Thursday, March 02, 2017

MERCEDES-BENZ MALAYSIA officially opens its new corporate Headquarters and Training Academy


This is a heck of a building, the new HQ and Training Academy of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia! The new purpose-built facility located in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong is part of the company's longstanding investments in Malaysia. Now, this new corporate Headquarters shows their commitment and support of the nation’s automotive industry.


What this huge RM74 million, 118,000sq ft centre does aside from the usual business administration stuff is that it also allows for better management of all necessary services within MBM's divisions under one roof (Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, Daimler TSS GmbH and the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training Academy). Prior to this we had the training facility in Glenmarie and the corporate office in Kuala Lumpur. This all in one facility allows an increased training capacity will create greater job opportunities and support Malaysia’s efforts to become an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) hub.

It is the training facilities of this new building which is most impressive. Prior to this new centre, MBM takes in about 26 technical trainees every year which will be trained to be certified and qualified under the international standard Mercedes-Benz Training Programmes. Now with this new training facility, MBM can take up to over 60 trainees annually. Most of these would be absorbed into current and even new Mercedes-Benz dealerships around Malaysia. In fact, since the certificates are internationally recognised by Mercedes-Benz worldwide, there is a chance of a graduate working anywhere globally. Of course, the trainees are bonded for a few years.

But what's truly impressive? The training academy. The trainees get to strip down a AMG V8 Biturbo engine.  Or diagnose supposed problems in an AMG C63 Coupe. Or you could be fiddling with some Mercedes-Benz or FUSO trucks.  Or they may get a chance to fiddle with the Mercedes-Maybach S500 which was handed over to MBM for training purposes by the Director of Global Training, Mr Joerg Himmelmann at the opening. A technological and luxurious marvel I might add. Sitting in the Maybach does make you feel good. But at the back. Not in the driver's seat.

Mercedes-Benz in Malaysia has come a long way. The brand has been around for so long and has prospered to this day. I actually do not remember the marque ever having a truly bad year in Malaysia. I know there are good years, very good years and very little bad years. Even during the Daimler-Chrysler days people bought their cars here. And now, it all falls into place with this new headquarters. A testament on how progressive this company has become and how much they have invested into this country. 
 Mercedes-Maybach S500 
 The brake training area - AMG GT Brake disc and caliper in the foreground, a C63 sedan in the background.
 A Mercedes-Benz Actros prime mover in for trainees to fiddle. Check out the engine and transmission to the right.
 FUSO trucks at the FUSO COC where MBM can troubleshoot any issues regarding FUSO vehicles
 The C63 Coupe at the workshop simulation area - trainees get to train in an area which simulates a typical Mercedes-Benz passenger cars workshop.
 AMG GT at the sales training area. 
Trainees stripping down a AMG V8 Biturbo

PRESS RELEASE
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Unveils New Headquarters and Training Academy

 MBM invests over RM70 million in its new headquarters and Training

Academy.

 New headquarters and Training Academy a testament of

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s (MBM) commitment to Best Customer

Experience at all touchpoints.

 Expansion of services and training capacity will create greater job

opportunities and support Malaysia’s efforts to become an Energy Efficient

Vehicle (EEV) hub.
Marking the launch of the purpose-built, Wisma Mercedes-Benz and the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training Academy. (from left) Daimler Financial Services Africa & Asia Pacific, Regional Head South-East Asia and Southern China, Mr Thomas Hungerland; Mercedes-Benz Cars, Director After Sales Region Overseas, Mr P.E. Chartier; Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner; Mercedes-Benz Cars, Head of Region Overseas, Dr Till Conrad; Daimler AG, Director Global Training, Mr Joerg Himmelmann; and Daimler Commercial Vehicles South East Asia, Director Regional Centre, Mr Kay-Wolf Ahlden.

Puchong, Selangor, 1 March 2017 – Leading premium marque,

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MBM), today launched its new

headquarters; Wisma Mercedes-Benz, and the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

(MBM) Training Academy in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, Selangor. The new

purpose-built facility adds to MBM’s longstanding investments in support of

the nation’s EEV hub aspirations, and brand promise of delivering ‘The Best

Vehicles’ and ‘The Best Customer Experience’ to customers.

