New room for KIG's best

Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG), Jamaican dealers in Ford, Subaru and Jeep, is a staple along Spanish Town Road. Now they have another St Andrew address; this time a bit closer to the Cross Roads and New Kingston business districts.

The new-car dealer's recently opened showroom at 21-25 Old Hope Road is part of a $60 million expansion and upgrading of its facilities. While Old Hope Road gets the expansion, 381 Spanish Town Road, which is the country's oldest and the first Ford outlet outside the United States, is being renovated by a new vehicle dealership.

Judith Denton, who handles public relations for KIG, said that at Spanish Town Road, the front has been redone as well as some of the service areas. Among the places on the to-do list are the service areas.

There are no service areas at Old Hope Road, where the focus is strictly on sales. And the headlights in the window are from a specific set of KIG's new vehicle stock - their best sellers.

So the Ford Ranger pick-up (Limited trim level) and the 2016 Explorer have made the cut, as have the Subaru Forester, XV and STI, with Denton hoping to add the Outback. The two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Grand Cherokee (Summit) have also found space in the new showroom as well.

"It is a sign that KIG is doing good business in Jamaica," Denton conceded. And it is all in the country, as KIG does not ship vehicles to other countries.

At the Old Hope Road location, Denton said customers will be facilitated for the entire motor vehicle transaction, "from the beginning to the delivery of the car".

She has hopes of making it a welcoming environment. "We will have a showroom coordinator. We are putting in a crackerjack team up there," Denton said, adding that she wants to create an "amazing experience" for customers.

One noticeable Ford absentee at the Hope Road showroom was the Focus sedan. Denton noted that the market was trending towards SUVs and pick-ups, singing the Ranger's praises. With three Subaru models already on the floor and the possibility of another being added, Denton paid special attention to the make.

"I think Subaru is the unsung hero of the Japanese brands. People don't realise how good the car is. Many of the features that are in the Subaru are what you find in the luxury brands," Denton said.

She noted the boxer engines, designed for maximum safety, and the ride enhanced by all-wheel drive.

"I just wish that in Jamaica people could look at safety when purchasing a car. If you can afford it, you should buy the safest car possible," Denton said.

There is also the beginning of a Subaru trade-in activity.

"What we are seeing happening is that you have a Subaru that we think is in good condition and we will trade it in," Denton said.