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Mingjhen Chen, managing director of WH Car Services, still finds it hard to believe the response his garage has sparked in Jamaica.

"It was a pilot opening," he says of the auto shop, located at Ferry in St Catherine.

"We never imagined that it would blow up like this," he added.

Just two months ago, the location was little more than a work-in-progress. Now, it's at the heart of a national conversation, having serviced more than 1,000 vehicles in only eight weeks. Despite its current cap of 30 vehicles per day, demand has far exceeded capacity.

"Based on what we're going through right now, we set a limit because so many people want to come in to check their vehicles, but we don't want to lower the quality of our service just to earn money, that will disobey what we originally set out to do," Chen told THE STAR.

Currently operating with 10 Chinese mechanics, the garage will soon expand its team and capacity once construction on the other half of the property is completed.

"This factory is not 100 per cent ready, because another half of the land we still have the same structure coming up, so we are going to have better space, better equipment, and more mechanics from China," Chen said.

From the beginning, the mission behind WH Car Services was simple: to bring China's extensive automotive know-how to Jamaicans seeking reliable service and a fresh alternative to traditional local garages.

"In Jamaica you have a lot of Chinese enterprises, they were struggling. We come here to solve everybody's problem; we come here to give everyone a second option," Chen said.

He highlights China's capacity to master every vehicle brand.

"China is a big country, and we have all the industries basically from the top to the bottom and all the different car brands, they all have factories in China. Definitely, we will have a little bit more experience because we know these vehicles."

Car Services tackles everything from routine maintenance to complex driveline work.

"The most requested services they offer, the brake system, engine variations, transmission not working, and engine low power," Chen says.

Reflecting on the explosive growth, Chen admits he was caught off guard.

"I never imagined that this could happen. This is beyond my imagination; hence why I didn't hire more mechanics or more materials, more equipment, more machines."

The businessman sees potential for wider impact in the local market.

"Fixing vehicles is just a skill. If we mobilise mechanics in the Jamaican economy, skill mobilisation, we can improve the whole industry. No matter when or where, customers deserve a better option and a better service. Someday in the future we also consider to hire Jamaican mechanics to come and work here."

His philosophy of shared expertise is clear, "Maybe we are experts in certain areas; maybe you guys are experts in certain areas. Together we can do better."

Facing long queues and cross-island traffic, Chen is eyeing growth. "Someday in the future we will try to bring different mechanic shops in different cities," he says.

While WH Car Services is drawing large crowds and praise for consistency, not all local mechanics feel threatened. Rory Brown, who runs Rory Mechanical Works in the Corporate Area, welcomes the challenge.

"I don't see it as a threat, my customer them believe in me," he said. "I will always try to do my best to please my customers."

Brown, who has over five years of experience and a solid client base extending well beyond Kingston, recognises the opportunity for growth.

"A lot of people definitely gravitate towards good mechanics--you do have good mechanics, eno, it's just to find them," he said.