Aam A1 Team Malaysia Unicard Membership Programme Reaches Out To Young Drivers
Reaching out to the younger generation of car owners and drivers, the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) is proud to introduce the AAM A1 Team Malaysia Unicard that will provide those between the ages of 18 and 23 not only with breakdown assistance but the important values of good road safety.
The new membership programme is FREE of charge and members pay subsidized charges only when they require service. AAM’s 24-hour road assistance and breakdown service includes everything from a motorcycle patrol or van unit being dispatched to assist vehicles that run out of petrol, or requires a jump start or a new car battery, to providing car carriers and tow trucks in the event the vehicle is immobilized.
To make use of the service, all the cardholder is required to do is call the AAM hotline at 1-800-88-0808 and request for a motorcycle, van or tow truck to be dispatched, or in the event he is unsure, describe the nature of the vehicle problem to AAM’s customer service executive who will then select the most appropriate and cost efficient service to be rendered.
While membership is free of charge, cardholders are however, required to make a pledge that they will abide by a set of eight golden rules of road safety, and in doing so, becoming a responsible, caring, law abiding and safe driver.
“The launch of the AAM A1 Team Malaysia Unicard allows AAM to fulfill three very important objectives – inculcating the importance of road safety to young drivers, providing them with around the clock breakdown assistance, and growing AAM’s membership base for the future,” said AAM Chairman Yang Mulia Tunku Mudzaffar Tunku Mustapha.
The new membership programme is targeted to attract 10,000 cardholders annually. Applications can be made at the nearest AAM office nationwide or any mobile AAM promotional booth. Applicants will be issued with their membership card immediately.
The AAM A1 Team Malaysia Unicard membership programme is also an extension of the existing AAM A1 Team Malaysia card that was introduced in 2008 in collaboration with A1 Team Malaysia. AAM is a partner of A1 Team Malaysia that competes in the A1GP Championship.
Commitment to road safety
As young and new drivers, it is important for AAM A1 Team Malaysia Unicard members to know, understand and appreciate the significance of road safety. This will be in line with AAM’s continued efforts to firmly establish road safety not only as a discipline but a way of life, and in the process make Malaysian roads safer for all motorists.
“The most effective approach is to reach out to drivers when they’re young, at the point of them obtaining their driver’s licence or in their early years of car ownership,” said Tunku Mudzaffar.
“It’s not just a question of knowing what road safety is all about but more importantly understanding its importance and embracing these values whenever an individual in on the road, irrespective of whether he or she is driving, riding a motorcycle or walking. Road safety is as much about abiding traffic rules and regulations just as it is about being courteous and considerate of other road users.”
Reaching out to young drivers
Not only is the AAM A1 Team Malaysia Unicard membership free, it also extends subsidized service charges to cardholders in the event they require assistance. The rates are subsidized by AAM, the cardholder only pays for the specific service rendered, and service is guaranteed 24 hours a day. In addition, the membership does not limit the cardholder to a specific vehicle but enables the individual to obtain breakdown service and road assistance even if the vehicle is registered to another party. Vehicles however, must possess a valid road tax.
Services rendered include the following; vehicle out of petrol, jumpstart, new car battery, puncture. AAM is also able to carry out minor on-the-spot repairs for the following items; fan belt, fuel filter, accelerator cable, condenser, radiator fan motor wiring, contact problem, clutch cable, distributor car, spark plugs, ignition coil, rotor arm and spark plug cables (depending on availability of spare parts).
“The objective of this exercise is purely to be there for them in their time of need. Appreciating the fact that as university or college students money will of course be of concern, we made a bold decision to subsidize the service charges so that it does not become a burden to cardholders,” said Tunku Mudzaffar.
“Members have the assurance of guaranteed service and at the same time, the luxury of only paying as and when they require our services.”
Being subsidized, he added that the rates extended to cardholders are well below the rates that are currently charged by workshops and tow truck operators in the market. Another important point is that cardholders are assured of service anytime they call.
Nurturing a new generation of AAM members
From a commercial standpoint, the new membership programme will contribute to reaffirming AAM’s position as the number one breakdown service and road assistance provider in the country, and at the same time establish customer loyalty.
Recognized and acknowledged for its quality assurance, prompt service and wide range of services offered, AAM currently has more than 300,000 active members.
With a total of 20 offices in major cities throughout Malaysia, AAM has more than 250 mechanics working tirelessly to help its members nationwide, a fleet of various vehicles to render optimum road services at every breakdown centre, in addition to being backed by 164 appointed workshops and tow-truck operators to complement breakdown service, especially outside the major cities and towns.
In 2008, AAM responded to a total of 68,427 roadside assistance cases. AAM responds to an average of 250-300 breakdown calls per day. The average response time for breakdowns within the Klang Valley is 45-50 minutes and 10-20 minutes in other towns.
AAM membership is open to all Malaysians. The annual subscription fee for ordinary and basic memberships is RM75. The annual subscription fee for the AAM A1 Team Malaysia and AAM Shape Lady’s memberships meanwhile, is RM100.
AAM members enjoy the wide and comprehensive range of benefits and services from breakdown service, road assistance, accident assistance, insurance coverage, collision repair, renewal of road tax and driver’s licence, to car inspection and valuation, free technical advice, discounts on car rental, rental of child car seat and baby bassinet, car care courses, safety and advanced driving courses, travel packages and discounts, and vehicle anti-theft and fleet management solutions.
To apply online, visit here: http://www.autoworld.com.my/aam
