Thursday, July 21, 2016

Industry News: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia 1st Half 2016 Performance Report - Record Sales Figures & More.....

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia have actually broke a number of its own records again for the 1st half of 2016 in terms of sales performance. Double digit growths and 6,017 cars delivered to customers during that period. Seriously folks, the premium end of car sales here in Malaysia is largely unaffected by whatever supposed slowdown in the country's economy. What credit crunch you might ask?

If you are interested in numbers, here they are with the official press release following below:
· Mercedes-Benz Malaysia posts double-digit growth in 1st Half 2016 (+17%)

· Mercedes-Benz Malaysia delivered a phenomenal 6,017 cars to customers in 1st Half 2016, more than ever before in half a year.

· Mercedes-Benz Malaysia recorded the best month and quarter in history, selling a total of 1,203 cars in June, and 3,359 cars in 2nd Quarter 2016.

· Mercedes-Benz Malaysia remains committed to delivering the best customer experience.

One interesting bonus point to the Mercedes-Benz story in Malaysia the the official introduction of the the Mercedes-Benz SUV line in Malaysia. The new SUV range, introduced in January this year, have been performing very well, with a total of 576 units delivered to customers. 

The GLC registered 483 units, while 93 units of the GLE were sold in the period of January to June 2016. There is an increase due to the fact that many like buying SUVs and Crossover vehicles. Add the fact that the SUV market is big over in East Malaysia and you have that region bringing in even more vehicle sales than before. It is always about having the right vehicle for every location. 

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is definitely scoring many points on all fronts these days.

 Mercedes-Benz Malaysia completed 1H2016 with its best ever month, second quarter and first half results. (From right) Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner; and Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Passenger Cars,  Mr Mark Raine presented the record-breaking performance to the media today.

PRESS RELEASE
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia                     
Delivers Record 1st Half 2016

 (From left) Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Vice President, After Sales, Mr Heinrich Schromm; President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner; Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Passenger Cars, Mr Mark Raine; and Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Managing Director, Ms Hilke Janssen.

Kuala Lumpur, 21 July 2016 – Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd completed the first half of 2016 with another record-breaking performance. Delivering a total of 6,017 cars to customers in the six-month period ended June 2016, the premium German marque registered double digit growth of 17 per cent compared to the same period last year.  Consequently, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia retains its position as the leading premium brand in Malaysia, with YTD June market share of 2.5%, maintaining record unit sales for the 16th consecutive month. In addition, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia achieved a new milestone in June 2016, recording its best ever month with a total of 1,203 cars sold, and recording its best ever quarter in 2ndQuarter 2016 with a total of 3,359 cars sold.

The Mercedes-Benz Malaysia service network serviced a record number of 52,700 cars during the first half of the year, an increase of 18 per cent compared to the same period last year. Notwithstanding the significant increase in vehicles service, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia achieved its best Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) After Sales rating in history and achieved leadership position in the competitor benchmark study.

“Mercedes-Benz Malaysia remains focused on providing the best products and services to the Malaysian market, and this has helped us achieve and retain the lead position in the premium segment.  We have maintained record unit sales for the past 16 consecutive months, and we will continue to deliver excellent service to all our discerning customers,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner.

He explained that Mercedes-Benz Malaysia continues to concentrate efforts on key customer touch points through its expansive authorised dealer network to enhance the retail experience and customer service. Towards this end, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Cycle & Carriage Bintang launched two revamped Autohauses during the first quarter of 2016. Upgrading of the Cycle & Carriage Bintang Autohauses in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and Georgetown, Penang to reflect the latest Mercedes-Benz corporate identity, featuring upgraded showrooms and customer lounges, required a total investment of RM 11 million.  In the same quarter, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Cycle & Carriage Bintang also introduced the all-newMercedes-Benz City Store at TREC in Kuala Lumpur, a fresh new concept in the automotive retail experience which involved an investment of RM4.3 million.

Subsequently, in the second quarter of 2016 Mercedes-Benz Malaysia unveiled the first Mercedes-Benz City Service by Hap Seng Star.  Involving an investment of RM 7 million, the first full-fledged 3S facility located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur provides an unparalleled retail experience and after-sales convenience for customers located within the city. The Mercedes-Benz City Service offers the newly introduced Mercedes-Benz Service Differentiation; The Star Lounge, Premier Express Service, Drop & Go, and Door to Door Service.

In view of the remarkable growth in unit sales, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia continues to invest RM 3 million annually in its Apprentice Training Centre (ATC) to produce sufficient world-class technicians to deliver unparalleled customer service. To date, more than 770 highly-skilled technicians have graduated from ATC.

In conjunction with the unveiling of the Proven Exclusivity Centre located at Hap Seng Star Balakong Autohaus, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia re-emphasized Proven Exclusivity by Mercedes-Benz, a programme offering certified pre-owned Mercedes-Benz cars with uncompromised quality, value and assurance to customers. With Proven Exclusivity, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia aims to reach out to a new market segment of buyers further extending its portfolio.

Completing the ownership experience for customers, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia (MBSM), provides in-house financing services, offering comprehensive and innovative financing solutions designed to meet customers’ needs.  In the first half of 2016, four (4) out of every ten (10) cars sold by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia were financed and insured via Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, servicing a portfolio of over RM 1.5 billion.

In the second quarter, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia introduced the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé in three variant forms; the C 200 Coupé, C 250 Coupé and C 300 Coupé. Additionally, the much anticipated Mercedes-Benz E-Class consisting of four variants; the E200 Avantgarde (below), E250 Avantgarde, E250 Exclusive and E300 AMG Line, were presented for the local market.



Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Passenger Cars, Mark Raine, attributed the best ever second quarter and first half of 2016 to a successful product offensive strategy, while maintaining focus on providing a superlative experience to customers.

Commenting on the latest collection of bests set in the first half of the year, Raine said, “We are proud to have set new milestones in 2016, having surpassed the 6,000 mark in unit sales in the first half of this year. The key to our success is the combination of a comprehensive product range, a strong dealer network, and customer-centric strategies in delivering the Best Customer Experience. With the launch of our new SUVs, the C-Class and the E-Class, we are confident to continue this growth path.”

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s locally produced limousines surpassed the previous record set in the first half of 2015, posting a 9 per cent growth with sales of 4,146 units. The ever-popular C-Class led this segment with sales of 2,534 units, marking a 130 per cent growth.  The flagship S-Class posted 549 vehicles sales, while 1,063 units of the E-Class were delivered to customers in the first half of 2016.  “With the recent launch of the new E-Class, we expect the locally produced limousines to continue to maintain its growth momentum,” Raine added.

Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz SUV line has been a game changer for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. The new SUV range, introduced in January this year, have been performing very well, with a total of 576 units delivered to customers. The GLC registered 483 units, while 93 units of the GLE were sold in the period of January to June 2016.

In the compact segment, the A-Class, B-Class, CLA and GLA recorded total sales of 1,278 units in the first half of 2016. The growth was led by the new generation of A-Class which was launched in March. The A-Class registered double digit growth of 18 per cent in the January to June period, selling a total of 570 units.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s best month, best quarter and best half year achievements mirror the success of the Three-Pointed Star on a global level. Daimler AG recently reported that it had breached the one million mark, delivering 1,006,619 units of Mercedes-Benz cars to customers worldwide in the first six months of 2016, a growth of 21.1 per cent compared to the previous year.

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