Perodua Starts Selling Cars in the Seychelles - Their Latest Export Market

The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa, and it is Perodua's newest overseas market. The compact car company has launched their smallest car, the Perodua Axia there, which is quite a popular tourist destination. The Axia will be offered in  E MT, G AT, SE and AV variants at promotional prices of 235,000 (*RM71,500), 265,000 (*RM80,600), 275,000 (*RM83,700) and 290,000 (*RM88,300) Seychellois Rupees respectively.

Opinion: Proton Sells 4,783 Units in January 2018. Good, but not Great - And the Ignorant Folks at PEKEMA Do Not Want Change....How Unwise.

PROTON has reported that it had sold or registered 4,783 units in January 2018. This is a forecasted increase in the total market share for Proton. The company basically sold 1.1 cars out of 10 cars here in Malaysia for the month of January and it is actually up from the month of December, 2017. Proton also mentioned that the Proton Saga, Persona and Exora made up 80% of their total sales. The bread and butter as well as full sized MPV was the choice of customers.

Industry News: ISUZU MALAYSIA gets a new CEO

Isuzu Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (IMSB) recently appointed Koji Nakamura (above) as its new Chief Executive Officer. He replaces the outgoing CEO, Kenji Matsuoka who has held the position of CEO in IMSB since 2015. Nakamura has more than 25 years of experience with Isuzu. This includes holding various leading management role in Isuzu Asia Pacific. He has extensive knowledge and understanding in managing various different markets, especially in running large automotive markets such as India and Thailand.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia Launches The Volkswagen Automotive Academy - The First Of Its Kind In Malaysia

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) today reaffirms its commitment to keep on developing the Volkswagen brand here in Malaysia with the opening of the brand spanking new Volkswagen Automotive Academy here in Glenmarie, Shah Alam. This new training centre is able to acomodate up to 150 trainees per day is fully equipped to conduct the required sales and aftersales training for all of its personnel in the country.

MALAYSIA AUTOMOTIVE INSTITUTE (MAI) Launches its Design Centre - A Product of the Malaysian Government, Perodua & Their Vendors

Today marks another milestone in the Malaysian Automotive Industry. The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI), an agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), has officially launched the MAI Design Centre in Rawang, Selangor. The centre is a collaboration between MAI, acting on behalf of the Government of Malaysia, and national car maker Perodua which come into this picture together with their vendors.

New BMW Group Regional Parts Distribution Centre opens in Malaysia.

 BMW Group Malaysia today officially opened the doors to its new Regional Parts Distribution Centre at the Free Industrial Zone of the Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru. Situated on over 775,000 square feet of land in the Free Industrial Zone and with an investment of over RM 130 million, the new BMW Group Regional Parts Distribution Centre is one of the largest BMW facility of its kind in the Asia Pacific region and will support over 23 countries in the region as a logistics warehouse and parts distribution centre for after sales parts, components and lifestyle merchandises for the brands BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad.

PERODUA Launches the Bezza sedan in Mauritius

Perodua President & Chief Executive Officer, YBhg Datuk (Dr) AminarRashid Salleh (two from right) handing over the mock key to one of the first Perodua Bezza owner in Mauritius during the launch of Perodua Bezza in Mauritius, which was held at Rauf Dusmohamud & Co Ltd’s sales

showroom at Port-Louis, Mauritius’ capital recently.

The Perodua Bezza sedan has now set foot on the island of Mauritius. This makes the island nation Perodua's second export destination for its new Bezza sedan. The launch of the Perodua Bezza in Mauritius was held at Perodua's distributor in Mauritius, Rauf Dusmohamud & Co Ltd’s sales showroom at Port-Louis, Mauritius’ capital on the 29th of April 2017 and was hosted by the Rauf Dusmohamud’s Managing Director Mr Raouf Dusmohamud.

Nearly Half of Malaysian Customers Don't Know What Auto Finance Deal They Entered Into - Duh!

Nearly half (43%)of Malaysia new-car buyers do not fully understand the terms of their auto finance product, according to the inaugural J.D. Power 2017 Malaysia Auto Consumer Finance Study,SM released today. In simple English, most of you guys out there don't know what the heck you just signed with the bank. You could have signed your soul away and not realise it according to JD Power. Well, that's according to me lah. Not them. But you get my point.

Motorcycles: MODENAS TO COLLABORATE WITH INDIA’S BAJAJ AUTO LTD - Is this Modenas' strategic partner?

Motosikal Dan Enjin Nasional (MODENAS), Malaysia's national motorcycle brand will enter the Malaysian street bike segment through collaboration with Bajaj Auto Ltd (BAL) from India. The collaboration will be initiated in stages including distribution, and technology transfer through the development of a dedicated assembly hub in MODENAS’ plant in Gurun, Kedah. Eventually, MODENAS and BAL are also planning penetration into international markets, using the MODENAS brand in ASEAN and beyond.

