The Washington Inquirer EditorThe Georgian office of Indigo Cars, a professional car delivery company from the United States with five years of experience in logistics management, aims to become one of the top three car importers in the country this year, managing partners of the company told Golden Brand.
Executive Director of the company Zaza Shubitidze said future plans at Indigo Cars included adding warehouse spaces in the company’s headquarters in America, and opening several new offices in Georgia.
“Indigo Cars is a rapidly growing company, and we plan to expand our work team to accommodate this growth. Currently we have more than 50 employees, and we anticipate that this number will double by the end of 2024”, Shubitidze said.
“In the future, we plan to take an active role in social activities and projects, as we are aware of the negative impact that the auto industry can have on the environment. We want to take corporate social responsibility and contribute to the care and maintenance of the environment. We believe that this industry is promising and offers opportunities for young people, so we want to develop it and attract more trained, professional staff to Georgia”, he added.
Q. Indigo Cars has won the Golden Brand award in the category of ‘favorite car importer’. What led the company to this recognition, in your opinion?
A. We are proud to say that our company has been recognized for its outstanding achievements. We believe that this recognition is a result of the dedicated and selfless work of our employees, who have always shown enthusiasm and determination.
Indigo Car has been licensed as an authorized dealer in the United States for over 25 years. We own our own warehouse areas and specialize in the safe and guaranteed export of automobiles and auto parts to Georgia. We have been operating in Georgia for five years now, with a Georgian office and team. During this period we have successfully transported many vehicles to our clients.
We believe that the main reason for our success in this category is the extensive experience and exclusive services that Indigo Cars has acquired in America, which we have brought to Georgia and continued according to American standards. We have also retrained our team members to ensure that they provide the same level of quality service that our clients have come to expect from us.
Q. How has Indigo Cars grown from small company to market leader?
A. The company was small in the beginning, but with lofty aspirations and a can-do attitude. Despite fierce competition we managed to capture a significant share of the market in the first few years.
Indigo Cars has a strong connection to America, and we are striving to replicate our business principles in Georgia. Our company is built on a foundation of trust and transparency, and our aim is to become one of the top three car importers in Georgia this year. Although this is an ambitious target, we are prepared to put in the work and effort to achieve it. We are dedicated to progress and development.
Although our business is relatively young, it is growing and developing at a rapid pace. In 2023 we opened new branches in Gori, Kutaisi, and Batumi, which helped us expand our reach. As a result, we were able to hire more employees and increase our team significantly. Our campaigns and activities in 2023 helped us raise more awareness about Indigo Cars, which, in turn, led to an increase in the number of customers.
Q. Based on your experience, it will be interesting to hear your view of the Georgian market. How favorable is the business environment for car importers in the country, and what useful regulations has the Government passed?
A. The import of cars in Georgia is on the rise, making it a hub for the trade and re-export of used cars. As a result, the number of car importing companies in the market is also increasing. Light vehicles are the most traded commodity group in Georgia. Despite the pandemic, the auto industry in Georgia saw a record year in 2023.
Georgia plays a significant role as a transit country in the development of this industry. Around 75% of the cars that come into Georgia are exported. The auto industry is a major contributor to job creation in the country. Many professions are involved in the import of one car, and each car goes through a cycle before it reaches the customer. Therefore it is crucial for the state to be involved and encourage the auto industry while implementing relevant regulations.
Q. What are the challenges Indigo Cars faces?
A. Indigo Cars faces challenges in importing vehicles to Ukraine due to the ongoing events in the country. This is a significant obstacle for the company, which operates in multiple countries, including Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It’s worth noting that the difficulty in importing cars to Ukraine affects the overall operation of Indigo Cars.
Q. You promote Indigo Car with this message – “Looking for a new car with a clean history?” – what do you mean by that?
A. At Indigo Cars we pride ourselves on providing our customers with cars that have a clean history. Often cars presented at auctions are damaged and fall into the category of used cars. However, when communicating with our customers, our sales managers carefully select vehicles with minimal damage and defects. We then manage and repair any excess damage and ensure safe, guaranteed transportation. Our main message to customers is that they can find and purchase all types of cars from us, including new ones with a clean history.
Q. Which car models are most in-demand among your customers?
A. As I have already mentioned, almost 75% of the imported cars in Georgia are then exported. The exports are mainly carried out to five different countries, which affects the behavior of Georgian car dealers in terms of what cars they choose to import. Despite the rapid changes in regulations, market demands, and trends, Georgian car dealers are able to quickly adapt and offer relevant choices to consumers. The most popular car brands in Georgia are Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Honda, and Hyundai.
Q. How many cars did Indigo Cars import in 2023?
A. Last year over 10,000 cars were imported from America to Georgia. The market witnessed a growth of 42% last year, while our growth almost reached 80%. We plan to achieve a growth rate that is at least twice as high as that of the car imports in Georgia. Our American vision, experienced team of professionals, and expertise give us the confidence to accomplish this ambitious plan.
Q. What are the advantages of Indigo Cars that make it an outstanding company in the field?
A. Indigo Cars takes pride in offering several advantages to its customers. We have warehouse areas in the US, where the purchased car undergoes detailed inspection and is professionally packed with special material to prevent any damage during transportation. Once packed, the cars and auto parts are transported from the warehouse area to the designated destination within the predetermined time frame.
Customers can track the location of their car and the journey to the port of Poti. The transportation services organized and performed by Indigo Cars are safe and reliable, as borne out by numerous satisfied customers and licensed carriers. We use high-quality clamps and vehicles to ensure the safe transportation of the vehicles.
In addition, we offer co-financing services to potential and loyal customers that provide them with more opportunities to purchase the desired car or auto parts at the desired price and conditions. We also have several offices throughout Georgia where customers can consult and select and buy a car.
At Indigo Cars, we always strive to provide our customers with outstanding services, reasonable prices, and organized service.
