PZ Donates 10 Motorcycles to Moals

Feb 12, 2009 (Daily Independent/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- PZCUF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- As parts of an effort to promote the sale of TEC Motorcycle in the country, the management of Thermocool Engineering Company (TEC), a division of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc has donated 10 TEC brands of motorcycles to the Motorcycle Operators Association of NURTW, Lagos, (MOALS). The motorcycles are to be shared by the executive members of the association.

The management of TEC has also reduced the prices of the motorcycles by 11 per cent to give all card carrying members of the association an opportunity to own and ride TEC motorcycles. For instance, the Speed -1 of the Motorbike which sells for N76, 000 has been slashed to N68, 000 while the Speed-11, which goes for N78, 000, is now being offered to the association at N70, 000.

While explaining the rationale behind the offer most especially when prices of things are going up in the market, the National Sales Manager, TEC, Ahiwe Nnamdi, said the initiative was an introductory package to sell the TEC Motorbike to 'okada' riders in Lagos State in particular and to riders in Nigeria as a whole.

He explained that the introductory package could only be enjoyed by card carrying members of the association based on the synergy between the association and the management of TEC Motorcycle.

He also explained that the management of TEC Motorcycles believes that for the okada riders to fully appreciate the technology in the motorcycles they have to test them, which prompted the management of the TEC Company to donate 10 of the bikes- five each of the two brands- to be shared by the executive members of the association. "We want them to have a taste of the motorbike. We are not afraid of people having a taste of the motorbike and see how it feels and as part of the stimulus package that PZ Thermocool, as a group, has for Nigerians we also want to use it as a gift to them and for their members to have a feel and also to use them for free. They are not paying for it," he noted.

He said the management of TEC Motorcycle has done a lot to educate 'Okada' riders in the state since the Motorbike was introduced into the Nigerian market about six months ago.

"Since we launch this motorbike into the market about six months ago, we have done a lot of things. We started with the FRSC, and we did a lot of things with them. We are also going to do a lot with them in future as per the motorbike. We are working directly with the motorcycle association of Lagos state. We are teaching them directly and we are also learning from them and making corrections.

We have given them leaflets on safety; we have done training for them in conjunction with the FRSC and we are going to do more as promised," he stated.

He said the response from Nigerians on the acceptability of the motorcycles has been good because the company, he said, has sold almost up 3000 units in the Nigerian market to date. "Not only into Lagos market but into the Nigerian market; the response has been positive.

Apart from Lagos we have gone to the East, we have gone to the North, we have gone to the West and the response has been very encouraging taking into consideration that there are other bikes on ground," he said.

Buttressing Nnamdi's points, the Commercial Manager, TEC, Roy Chatterjee, said the initiative was in continuation of what the company did on November 22 when it had the executives of MOALS and some members of the Federal Road Safety Commission together on a common platform to educate them on the use of safety helmet.

He explained that TEC strongly believed that it has a quality product; a quality motorcycle for the members of MOALS and was not afraid to allow them have a feel of it. "This initiative basically is that the prices of everything have gone up with the current economic situation and MOALS have actually requested us to hold back prices and that is what we are doing. We are holding back the prices down to N68, 000 and N70, 000 for members of MOALS. That is the initiative that we have taking because we don't want the commercial riders to start losing revenue," he explained.

On the durability of the motorcycles, he disclosed that it took the company three years to test the motorcycles and also ensure that they are made to suit Nigeria road conditions.

"It is called Japanese technology and Japanese technology has been tested to Nigeria conditions. We are the only people with the type of shock absorber. It's got air cushion; it's got a spring and it's got hydraulic shock absorber. If you look at any of the other bike around they just have only the spring. So, it has been tested for the Nigerian roads and we got good appreciation across the country about these motorcycles. Since we started selling from august we have not received a single complain," he attested.

On spare parts, he said like the other companies in the group, they always have spare parts to support their products.

"Everything that we have is with spare parts. The company will not get into anything if there are no spare parts.

My messages are that Thermocool engineering company has been here, you always grow up with Thermocool products in the past, and there are other products from the company for the family and wishing riders safe driving.

You know PZ as a company has been in this country for a long time and we are proud to be in Nigeria we belong to this country and we are also contributing to the development of the country," he stated.

The Chairman of the Okada Riders Association, Mr. Perkings Tijani, said the donation was to foster partnership between the association and the TEC Company. He said few months ago the state executive of MOALS and the management of TEC Motorcycle sat down and saw reason why they should do business together.

He said the executives had tested the Motorcycles and had discovered that the technology that went into it surpasses that of any Motorbike in the country in the moment. When we are talking of cushion here we are talking of the absorber. If you look at the technology that went into the absorber; despite the fact that the Federal Government and the Road Safety personnel have asked our members not to pick two passengers, but if you pick five passengers I think you are still on the road when it comes to Tec motorcycle because it is going to give you smooth run.

"And if there is no engine oil in the bike you can still move for 160 kilometres. I think you can just imagine that because the technology so far is only with TEC motorcycle.

Then it has a giant thank of 14 litres and a reserve thank of 2.5 litres. Then the fuel switch, this is the first time that I am personally seeing a bike with switch and fuel filter. So that is the reason why the entire members of the state executive endorse TEC motorcycle," he appraised.

He thanked the management of TEC Motorcycle and promised them that his members would not disappoint the company.

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