Xodus Communications Limited, organisers of the Ghana Auto Awards, has held the first ever Test Drive Festival in Ghana at the Achimota Retail Centre as a climax to the main awards.
There were about 150 test drivers, 30 vehicles, and motorcycles at JP Test Drive Festival. The Test Drive Festival provided a one-stop shop opportunity for prospective car buyers and enthusiasts to touch, feel and ride a wide range of competing brands, and for authorised dealers to display their new vehicles to customers at the same place.
Some of the participating companies were: Silver Star Motors, Premium Motors, Japan Motors, Universal Motors, Mac Ghana, MG Auto Trading, Zonda Tec Ghana, Tanink Ghana, CFAO, Tata Motors, Honda, Hyundai and Changan. Others included Somocco Ghana, JP Fuel station, and Hollard Ghana.
The public had the opportunity to drive vehicles of their choice, including trucks, saloon, SUVs, electric vehicles and motorcycles. The General Manager of JP, Joshua Larbi, and headline sponsors of the event, shared his experience when he drove one of the vehicles on display. ”The exterior and interior of most of the vehicles are beautiful. There is comfort in the seating, soft steering wheel for easy manoeuverability. And some cars had seats with in-built massagers as well,” he said.
According to Mr. Richard Abbey Jnr., Event Director of Xodus Communications Limited – organisers of the Test Drive: ”The purpose of the event was to assess the roadworthiness and overall functioning state of all cars nominated for the awards. The test drive offers the opportunity to experience what it is like to drive the car. Among other things, the goal of the Ghana Auto Awards is to give buyers reliable, unbiased information about cars across a range of categories”.
Xodus communication Limited is the handler of Ghana Auto Awards, Ghana Insurance Awards, Ghana Manufacturing Awards, Forty under 40 Awards, Ghana Oil & Gas Awards and Forty Under 40 Africa. The company intends to do this annually.
