RMA Cambodia, the local arm of the Ford Motor Company, is preparing the ground for a US$2 million Ford dealership and service centre in Phnom Penh.

Situated on Monivong Boulevard next to the Philippine and Vietnamese Embassies, the new facility will stock 10 Ford models, including sedans and sports utility vehicles for the private consumer market alongside trucks and buses tailored for commercial use.

“The dealership and showroom are top of the line and designed to meet the international standard of the Ford brand,” said Seng Voeung, RMA’s Ford Division manager.

“It’s an investment that demonstrates we’re a main player in the market and one step ahead of other companies.”

The new dealership is further hallmark of Ford’s ambitious push into the domestic automotive market in the Kingdom.

Among the models expected to appear in the new dealership is the Ford Everest, the first luxury sports utility model assembled entirely in the country.

RMA Cambodia spent US $3 million on the construction of the Everest assembly plant in Sihanoukville, with the first completed models expected to roll off the production line later in the year.

“Assembling international quality vehicles here is an important step for Cambodia’s automotive industry,” said RMA Chief Executive Officer Rami Sharaf.

“I can proudly say the vehicle we assembled in our plant in Sihanoukville enjoys exactly the same quality of workmanship and safety as if this vehicle had been produced out of Detroit.”

Speaking at a Phnom Penh press conference for the unveiling of the Sihanoukville plant, Ford Asia Pacific’s regional manager David Westerman said that Ford Motor Company estimates 70 per cent of its growth to occur in the Asia Pacific region over the next decade.

Cambodia may just prove to be a critical player in this projected regional growth.

When finished, the dealership will include a 24-hour onsite customer service centre and Pizza Company outlet, according to the company.

Construction of the facility is expected to be complete by September.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sean Gleeson at [email protected]