All Honda Malaysia authorised dealerships have restarted operations and reopened showrooms, but how safe are they now for you? This is the message Honda has for you: “Our Dealers Are Ready For You”. The company stresses that it places a lot of emphasis on the importance of safety and hygiene measures across its range of operations.
“Honda Malaysia highly appreciates the hard work of all frontliners and cooperation of Malaysians that have helped flattened the curve. Most of the business sectors are allowed to open with conditions including the automotive industry are also coming back into operation and we look forward to contribute to the nation’s economy. However, we cannot rest on our laurels and need to continue to be attentive and adhere to the rules and regulations announced by the government during CMCO (Conditional Movement Control Order) period. Even as our dealers commence operations in full, we will continue to emphasise customers and associates’ safety by practicing social distancing as well as following the safety practices and guidelines. We have implemented strict precautions for everyone’s well-being, as we would like the customers to continue to experience the Joy of Buying at our dealerships with peace of mind. All Honda sales and service advisors are required to adhere to the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and at the same time, we hope all our customers will follow the guidelines announced by Ministry of Health (MOH) and accept the new normal as the nation cautiously kickstart the economy “Together As One”,” said Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Toichi Ishiyama.
The company had earlier announced preventive measures that include temperature screening, hand sanitising and crowd control. In addition to the measures for aftersales service operations which was announced on 29 April 2020, the following are the Precautionary Measures that have been activated at all dealerships nationwide:
1. Showroom Visit (Car Viewing)
Upon arrival at any Honda dealership nationwide, customers will undergo temperature screening and are required to use the hand sanitiser made available at the entrance, before entering the showroom. Individuals recording temperature of 37.5°C and above or are exhibiting symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath will be advised to leave the premises to immediately seek medical attention.
The customer flow at all dealerships has been restructured to have only one entrance and one exit for a more effective check-and-control measure. High traffic or frequently used areas such as the door handles and washrooms are sanitised and disinfected on a regular basis every day. Upon entrance into the showroom, face masks will be provided to the customers.
Both customers and Honda sales advisors are required to wear face masks before engaging in any discussion. All display cars in the Honda dealerships are cleaned using certified sanitisers regularly everyday. Sales advisors are required to adhere to the recommended social distance of 1 metre from customers during the explanation on the exterior of the Honda models. During the demonstration and explanation of interior features of the car, the sales advisors will sit in the rear seat to maintain social distancing at all times.
2. Customer Test Drive
All test drive cars also are sanitised using certified sanitisers before and after each test drive session with particular attention to the areas and accessories that are frequently touched such as the steering wheel, switches, dashboard, door handles and car keys. To provide assurance and maintain hygiene at all times during a test drive, gloves are provided, and both customers and sales advisors must wear their face masks and gloves throughout the test drive. To continue social distancing, the sales advisor will sit in the rear seat at all times while the customer is conducting a test drive.
3. Booking A Honda Car
In terms of car booking, Honda Malaysia encourages customers to make payment directly into respective dealership’s accounts via e-transaction to minimise contact with common items such as table, stationery and also Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal. Honda Malaysia has also enabled online renewal for car insurance, making it more convenient and safer at the same time.
4. New Car Delivery
Honda Malaysia understands that the receiving of a new car delivery is a celebration for both dealers and customers. In view of the current situation and with safety being of utmost importance, the company advises customers to limit guests present during the new car delivery occasion to ONE person to avoid having a large crowd in the showroom. Every new car will be thoroughly sanitised before the customer takes possession of it.
5. Honda After-Sales Services And Honda Cars Warranty Extension
It is compulsory for customers to make appointments for their car service at the dealerships as Honda Malaysia is enforcing stringent measures including crowd control and social distancing. The number of customers present at any one time for car service in the dealership is limited at minimum capacity. Advance appointments will ensure that the customers are able to enjoy a smoother after-sales service experience. For the warranty extension, Honda Malaysia has made special considerations as follows:
Honda Malaysia sales office and manufacturing plant are resuming operations in stages during the CMCO period.