Malaysia-based Autotrop Sdn Bhd plans to penetrate the competitive Cambodian auto sector to promote its – Fujiya and Challenger – batteries and even plans to set up a local warehouse.
Speaking to The Post in the capital last Thursday, Autotrop’s director Gary Lim T.H. said the company sees Cambodia as a potential market for its products, which are used worldwide.
“Cambodia is growing very fast and we are targetting to sell automotive batteries, mainly the three categories – maintenance free, deep cycle battery and the conventional type,” said Lim
The deep cycle batteries caters for electrical appliances on boats, golf buggies, light industrial scissor lifts and caravans as well as commercial and recreational vehicles, said Lim.
The batteries met the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), Deutsches Institut fur Normung (DIN) standard and have qualified export packaging for the export markets.
The company participated in the CamAuto Expo 2018 where some 40 companies involved in auto parts, accessories and service equipment took part in the three- day event held at the Diamond Island Exhibition and Convention Centre in Koh Pich in the capital last week.
“We are looking for new markets and shifting from the domestic market (Malaysia).
“We are looking for dealers here and opening a warehouse is an option. This will shorten logistics time and we can deliver to customers within a short period.
“There is a good demand for batteries in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, as the number of vehicles continues to rise."
“I am confident our products can sell in this market, it is built with Japanese technology and the brand has existed in the market since the 70s."
“Our prices are competitive and we promote quality products,” said Lim
In Cambodia, lead acid batteries have dual usage. Besides being used in vehicles, batteries are also used in rural areas, where there is no electricity, for lighting purposes.
According to a 2014 report by Research and Markets, a research agency, Cambodia’s lead acid batteries market is projected to be worth $239.4 million by 2019, at a compound annual growth rate of 10 percent.
“Most of the households in Cambodia use automotive batteries for lighting purposes leading to high replacement rates for automotive or mid capacity batteries in the region."
“Investments in automotive parts factories in Cambodia have opened the market for automotive batteries in the region,” said the report.
The Fujiya and Challenger batteries are manufactured by ABM, a subsidiary of ABM Fujiya Berhad and the batteries cater for a wide range of Malaysian, Japanese, Korean and European made vehicles, ranging from small passenger cars to buses and trucks.
At present, the company is operating four plants with a total production capacity of approximately 1.6 million units of batteries per annum, and targets foreign markets.