“We have very exciting times ahead of us as we look forward to continue

redefining the benchmark in the premium segment with the Best products,

the Best service and the Best customer experience. As you can see, we take

very seriously our motto of delivering ‘The Best or Nothing’ in every aspect of

our business,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus

Weidner.

Wisma Mercedes-Benz is the first of its kind in Malaysia. The six-storey

industrial facility has been accredited as the first green industrial building in

Subang Jaya and was awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design) Gold Certification. An investment of RM 74 million,

the facility houses Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Mercedes-Benz Services

Malaysia, Daimler TSS GmbH and the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training

Academy. Operations offices utilise 53,000 sq ft of the 118,000 sq ft facility,

while the Training Academy occupies 65,000 sq ft.

“Malaysia is an important market for the Mercedes-Benz brand. The lead we

have taken in the premium vehicle segment indicates the trust customers

have in our vehicles and service quality. Our new purpose-built facility will

enable us to consistently provide high levels of service, expertise and

reliability to satisfy our customers, who expect the highest standards of

excellence. Be it in Malaysia or anywhere in the world, customers are assured

of this exceptional experience every time they encounter the Mercedes-Benz

brand,” added Dr Weidner.

Following overwhelming response for its training programmes, the MBM

Training Academy has expanded its capacity to accommodate over 2,000

training days per year. The MBM Training Academy features a fully operational

workshop for real world workplace simulation and state-of-the-art training

rooms purposefully built and equipped according to the latest Daimler AG

Global Training standard. From the Academy, delivery of a host of certified

and qualified international standard Mercedes-Benz Training Programmes will

be delivered regularly to all retail staff.

To mark the launch of the MBM Training Academy, Director of Global Training,

Mr Joerg Himmelmann, handed over a unit of the ultimate in automotive

technology and luxury, the Mercedes-Maybach S500, to Mercedes-Benz

Malaysia, Vice President, After Sales, Mr Heinrich Schromm.

This training vehicle will be put to use for participants to fully experience all

repair and diagnosis routines on all systems currently available in series

production. This further creates an opportunity to develop participants with

the highest level of diagnosis and fault-finding skills on the latest and greatest

Mercedes-Benz technology.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Corporate Communications

Complementing the state-of-the-art equipment are the Daimler Certified

Trainers who adhere to strict international standards. As part of

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s regional role, regular Train the Trainer events are

arranged and conducted within the facility by Global Training, Stuttgart topic

expert Trainers. Trainers from Malaysia and all countries around the Asia

Pacific region travel to upgrade their skills and knowledge, staying on the

cutting edge of the automotive industry. With this, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

Training Academy strives toward its maxim “Developing The Best Automotive

Talent”.

Following a rigorous recruitment process, apprentices under the MBM

vocational training programme (Advance Modern Apprenticeship), aside from

attending international standard qualifications and first hand experience, have

greatly benefitted from its full scholarships which include an allowance as well

as a secured career path in Mercedes-Benz authorised dealerships

nationwide. This further reaffirms MBM’s commitment to develop the skills of

Malaysia’s youth and create more job opportunities for them.

“We are certain that our continuous efforts to enhance the experiences of our

customers each time they encounter the Mercedes-Benz brand will continue

to drive the success of the brand. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will continue

investing in our dealer network and in enhancing all customer touch points

nationwide. We will also continue to extend our unwavering support to the

nation’s ambition of becoming an EEV hub in line with global standards,”

concluded Dr Weidner.

Also present to mark the significant milestone were Head of Region Overseas,

Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dr Till Conrad; Director of After Sales Region Overseas,

Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mr Pierre-Emmanuel Chartier; Director Regional Centre,

Daimler Commercial Vehicles South East Asia, Mr Kay-Wolf Ahlden; Member

of the Board of Management, Africa & Asia Pacific, Daimler Financial Services

AG, Mr Peter Henn; and Senior Vice President, Regional Head South-East Asia

and Southern China / Sales & Marketing DFS Africa & Asia Pacific, Mr Thomas

Hungerland.

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