Motor Image – the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles across nine territories in Asia – and French owned lubricant specialist Motul – have jointly announced their partnership to develop and supply a line of exclusive lubricant products for Subaru vehicles in the region. Motor Image will be the first vehicle distributor that Motul is partnering globally and the deal will currently over eight territories – Cambodia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Under the deal, Motul will supply the specially developed and formulated oils for Motor Image distributorship and dealerships in the region.  These oils, developed in Japan, will be used in all of its aftersales and service centres.  Customers will have access to premium quality lubricants, such as 100 per cent synthetic engine oils, at competitive prices, giving customers a superior aftersales service, available only at Motor Image’s facilities and dealerships. The licensing and partnership deal, valued at USD5 million per annum to start, signifies both companies’ interest in the growing Asian region for the automotive sector. The two-year deal, with the option to extend, is expected to increase 10 per cent in value yearly.

“Subaru has been closely linked with Motul since its motorsports racing days, and Motul is closely associated with the STI brand.  At Motor Image we have had an over 10-year relationship.  Motul specially formulated lubricants for Subaru cars, taking into account the weather and other conditions, when we took part in the Asia Pacific Rally Championships.  We are happy to partner Motul again, to re-establish a long-term relationship to provide the best quality products for our Subaru customers,” said Mr Glenn Tan, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director, Tan Chong International Limited.

“Motorsports is part of Motul’s DNA, and Motul has been closely linked with Subaru and the STI brand since the Subaru World Rally Team competed in the World Rally Championship (WRC) back in the 1980s. Today, Motul is very pleased to be collaborating with Motor Image to provide an exclusive line-up of lubricant products and customer experience for its Subaru customers. We believe this regional collaboration will further strengthen its partnership with Subaru beyond just Motorsports,” said Mr Masaki Shimizu, Chairman, Motul of Japan KK.

The first of the exclusive Subaru lubricant product line-up to be launched, from January 2019, include Subaru Engine Oils by Motul – the 0W20 and the 5W30. These 100 per cent synthetic oils have been specially researched and developed in Japan, and licensed for retail exclusively at Subaru outlets. Both companies will also be working on marketing the lubricant products and merchandise from the partnership as part of Motor Image’s plans to enhance the customer experience journey for Subaru customers across the region. Plans include co-branded space and exclusive merchandise at Subaru outlets.

The Subaru Engine Oils by Motul are available across Subaru service centres in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan now, and subsequently in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam by March 2019.

MOTOR IMAGE STATEMENT ON GLOBAL POWER STEERING DEFECTS 

Motor Image Group customers not affected by power steering defects

Singapore, 24 January 2019 – Motor Image Group (MIG), distributor of Subaru vehicles in nine markets across Asia, today announced that its customers are not affected by the power steering defect announced by Subaru Corporation.  None of the affected production has been delivered to MIG customers.

The Japanese automaker said on Wednesday that it had suspended production at production facilities in Japan from 16 January 2019 and will likely resume production and shipments as early as 28 January 2019.  This was due to defects affecting the power steering in three vehicle models, the Forester, the XV and the Impreza. The affected vehicles were manufactured between late December 2018 and 16 January 2019.

MIG puts customer safety and satisfaction as its utmost priority.  Across all its operations, only 3 markets, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore have shipments due of affected vehicles. A total of only 120 cars from the affected batch are due in these markets and none of these have been delivered to customers.

During this interim period, as MIG continues to roll out the new 5^th Generation Subaru Forester across the region, it will continue to take bookings from customers, though customers may have to wait for longer than usual for delivery.  This is due to the temporary halt in production from Japan, whilst we wait further advice from Subaru Corporation of rectified shipments from them.

Motor Image is committed to the highest safety standards and quality driving experience for all its customers and is in constant contact with Subaru Corporation for any further updates.