WHAT YOU STILL DO NOT KNOW, BUT WILL KNOW

By. Sophiko Sichinava

It is common knowledge that a worm of economic crisis gnaws Georgian economy. Many people think that the country is being destructed: there is a constant problem of budget deficit, unemployment, arrears of wages and permanent bacchanalia in the country.

Strange as it is, but at this time someone makes business quietly without any feast ? business that is a worthy one for the civilized west.
Our problem is not only “lame ” economy, but that we do not know what to do and how to do.
We do not have either capabilities or style.
The style as well as technological know-how is very important, but learning to count money is a more important thing. We should bear in mind the fact that a miser pays twice.
Along with new social-economic system a new life-style for both simple Georgians and businessmen should gradually be introduced in Georgia.
And “Omega Motors” with European standard office, auto saloons, service centres and high-class service was officially opened on 8 February 2002, in Tbilisi, Didi Digomi, David Agmashenebeli Avenue, 10-th kilometer. As a curator of BMW regional service says, it is 110% BMW .
“Omega Motors” is formed by means of recommendations specially meant for the construction of BMW centre. It can even be said that “Omega Motors” is really a luxury subject in devastated and ruined Georgia that strengthens Georgian people’s assurance and belief. The soul of all this is Zaza Okuashvili, Parliament member and founder of “Omega Group”. He brought much use to the country.
Many file and rank Georgians would say that there is still a long way to service centres of BMW, Rover and Ford that were created by the equipment of world technological elite. There can be no comparison between our cars and world famous cars and service, but do not hurry. “Omega Motors” will provide service to all kinds of customers. Moreover, amendments to the Tax Code made this pleasure more affordable for consumers. This caused increase of realisation, which will, certainly, have a positive affect on the budget. You can make a choice, i.e. to pay 5-6 thousands for the same brand car, but you should put up with the fact that each week you will have to buy expensive spare parts and therefore, the car will cost you three or four times as much. Do not hurry. Let us see and take a decision together: Nowadays, “Omega Motors” imports four brands of BMW cars, Rover and Ford, Land-Rover, Rover and Ford. In accordance with the current data, half a million of autos is registered in Georgia of which 11 000 autos are of BMW brand. Compared with the rivals of “Omega Motors” BMW is larger in number. These brand cars are very popular among the young. Capacity, dynamics, effective design make their own contribution. Cars offered by “Omega Motors” are high and average class automobiles. BMW models are represented by 3,6 and 7 series cars. BMW now plans to produce mini brand cars. This will be first and second-class cars in accordance with engine capacity.
Information for BMW lovers:
The BMW Group was able to maintain its success in the first quarter of 2002 and thus continue its growth course. Group revenues for the first quarter 2002 totalled euro 10,768 million, an increase of 14.0% compared to the equivalent period in 2001.
Net profit rose by 3.8% from euro 609 million in the first quarter 2001 to euro 632 million in the first quarter of 2002.
At 31 March 2002, the BMW Group’s worldwide workforce comprised 98,128 employees, 3.0% more than at 31 March 2001.
The BMW Group will continue to pursue its product and market offensive this year, as planned. In addition to further versions of the BMW 7 Series, the Z3 successor will be presented in the autumn. It will be launched initially on the American market and, in the spring of 2003, in Europe.
By the end of 2002, MINI brand cars will be on sale in more than 50 countries, thus also making an important contribution to the growth of the BMW Group.
Positive outlook for the 2002 financial year was made by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joachim Milberg, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG: “The good start to the year reinforces our expectations that the BMW Group will be able to continue the previous year’s successful performance.”
Provided that economic conditions do not deteriorate unexpectedly, management believe that it will again be able to increase sales volumes, revenues and earnings. For the first time, there is thus a possibility that more than one million BMW and MINI brand cars will be sold in 2002.
Automobiles segment continues steady growth. Revenues of the Automobiles segment totalled Euro 9,485 million, an increase of euro 1,422 million (+17.6%) compared to the first quarter 2001. The profit from ordinary activities reached euro 914 million. The profit in the previous year was euro 985 million, including a one-off gain of euro 75 million on the sale of land no longer required for operational purposes.
During the first three months of 2002, a total of 260,462 cars were delivered to customers, an increase of 17.4% compared to the same period last year. The MINI brand, launched in the middle of 2001, contributed disproportionately to this growth with 27,691 cars sold during the first three months of 2002. The number of BMW brand cars sold during the first quarter of 2002 was 232,771, representing an increase of 5.0% over the previous year.
Sales of the BMW 7 Series were fully in line with the group’s expectations. In the first quarter of 2002, 11,461 cars were sold (first quarter of 2001: 7,563 units), including 1,436 of the predecessor model. Sales of the new BMW 7 Series in the first five months after market launch are already well ahead of the sales volume achieved by the predecessor model at this early stage of its product-life cycle.
A complete service for the motorist
All around the world BMW stands for the ultimate driving machine. A reputation that is also an obligation. To live up to this responsibility at any time and anywhere, BMW Service guarantees comprehensive customer support and competent service after delivery of the car.
BMW dealers, with their professional know-how and modern equipment, guarantee perfect service worldwide. The advanced technologies used in BMW workshops ensure rapid, reliable repair of defects and thus help to save time and costs.
