By Andrew Green, Staff Reporter
Minister of Development, Dr. Paul Robertson (right) being shown the Island Cruiser automobile by Patrick Marzouca, the managing director of Excel Motors Limited, prior it being shipped to the Bahamas from the Montego Bay port last week. - Adrian Frater Photo
ORDERS ARE flowing in, said Patrick Marzouca. Proving the sceptics wrong, he has not only built a Jamaican car, but exported one to the Bahamas last week.
His company, Excel Motors, has built 22 of the two-door 'Island Cruisers' so far this year. With the world-wide publicity from the recent export, he expects production to be substantially boosted.
"The object of this exercise is to have a vehicle that can run as long as you live," he said. The fibreglass body will last a lifetime, and other components can be changed as needed. The car should have special appeal for those living close to the sea. Unlike steel-bodied vehicles which rust in a salty environment, the fibreglass 'Island Cruiser' will not rust.
Built at the Excel plant in Westmoreland, the two-door jeep-like car comes in hard or soft-top models and sells for between Jamaican $669,000-$785,000 (US$11,500-$13,500).
This achievement was not an overnight success.
JAMAICAN LABOUR
Patrick Marzouca had successfully run a car rental business in the USA and in Europe prior to his return to Jamaica. He said it was his idea to develop and build a vehicle using Jamaican labour. This Jeep type vehicle had to be suitable for the Jamaican and the Caribbean market and the sales price had to be affordable to the potential customers. In 1994, he contacted International Business America and in October a contract was presented to him, which detailed the development process for such a vehicle.
Serv-Wel of Jamaica had previously started a process to build vehicles here, but the effort was aborted. Its chief executive officer, Ray Hadeed, had said this was because of harsh economic conditions and high interest rates.
Not deterred, Mr. Marzouca pushed ahead with his project, getting help from a number of local and overseas experts. The company, which launched in 1996, hired German automotive engineer Hans Fleischer to help develop the car.
It was not until January of 1999 that the first body was built. The trade name was chosen for the vehicle at this point, so the 'Island Cruiser' was born.
Up to the year 2000, 8 bodies were built and 7 vehicles were completed of which 6 were sold. Thus began the slow process of familiarising the market with the vehicle and establishing its reputation.
LOCAL MATERIALS
The fibreglass chassis is made with local materials, while the 1.5-litre engine is imported from Japan. The 2003 line comes in four colours, manual or automatic transmission, with optional air conditioning. "This vehicle was developed for the Jamaican roads and tough third world conditions," he said. The prototype vehicle is four years old and still going strong.
"If the Caribbean market takes off as we hope, you can imagine the implications," he said. Right now he is ramping up production at the Westmoreland factory to deal with the current demand. "This is not a dream, this is reality," Mr. Marzouca said.
