Grand Auto Premier

- New Workshop On The Airport Road

GRAND AUTO BODY SHOP (GABS), PART OF THE TSAPO GROUP OF COMPANIES, OPENED THEIR NEW WORKSHOP ALONG THE AIRPORT ROAD IN MARCH 2021 THIS YEAR. IT’S JUST BEHIND THE BYD ELECTRIC VEHICLE SHOWROOM WHICH WAS FEATURED IN S&D ISSUE 40. THEY STILL HAVE THEIR ORIGINAL WORKSHOP AT 184 MUTARE ROAD IN MSASA BUT THE NEW PREMISES ARE BIGGER AND BETTER AND MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED OFFERING A SUPERIOR, PREMIER SERVICE FOR CUSTOMERS. THE TSAPO GROUP INCLUDES FAW, GOLDEN DRAGON, MASSBREED, CTRACK, SINOTRUK AND OTHERS INCLUDING LOVOL WHICH IS FEATURED ON PAGE (?) TSAPO IS A SHONA WORD THAT LOOSELY TRANSLATES TO A LARGE WOVEN BASKET SO IT’S AN APPROPRIATE NAME FOR THE CONGLOMERATE OF COMPANIES, MOSTLY FOCUSED ON THE MOTOR INDUSTRY. GABS IS DEFINED AS AN SBU – STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNIT – OF THE TSAPO GROUP. SO IT OPERATES INDEPENDENTLY BUT STILL REFERS TO THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE STATUS OF ITS OPERATIONS, AND STILL RECEIVES SUPPORT AND BACKUP FROM THE GROUP.

text by Michael Nott photos by Structure and Design

The Msasa workshop, which was originally opened in (2006) is still operational for quotations but most of the work takes place at the new premises at 31 Airport Road. The iconic new building is also home to BYD’s solar power division and Lindezi Travel and Tours – all of which fall under the umbrella of the Tsapo Group of companies.

The development was a collaboration between Kingswood Contracting - civil and building contractors - and the Inviktvs Design Group. 4M Construction acted as the project managers with Grid Transmission supplying and installing the steel structure for the walls and the Chromadek roof and Aluminium Solutions installing the front glass façade.

The back section houses Grand Auto Body Shop’s workshops and spares section. GABS have invested in state of the art new technology for all their vehicle repairs and servicing, including three dedicated spray booths for different body finishing processes. The floor slab was especially reinforced to accommodate the weight of the hydraulic vehicle lifting equipment and extra-large roller shutter doors allow access for bigger trucks and buses. A sequence of translucent roof sheets provides natural light for the workshop while a series of whirlybirds punctuate the roof for ventilation.

GABS is a member of MIAZ – Motor Industry Association of Zimbabwe – which, amongst other duties, has the mandate to carefully monitor the performance of its members. As a mark of the quality and professional service offered GABS is trusted by over 10 of the major car insurance companies in Zimbabwe, so you rest assured of the best service at the best prices.

Some of GABS’s services include panel beating and spray painting, chassis straightening, auto trimming (for upholstery), windscreen, window and lock mechanism repairs (some of which is subcontracted) as well as headlight focusing, an auto-valet service and a vehicle polishing service. They also provide suspension and mechanical repairs and a convenient towing service after a collision.

GABS also offers a fibreglass mould repair service as a number of leading vehicle brands now have fibreglass bumpers and parts. They have a huge range of spares in stock but they can also order spares as needed and in some cases even manufacture spare parts as required. To date they have invested a huge amount of capital in their workshop to ensure that customers receive the best possible attention. All their work is inspected by a number of different experts before its passed on to the customer so you can rest assured that you receive the best service possible.

GABS has invested a huge amount of capital in the latest machinery including a brand new ‘dent puller’ for smaller repairs. They also continue to invest a substantial amount of resources in staff training ensuring that their staff is always up to date with the latest technology. GABS currently employs around 30 staff members in the workshop as well as an additional 20 staff in administration and management. GABS are capable of working on small vehicles – including motor bikes, larger high end vehicles like twin cabs and SUVs, right up to larger trucks and busses. GABS can work on petrol, diesel hybrid and fully electric vehicles.

For more information on GABS:

Visit 31 Airport Road Call: 0242 572887/573372 Email: info@grandauto.co.zw Website: www.grandauto.co.zw