Industry news: Perodua maintains 35.9% market share in 1Q with Bezza top in “A” segment

Was just perusing through a Perodua press release regarding its first quarter performance for 2017. Impressive as always. They have a market share of 35.9% or 50,300 cars registered from a total of 140,000 vehicles sold in Malaysia so far. 

MOTORCYCLES: MODENAS' Revival Begins With The Launch of The Kriss MR2 & Also Plans for Strategic Partner Tie-Up

National motorcycle manufacturer Motosikal Dan Enjin Nasional (MODENAS), part of the DRB-HICOM group had launched the latest Modenas Kriss underbone (moped) motorcycle. The Kriss has been their most popular model over the years and they hope that with the introduction of the new MR2 model to the popular KRISS line-up, it will improve its current market share of the entry level underbone motorcycle segment from 8% to 10% by the end of 2017.

I attended the International Automotive Aftermarket Conference by MAI and here are my thoughts about that as well as the industry as a whole

I was privileged to attend the second International Automotive Aftermarket Conference organised by the Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) earlier today. “Spearheading Technology, Enhancing Automotive Aftermarket Industry” This one-day international conference attracted 100 participants, consisting of local and international industry stakeholders, academia, automotive recycling associations, and Government agencies. 

The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) launches its Resource (and Training) Centre in Rawang

Minister of MITI, Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed (middle) with Dato' Madani Sahari, CEO of MAI (left)

The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) had launched their Resource Centre (MAIRC) over in Bukit Beruntung, Rawang sometime last week. The centre, which was established in partnership with Perodua, Proton and vendors Suria Component SDN. BHD., SIPRO Plastics SDN. BHD. and PHN Industry SDN. BHD. The launching of MAI Resource Centre was officiated by YB Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, the Minister of International Trade and Industry, on the 24th of January 2017. MAIRC as the focal point for all MAI capacity building programmes.

PROTON RECEIVES ACCREDITATION AS A CENTRE FOR NATIONAL DUAL TRAINING SYSTEM (SLDN) FOR SKILLS TRAINING

Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali receiving the SLDN accreditation certificate from Dato’ Sri Richard Riot Jaem

Sometime before the Chinese New Year, Proton received accreditation by the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia as well as from the Department of Skills Development, Malaysia as a centre for the National Dual Training System programme conducted by the Government of Malaysia.

TRUCK NEWS: MERCEDES-BENZ MALAYSIA COMMERCIAL VEHICLES 2016 PERFORMANCE REPORT

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles, Vice President, Mr Albert Yee together with the Mercedes-Benz Actros and FUSO Canter.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles (MBM CV) have announced that they sold 2,612 vehicles in 2016. Whilst this is a dip from the previous year (their Total Industry Volume dropped to 13%) it is still quite a respectable amount considering the stiff competition and an uncertain market situation.

Mercedes-Benz Tops Malaysia and Global Premium Car Market for 2016 - 2016 Sales Performance Report

A lot of good news for premium car sales in Malaysia especially if you're the brand with the Three Pointed Star. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has announced that they have managed to hit record sales of 11,779 vehicles in 2016. This is a 9% increase than the previous year and a new milestone for them in Malaysia. Malaysia is also the best performing in terms of sales numbers in South East Asia for the brand.

Industry News: CHEVROLET MALAYSIA TO EXPAND DEALERSHIP NATIONWIDE IN 2017

With the recent successful launch of The All-New Colorado still intact freshly in most minds, Naza Quest Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor and importer of Chevrolet vehicles in Malaysia is looking to expand its business network throughout the regions in Malaysia.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia announces new joint Managing Director

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) today announced the appointment of Mr. Erik Winter (above) as its new Managing Director, with immediate effect. Mr. Winter replaces outgoing Managing Director Mr. Alin Tapalaga, who is returning to Europe due to health reasons - and will oversee the Company’s Brand and Human Resource operations.

INDUSTRY & TRUCK NEWS: FIRST BATCH OF IKBN STUDENTS COMPLETE TRAINING AT MERCEDES-BENZ MALAYSIA’S APPRENTICE TRAINING CENTRE

Celebrating the graduation of National Youth Skill Institute (IKBN) students from the FUSO Training Program, a collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, and Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. (sixth from left) Secretary General, Ministry of Youth And Sports Malaysia, Datuk Jamil Bin Salleh; (seventh from left) Minister of Youth And Sports Malaysia YB Encik Khairy Jamaluddin; (eighth from left) Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner; and (ninth from left) Vice President, Commercial Vehicles, Mr Albert Yee, with the graduates.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) today awarded eleven students from the National Youth Skills Training Institute (IKBN) with a certification of completion following a successful training stint of the Mercedes Benz Malaysia-IKBN FUSO Training Program at its Apprentice Training Centre in Shah Alam. The event held earlier today in Kuala Lumpur was attended by  Minister of Youth And Sports Malaysia YB Encik Khairy Jamaluddin, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO Dr Claus Weidner as well as the senior management of Mercedes Benz Malaysia, officials from  the  Youth and Sports Ministry of Malaysia and those from IKBN.