Service Networks Grow Beyond The Cities

Ownership cost is decided long after the purchase, and the bottleneck has always been distance to a service centre.

Smaller towns are increasingly covered, which changes the maths for buyers outside the major cities. Before committing, check the service interval in kilometres, not just months — a long interval with a distant centre can still be inconvenient.

Extended warranty and roadside assistance are worth pricing alongside the vehicle rather than after the fact.