Competent customer service is also guaranteed by special training programmes in which BMW service staff from all around the globe receives basic and follow-up training in accordance with international BMW standards. This helps to maintain the high level of BMW Service all over the world.
In the unlikely event of a breakdown, BMW has a special support programme in reserve to help its customers. BMW Mobile Service helps out when customers need assistance during a journey. With the BMW Service Card, customers are also entitled to a wide range of services that will keep them mobile even if their car is temporarily off the road.
BMW Service is there to be relied on. For your peace of mind
Besides, “Omega Motors” also has Land-Rover cars. Our road is not a problem for these autos.
As for “Ford”, this brand is know as “work horse” worldwide. It is a quite cheap and work car, and “Omega Motors” believes that the spectre of cars available at their saloon must satisfy tastes of any consumers. Ford has cheaper cars not imported by “Omega Motors” due to low demand on these cars in Georgia. It is stipulated by the design of the cars. Yet they are sold successfully in Europe. Their price is approximately 7-8 thousand dollars.
New taxation rules became a favourable factor for people involved in this business. It is profitable for both dealers and state budget.
Aleco Khachishvili (director of “Omega Motors”) When we used to sell motorcars, some customers asked us to sell a car without customs clearance. The new taxation rule that depends on car cubage is more profitable in all respects because it is less problematic and simple for customs as well as for us and certainly, for customers. It is impossible to change engine capacity. Therefore, customs clearance procedure will be more simple. Increase of sales volume exceeded our expectations. As it turned out, we were not prepared for such development of events. As our saloon is, in fact, empty now, we think that this new rule should have been taken before. “Omega Motors” service is equipped with modern equipment.
There are robots in workshops that check breakpoints with great fidelity – plus minus 1mm. Ascensional core is nested underground. Smoke consumer system and ventilation are placed on the roof. When cars are underground, you can easily make a round of the whole workshop. Each standard and at the first sight, each detail is protected, but still requirement is necessary. For example, even bulbs hung in accordance with international standards. Quality and number of special tools is envisaged. Tiles are selected appropriately ( they are oil and water proof. Even if a hard, heavy tool falls down, it will not be broken). Ventilation, coordination, and heating meets requirements of BMW centre. If electricity is switched off, a local electricity source turns on automatically, etc.
Aleco Khachishvili ? We are equipped with everything ? ranging from special tools to diagnostic facilities. Everything is computerised here.
Owners of other cars often come here, but as for diagnostics, we think that if people buy cars of our brand, this will rid them of their problems. We will be glad to provide service to them.
How do you select personnel? Cadres are a great problem, especially, in this sphere.
– We recruit young craftsmen and train them. It took approximately 2 years to train a craftsman in Germany. He takes a special course in the following stages ? 6 months of theory, practice, then again theory and finally, practice. We invited craftsmen who had experience of working with this brand cars. We, finally, managed to prepare a brigade of excellent craftsmen. We do our best to create necessary conditions for them, provide them with trainings, and not only them, but also all other collaborators. Our personnel is well prepared to provide a qualified service to a customer. I would like to draw 7 series BMW cars as an example. This car is the most complex one. We make its diagnostics and can service it. The rest is for you to judge.
– There are customers of different purchasing abilities in Georgia as well as in the whole world. What are prices of your cars?
– Auto business is a business of the future. It is not similar to the business of markets where one regains invested money in a month’s time. It is a business of our grandchildren. A middle class has not yet been formed in Georgia. Yet it is the main consumer. This layer totals 80% in Europe. Instead of it, the popularity of these cars is so great that they are still on sale in Georgia. We have different cars. Guarantee for BMW car is two years, guarantee for Land Rover is 3 years under the contract with the firm and that of Ford is 1 year. These issues will be revised in the future. The most important thing in this business is sale of cars that has two branches ? service and spare parts, which promotes the successful functioning of the first direction. We made sure of all this in “Omega Motors”.
– Aleco Khachishvili ? If the last two months’ tendency is maintained, the business will acquire a significant scale. Not so long ago we received representatives from Armenia who said it was really worth working in the conditions existing in Georgia. Change in taxation rule of cars is a great achievement for us. As a result of the wrong policy, many dealers were compelled to close down their business.
Unbelievable as it may seem, but “Omega Motors” formed its enterprise and equipped it with modern facilities by means of Georgian capital only. This fact has psychological significance. Foreign and local importers obtrude the idea that Georgians cannot make business and invest real sector. However, it became clear that they can do it successfully! This will serve as a stimulus for new approaches to the national economy. Two factors should be considered in this context ? optimal legislative framework would not produce any results but for activities of gifted Georgian businessmen. This synthesis will cause real triple effect:
1. Life standards will improve
2. The population will be able to purchase qualitative cheap cars and will thereby save time and money
3. The volume of budget revenues from business and number of workplaces equipped with qualified and modern facilities will increase. It is time to stop swearing and learn by our example the way of building economy. If this story will seem a fairy-tale to our reader, we advise him to visit our service centre.
From our part, we are ready to discourse on the subject of real investments on the basis of this example in another number of the magazine.