The main objective of the company is to assemble environmentally friendly, fit for the weather condition of the country economical and inexpensive cars for the local and export marketsÂ
BackgroundÂ
Tadesse Tessema, an engineer by profession used to live in the Netherlands. He used to travel to Ethiopia now and then. He found out that there were demands for cars in Ethiopia. So he established. So he established a company named Ethio-Holland which imported used Lada cars from Holland itself.Â
After a while he found out the negative impacts of used cars, like the environmental and technical hazards, limited employment opportunities for the fellow citizens, and the low benefits to the country and himself as well . Therefore he decided to assemble cars within the country. He tried to find a partner and fund to start with. He came up with a project on a joint venture basis with the Dutch company, Trento BV , Engineering and with the fund obtained from the Netherlands Government.Â
The land on which the factory was constructed was obtained from the Oromia Regional State, near Mojo Town about 70 km, South of Addis Ababa on the main road to Djibouti.Â
With the help of technical expertise from the Netherlands combined with the Ethiopian skilled manpower the first car was assembled under the name Docc (Dutch overseas car company) whose parts were originated from Turkish Automotive car Producer. Docc was an old Model of seventy's and there was speculation (uncertainty) that there might be lack of (un availability) spare parts in the future.Â
The partners then decided to inter into an agreement with a Chinese Auto Manufacturing company called Lifan with the latest art of technology came out the new and famous car called "ABAY" after the multinational river which originates from Ethiopia, The River Abay.Â
The FactoryÂ
The factory was built on 20,000.00 sq.mts of land near Mojo Town on the main load to Djibouti. It encompasses assembly painting spare parts warehouse, and customs bonded ware house. It is spacious for loading finished cars and un loading spare parts.Â
There are three modern painting ovens with highly qualified employees. There is a separate section for filling air conditioner gas for newly assembled cars and maintenance as well, offices cafeteria, shower and locker rooms for the employees.Â
At the initial stage the factory was able to assemble only one car per day. But now with the facilities provided and everything remains constant, we can assemble up to six cars per day. When experience gained, we shall be able to assemble up to ten cars per day.Â
Employment OpportunityÂ
One of the major contributions of investment is providing employment opportunities for the fellow citizens which alleviate poverty. In line with this, Holland Car PLC has employed permanently and 20 over 250 people temporarily for construction purposes.Â
The majority of our employees are diploma graduates in automotive technology from different universities, colleges and TVET. They are young and energetic. They have been given on job training and gained technical knowledge from the expatriates the company employed at the beginning of the establishment.Â
To assist the factory and to lead the company as a whole, at the head office level, the company is sub divided into five departments or Functional Divisions, namely, sales and Marketing, Finance, Administration Operation and After Sales Departments.Â
After Sales Department is the department that handles spare parts, maintenance, and customer's complaints, It is well organized and staffed by qualified technical professionals to takle problems that our customers might face after purchasing our cars under sales and marketing department there are two show rooms on Bole Road at Getu and TK international Buildings.Â
Currently, Holland Car is planning to assemble technically advanced cars under the names "ABAY Executive, AWASH Executive& Tekeze which is also named after another famous Ethiopia river. These models are modern, spacious and beautiful. The (T-capital) spare parts will be imported from a Chinese car manufacturing company named Jianghuai Automobile Co., Ltd.(JAC). JAC is one of the four largest car manufacturing companies in China.Â
These brand new cars will be on the streets of Addis just after the Ethiopian New Year. Expect more in the coming years. Holland Car Plc was rated one of the 25 successful business ventures in Ethiopia in 2008, and 2009, it is wineer of the five finalists for SMME Award (Africa's Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises Award) due to is pioneering business Venture in Ethiopia.Â
In 2008, Holland Car Became 2nd from over 70 Dutch overseas Companies rated by the Netherlands Government.
