"With the addition of these two new facilities, UMA now has a total of 17 outlets across the Kingdom," UMA Chairman and CEO Mohammed S. Abduljawad told Arab News at the opening of the facility in Auto Moto Mall in Al-Rakah district. "By the end of the year, we will have two more facilities - one in downtown Dammam and another in Jubail. Owners of Chevrolet and GMC vehicles in Saudi Arabia are in for enhanced services."
The UMA facility in Auto Moto Mall covers 3,000 square meters and is equipped with a high-tech showroom, maintenance, parts and accessories areas. It is the first in Saudi Arabia to feature a dedicated performance cars area, showcasing the 638 hp Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the 436 hp Chevrolet Camaro SS among others. The workshop is fully equipped for quick service and minor repairs with 12 service bays and technical training facilities.
The facility in Al-Hasa includes a showroom, workshop and spare-parts service. With total area of 7,500 square meters, the facilities have more than tripled UMA's total available service bays in Al-Hasa, from eight to 26 and will make servicing cars more efficient.
"The massive investment on our part indicates two things," Abduljawad said. "One is our commitment to the customer and, two, the natural growth that this market is witnessing. We're constantly striving to offer our customers a better experience, and by opening these new branches in strategic locations, UMA is being more accessible to its customers and providing them with a more complete range of services, handled by highly trained professionals."
Abduljawad said UMA and GM have been doing business in Saudi Arabia for the last 60 years, starting in 1946 when Arabian Motors & Engineering Co. (AMECO) became the first Saudi dealer of General Motors. In 1954, GM joined hands with General Machinery Agencies (GMA). The two companies merged in 1997 and became UMA.
According to Abduljawad, the domestic automobile market remains strong. "The numbers are pretty steady for Saudi Arabia," he said. "The market is growing in the Kingdom. Yes, there may have been people who deferred their decision to go in for new vehicles last year. However, this has led to attractive offers from big players, including UMA, in the form of easy installments, no down payments and competitive prices. In a competitive environment, it is the customer that has everything to gain."
Commenting on the opening of the new UMA facilities, GM Middle East President and Managing Director John N. Stadwick said: "In partnership with our dealers, such as UMA, we are reaching out to our customers with new facilities, new vehicles and the very best in customer service."
Stadwick said customer service is a priority for GM. "In UMA, we have a partner that is just as dedicated as we are to taking care of our customers in the best and most efficient ways possible. UMA's new facilities will take the level of service to even greater heights."
In Saudi Arabia, GM portfolio includes new entries in the compact and mid-size family sedan segments — the Cruze and award-winning Malibu — as well as the iconic Camaro sports car and the Traverse mid-size crossover.
"Our second largest brand needs no introduction in Saudi Arabia. GMC has a long history here - so much so that 'jimss' has become synonymous with all four-wheel-drive vehicles," added Stadwick.
