Inchcape Singapore switches to Kärcher automated car wash system to save up to 7.5 million litres of precious water per year

The authorised distributor for Toyota, Lexus and Suzuki cars has installed Kärcher water-saving car wash gantries in its Leng Kee and Ubi service centres to replace manual car-cleaning.

This initiative to make car-washing more sustainable in car-loving Singapore is a first in the local motor trade, which has always relied on elbow grease to wash countless cars as part of workday operations.  

The usual, manual car wash done by hand consumes about 130 litres of water per wash, whereas the automated car wash gantry by German cleaning-solutions giant Kärcher can significantly reduce the water consumption per car wash by recycling up to 85 percent of the water used. 

Described as pioneering technology in the automotive sector, its deployment in the two Inchcape service centres is projected to save up to 7.5 million litres of precious water annually, which is equivalent to the volume of three Olympic-sized swimming pools – perfect for Singapore’s Olympic champion Joseph Schooling, even though he has retired from the sport.   

The Inchcape-Karcher automated car wash not only saves water, but also makes the car-washing process more efficient. 

According to Inchcape, each machine can wash around 60 cars a day and takes five minutes to wash one car, which is said to increase the manpower efficiency by 67 percent. The previous manual method of washing a car required two guys who took about 14 minutes to complete the task. Manual labour, however, continues to be employed for washing customer cars after they are polished.  

Greater efficiency doesn’t mean lesser efficacy in this case, because the Kärcher auto washers have special polyethylene brushes, an angle-optimised rear cleaning action, height-adjusted cleaning of the wheels, and a roof dryer which follows the topside contour of the car. 

Read More: Inchcape launches omnichannel customer platform and newly-renovated Toyota showroom

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