German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz Thailand has opened a new parts distribution centre in Samut Prakan province with an investment of 500 million baht to support logistics for 32 service centres nationwide.
Operated wholly by Mercedes-Benz, the centre is located on Bang Na-Trat KM19, which used to be the company’s vehicle preparation centre. The new warehouse can analyse and store spare parts used for maintenance and general repairs.
On a total area of 45,000 square metres, 13,000 sq m has been allocated for auto parts storage, which could be expanded to 15,000 sq m in the future.
Mercedes-Benz has allotted the remaining 30,000 sq m for a new training and workshop centre.
Roland Folger, president and chief executive, said the centre will increase efficiency and speed of management, as well as streamline the distribution of parts to all Mercedes-Benz’s service centres.
“This new development will strengthen our customer service and satisfaction across the country,” he said.
Mr Folger said the company is confident the centre has high potential, especially because of its strategic location that provides access to land, air and sea transport.
Putthi Tulayathun, vice-president for customer services, said the new centre is Mercedes-Benz’s official parts warehouse in Thailand maximise the distribution capacity of up to 2,000 lines per day.
The warehouse’s operating procedure starts from the inbound logistics area, with spare parts imported from Germany and Singapore. These parts are sorted and listed in the warehouse’s inventory, ready to be distributed upon dealers’ orders.
Once the spare parts from stock are ordered through, they are brought to the outbound logistics area.
“The 17 service centres in the Bangkok area will be able to receive the ordered spare parts the same day, whereas 15 other dealers in upcountry areas will receive them the following day,” said Mr Putthi.
In 2017, Mercedes-Benz announced a three-year plan for the expansion of two facilities in Samut Prakan to support sales and after-sales services.
The vehicle preparation centre started operations in November 2017 with an investment of 2 billion baht on Bang Na-Trat KM30.
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