Driving on the road to success

MEET YOUR ENTREPRENEUR/Anil Chhatwal

Anil Chhatwal started his career as a sales engineer with Thermax in 1986. He is now the managing director of Techno Motors Pvt Ltd, one of the largest two-wheeler dealer in Gujarat.

Chhatwal incorporated Techno Motors, the authorised main dealer of TVS Motor Company, in 1989 with an investment of Rs 20 lakh. The funds were borrowed from friends and acquaintances. "I will never be able to forget their contribution in what I have become today," said Chhatwal.

It was a very tough start for the entrepreneur and it took him more than a year to sell the first consignment of 10 bikes. To add to Chhatwal woes, there was a lock out the very next year at TVS' plant at Hosur in Tamil Nadu.

"We are at present one of the largest dealers of two-wheelers in Gujarat, selling more than 3000 vehicles per year. We even received an award from TVS for becoming their largest selling dealer in Gujarat in 1993-1994," said Chhatwal. The company has reported a turnover of Rs 8 crore in 2002-2003. It has already achieved a turnover in excess of Rs 7 crore in the first nine months of the current financial year.

"Techno Motors is one of the first companies in the state to introduce the exchange offer concept in two-wheelers and is perhaps the first Indian company in the two-wheeler segment to offer servicing on Sundays," said Chhatwal.

With the launch of TVS Motor's Centra, a 100 cc bike, Techno Motors expects good business in the next financial year. Chhatwal also plans to diversify into the four-wheeler market in the next financial year with an initial investment of Rs 80 lakh. He has even identified a site on the Sarkhej - Gandhinagar highway for setting up his new car showroom.

Chhatwal is married to Shelly Chhatwal, who is director, finance and accounts, at Techno Motors. They have a son Shrey and a daughter Nadia, both studying. Chhatwal loves driving and boasts of travelling to the valley of flowers, Badrinath, on his bike along with his wife, around 1700 kilometres from Ahmedabad.

Chhatwal is a firm believer in God and attributes his success to his customers, whom he considers his God. He identifies 'customer satisfaction' as his success mantra.