If you want to buy a Ferarri, Bentley or high-end Range Rover in Phnom Penh, T-Exclusive Cars is the place to go. The dealership’s general manager Sam Piseth sat down with 7Days this week to explain what kind of luxury cars his showroom has available, and how much you should expect to pay if you want to drive off in one.
What types of cars do you have available in your showroom?
We have all sorts. We have used cars and new cars, we have the Ferrari F430 which is $350,000, we have the Land Rover Defender, we have the Mercedes F55 S-Class and Bentley models, including a used 2009 model which is $180,000. This month we sold five units – four of those were brand new Range Rover Evoques and the other one was an Infinity Qx56, which is $165,000.
What sort of a market is there for luxury cars in Phnom Penh? Could you tell me a little about the customers you’re selling to?
Most of our customers are business people and high-ranking people. They are very careful about buying, they look at it online and they know all about these cars. Customers also know about the luxury equipment that comes with the car. They don’t ask a lot of questions before they buy it, they just come and take a look, and then they make a deposit. Many are old customers who are used to driving the cars already.
From your sales figures, the Range Rover seems to be the most popular type of car you’re selling. Why do you think that is?
There’s a number of reasons. One is the durability of the Range Rover. Secondly, the design of the car and the luxurious equipment available for it.
Sports utility cars are very popular among Cambodians; they like the high ground clearance and fuel economy, and because it is a diesel engine with an engine displacement of 3.0 litres, they can drive a lot on that.
What sort of optional extras do your customers like to select for their cars?
Most people now like to have surround cameras on the car and a TV in the middle console entertainment area. Because some cars are factory stock from Europe they have heaters, but now we are trying to order features that will fit the market here.
