as popular as ever.
With the highly anticipated launch of our outstanding 2015 model Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, we expect the relationship our customers enjoy with our current vehicles to develop even further.
Since its launch last year, the Chevrolet Impala is one of the top contenders in the full-size sedan market and its popularity is growing: not only in the Saudi Arabia market but also across the Middle East region. It’s great to see customers responding to its best in class space, safety features, eye catching design and advanced technology.

Saudi Arabia is your largest regional market; can you describe GM Saudi operations in terms of size, favorite models and customer preferences in their vehicles?
We’re well equipped to look after our customers throughout Saudi Arabia. We have a presence in over 25 locations throughout the country, in many instances, more than one facility per city, and this is growing.
Our customers want quality, comfort, power and space, and this is why they choose GM vehicles. Based on this year’s sales, we know our Saudi customers particularly love our SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade.
Chevrolet’s flagship sedan, the Impala has burst onto the scene and is fast becoming a Saudi favorite, alongside our full sized cars, the ever-popular Cadillac CTS and the Chevrolet Malibu.

How often do you travel to Saudi Arabia in your current post?
I like to keep a pulse on the markets so I travel to Saudi Arabia at least once a month.

Are you supporting any safety or environmental campaigns in the region?
GM Middle East is always exploring ways in which it can assist our customers and communities. We are particularly passionate about encouraging people to take the simple precaution of wearing seat belts.
We’ve had success with our Buckle Up In The Back initiative in the UAE which we’re looking at developing for other countries in the Middle East.