The Kia Red Cube outlet along the Federal Highway in Petaling Jaya, Selangor is no longer operating, according to a news report by our friends over at DSF. They have also learnt that it is to be taken over by a brand from China soon.
Before Naza Kia took over the building, it was a Toyota showroom and it was the second purpose-built car showroom built in Malaysia. The first company to occupy it when it opened in 1978 was Borneo Motors, then the distributor for Toyota vehicles. It was one of the very first 3S centres as it had a showroom, a small service centre which also sold spare parts and even a used car section.
The building, with its sloping façade, cost RM3 million to construct and became a landmark along the Federal Highway. It was the first of a few car companies to open outlets in the area. The building was then passed over the Sejati Motor (UMW Toyota Motor today) in 1982 when the company took over the Toyota distributorship for Malaysia.
UMW Toyota Motor used it as its head office as well as showroom for many years until 2005 when it built a new complex in Shah Alam, its present location. With the departure of the head office, the showroom was also closed down and was vacant for a while until Naza Kia took over in 2011.
Naza Kia spent some RM5 million to renovate the building to follow the Korean carmaker’s Red Cube concept. The facility in Malaysia was the second country after South Korea to adopt the concept which has since been used for Kia outlets in many other countries.
The closure of the flagship showroom comes at a time when there are rumours of the Kia franchise changing hands, notwithstanding the fact that Naza Kia is also promoting the new Kia Seltos SUV to be launched soon.
