Friday, January 19, 2024

BMW Group position as number one in Premium and Luxury Vehicles, Electrified Vehicles sales as well as largest premium automotive exporter in Malaysia for 2023 & Previews the newest Retail NEXT concept showroom in Balakong



Last year (2023) was a fabulous year for BMW Group Malaysia as they delivered over15,000 units of BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad vehicles combined. This makes the premium automaker Malaysia’s Number One Premium Automaker for the fourth consecutive year. Kudos to the people in the group for such an achievement which is significant as 2023 also marked their 20th year of operations here in Malaysia

The new Auto Bavaria Showroom in Balakong

The figures were shared during the preview of their latest state-of-the-art showroom built on the foundations of the customer-centric Retail.NEXT concept in the township of Balakong. The new facility, once fully opened and operational, will be one of the largest BMW Group showrooms in the country and will be the first in the Klang Valley to showcase the newest Retail.NEXT innovative design concept and service offering. Aside from that, BMW also took the opportunity to preview the new locally assembled (CKD) BMW X5 xDrive50e M Sport for the very first time. This is an almost 500hp (489hp) 700Nm behemoth of a Hybrid powered Sports Activity Vehicle and is estimated to be priced at RM530,000 before insurance.


In breaking down the numbers, BMW Group Malaysia states that they are the Number One Premium Electric Vehicle Provider with over 3,600 units of BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad electrified vehicles delivered, The figures amount to an impressive 24.5% from of all of its deliveries for the year and accounting for an exponential 136% growth compared to the year before. The figures effectively brings the total of premium electrified BMW vehicles on Malaysian roads to nearly 30,000 vehicles.


BMW Group have been the pioneer in terms of rolling out electric vehicles here in Malaysia and starting early does seem to help in solidifying their position here. They have proven that EV adoption in the premium buying segment can provide the numbers and there is that acceptance to new technology up there in this premium segment.

In terms of overall sales, the BMW brand saw through the successful deliveries of nearly 11,700 premium luxury vehicles in 2023, while MINI, Malaysia’s most sophisticated compact premium automotive brand recorded an impressive growth of 42% with more than 1,700 vehicles delivered. MINI seems to be growing here in terms of brand new car sales from the looks of it.

BMW Motorrad, meanwhile, saw an upwards growth of 13%, with over 1,500 motorcycles delivered. These equate to an almost 4% increase in total deliveries across the BMW Group portfolio from the year 2022. I think this is also due to the current Motorrad lineup is actually diverse and this has paid off. The brand has all segments covered from scooters to their famed GS series in recent years (post 2020).


Speaking at the Group’s 2024 business briefing at Auto Bavaria Balakong which we attended, Pierre Jalady, Vice President, Head of MINI region Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle-East, Africa (photo at the beginning of the article) said, “There truly has been no better way to close over two decades of the BMW Group in Malaysia than seeing the exemplary performance of our vehicles in the local premium automotive market. We have seen the remarkable growth of our electrifying BMW i fleet, especially through the introduction of the BMW iX1, the BMW iX, BMW i7, the MINI Electric and the first-ever electrified addition in the Urban Mobility space, the BMW CE04. "

"The acceptance of these vehicles allowed us to achieve the title of the Number One Premium Electric Vehicles provider in Malaysia, an achievement that we do not take lightly as it underscores our goal to shape, lead, and future-proof the Malaysian automotive landscape in the years to come with the newest technological offerings from the BMW Group.”

Jalady added that as the premium automaker reflects on its achievements of the past year and set sights on the horizon of 2024, he also gave his highest appreciation to the dedicated teams at BMW Group Malaysia as well as their dealer partner, loyal customers and relevant stakeholders who continue to drive innovation and unparalleled joy of Sheer Driving Pleasure into the future.

BMW Group’s performance in Malaysia reflects that of the brand’s global success with over 2,500,000 vehicles delivered across the BMW Group portfolio worldwide which is a new all-time high sales record for the company. The performance of electrified vehicles from the BMW Group portfolio also grew exponentially in 2023, attributing to 15% of overall BMW Group deliveries. This states the pioneering role the premium automaker has in the electric vehicle segment worldwide.


BMW Group Malaysia and Auto Bavaria previews the innovative Retail.NEXT concept to the Klang Valley - The newest showroom and service centre in Balakong.

BMW Group Malaysia and Auto Bavaria, the largest authorised BMW dealership network in Malaysia also previewed their latest state-of-the-art showroom built on the foundations of the customer-centric Retail.NEXT concept in the township of Balakong. The facility, once fully opened and operational, will be one of the largest BMW Group showrooms in the country and will be the first in the Klang Valley to showcase the newest Retail.NEXT innovative design concept and service offering.

A token of appreciation is presented to Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sime Darby Berhad (L-R: David Kim, Head of Sales, BMW Group Malaysia, Dato’JeffriSalim Davidson, Markus Lang, Chief Financial Officer, BMW Group Malaysia) 

The 240,057-square feet new Auto Bavaria Balakong is designed to exemplify the first-class atmosphere for the Premium Ownership Experience with its modern design language and a lush façade that includes a stunning courtyard garden and outdoor terrace. New interactive Customer Consultation Stages, equipped with innovative digital sales tools are located strategically throughout the showroom where BMW Geniuses will be on ground to guide visitors through an unrivalled automotive viewing and purchasing journey.



The showroom will also include a newly refurbished Grand Klasse Lounge and corresponding
 handover bays that adds BMW’s exemplary touch of exclusive luxury. It will also feature lifestyle-oriented facilities including a contemporary and inviting BMW Café as well as lounge areas, providing customers access to a premium space to relax and refresh during their visit.

Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sime Darby Berhad said, “We are
 excited to open the doors to one of Malaysia’s largest BMW showrooms for an exclusive preview with the media, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering an exceptional
 automotive experience to our valued customers. The Retail.NEXT Dealership concepts blends phygital innovation with modern aesthetics and engaging environment. Every aspect of our new Auto Bavaria Balakong showroom is meticulously crafted to elevate the automotive viewing and purchasing journey, infusing opulence and sustainability at every juncture. We are dedicated to not only offering premium vehicles but also consistently elevating luxury experience for our customer, providing a comprehensive range of aftersales services, fostering a premium atmosphere that perfectly complements our customers' ownership experience.”

The Auto Bavaria Balakong dealership will be able to display an extensive range of vehicles from
 the BMW Group including BMW and BMW i models, as well as vehicles from the MINI and BMW
Premium Selection portfolios.








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