A name synonymous with car-rental, Avis Malaysia is offering customers up to 46 percent savings on published rates for car rental bookings from 15 September to 31 October 2018 in celebration of its 46th anniversary. The savings are eligible for the rental period from 15 September to 31 December 2018.
Avis Malaysia is also organising a special ‘46th Anniversary Contest’ in social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter from 19 September to 31 October 2018. Social media fans and customers only need to just like, follow, share, watch a video, and answer simple questions to qualify for the contest.
Free rental of JEEP Cherokee and exciting prices to be won…
Lucky winners will be selected via lucky draw to enjoy a one-night stay at a luxurious hotel in Port Dickson and Penang respectively, along with a complimentary 3-days car rental voucher for a JEEP® Cherokee Trailhawk and many other attractive prizes.
“These activities are carried out to extend our appreciation to all our customers who have supported us all these years and we look forward to many more years ahead of offering quality services on professional mobility solutions in Malaysia”, said Mohammad Shanaz, Chief Operating Officer of Avis Malaysia.
Avis Malaysia began operations as a licensee of Avis Rent A Car in 1972 and has been part of DRB-HICOM Group since 2014. The company provides a wide range of vehicles to cater to business or leisure rental purposes. Avis Malaysia offers quality vehicles from leading manufacturers including Audi, Jeep, Honda, Mitsubishi, PROTON and many more.
More rental stations for customer convenience…
As of September this year, Avis Malaysia has expanded to 13 rental stations throughout the country, including eight (8) located in major airports such as Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (Klia2), Penang International Airport, Senai International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Kuching International Airport, Miri Airport, Sultan Ahmad Shah (Kuantan) Airport, as well as five (5) downtown stations located at Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Sibu, Pengerang and Johor.
Awarded the Best Brand for Rent-A-Car Solutions…
In the month of May 2018, Avis Malaysia was also awarded the prestigious BrandLaureate Best Brands Award for the “Most Favourite Choice” for the category of “Best Brand for Rent-A-Car Solutions 2017-18 in Malaysia”. This award ceremony took place on 3 May 2018 at The Majestic Hotel. Kuala Lumpur. Avis Malaysia is also certified to comply to ISO 9001:2015 standards, assuring consistent quality and attention to maintaining optimum standards of service and performance.
Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad (‘Berjaya Sompo’), a renowned general insurance provider in Malaysia announced its plans recently to become one of the top five general insurance providers in Malaysia. The brand aims to achieve this by developing a detailed growth agenda with key focus areas identified. With a growing network of 20 offices and 2,800 agents nationwide, Berjaya Sompo is committed to being the leading insurer of choice by providing quality solutions and world class services in the best interest of its customers.
(L-R) Mr. Stuart Chua, Chief Distribution Officer of Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad, Mr. Tan Sek Kee, Chief Executive Officer of Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad, Mr. Futoshi Hanahara, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad
Customer Centricity…
Customers are at the heart of Berjaya Sompo and its approach to customer experience is a vital component of enabling the brand to move towards greater heights in Malaysia. Mr. Tan Sek Kee (below), CEO of Berjaya Sompo said, “Customer feedback is key to product innovation and this allows us to incorporate solutions into products that customers value and want. We execute this by listening to customers and gathering data trends through consumer surveys and market research. Ultimately, Berjaya Sompo is working towards improving the overall experience and journey for all customers across different touch points.”
More…
Berjaya Sompo wants to make insurance simple to understand for the average consumer. As such, it has embarked on the following initiatives:
Thematic Brand Campaign: Silent Guardians
Berjaya Sompo’s latest thematic brand campaign, called ‘Silent Guardians’ is a unique take on storytelling about how Berjaya Sompo aims to foster closer relations with all its stakeholders, leveraging on the brand’s Japanese heritage and history, from Japan to the world since 1888.
Berjaya Sompo is raising up its army of heroes through its ‘Silent Guardians’ via the use of Japanese warriors, ninjas, samurais, sumo wrestlers, karatekas, and kendokas – protecting Malaysians everyday, even without realising. The thematic brand campaign incorporates unique humour to highlight the importance of being insured so that Malaysians are able to live their daily routines freely, without a worry.
Berjaya Sompo’s spokespersons with mascot ‘Sompony’, the ’Silent Guardians’ and Peter Davis, (3rd from left) Mr. Stuart Chua, Chief Distribution Officer of Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad, (4th from left) Mr. Tan Sek Kee, Chief Executive Officer of Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad, (2nd from right) Mr. Futoshi Hanahara, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad
Sompony: Berjaya Sompo’s Adorable Mascot
Recently, Berjaya Sompo introduced its latest and adorable mascot, Sompony. The brainchild of Berjaya Sompo’s parent company, Sompo Holdings (Asia) Pte. Ltd. (‘SOMPO’), Sompony is a hero, helper and trustworthy companion that Malaysians can count on to guide them as they navigate through Berjaya Sompo’s products and services.
Used across its markets in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, Sompony was created to reshape how the brand connects with consumers in a more human, light-hearted and relatable manner. Sompony adds value to SOMPO with successful character building. It helps internal stakeholders and agents in their storytelling efforts as they educate customers and explain about the unique products and services that Sompo offers.
Product Innovation: SOMPO Motor
Understanding the consumer mindset which changes over time, as well as in response to recent developments regarding motor detariffication in Malaysia, Berjaya Sompo evolves accordingly and continuously looks at ways to innovate and develop solutions that meets the needs of today’s consumer. One example of this: the all-new SOMPO Motor.
SOMPO Motor is a comprehensive motor insurance for car owners which reduces the overall add-on costs without going through the tedious task of including add-on benefits. Further, it has add-on benefits that provides a peace of mind to drivers which include better coverage for older vehicles and full coverage against natural disasters.
The new basic benefits included in SOMPO Motor are as follows:
Special perils coverage, where claim amount does not exceed RM10,000 or 20% of Sum Insured, whichever is lower,
Coverage for all drivers,
Repairs warranty for 12 months,
Emergency towing cost of RM300 following an accident.
“SOMPO Motor has reduced the hassle of going through commonly included add-ons for a comprehensive private car insurance by including them in the basic benefits. New add-on benefits also include better coverage for older vehicles and full coverage against natural disasters. We welcome the implementation of motor detariffication as it enables Berjaya Sompo to compete on a level playing ground, giving the spotlight to the true hero: SOMPO Motor. With this product, our main focus is enhancing the base level features and service level. We want to ensure we have a product that our customers find useful and beneficial,” said Mr. Stuart Chua, Chief Distribution Officer of Berjaya Sompo.
Consumers may also opt for new additional benefits such as full special perils coverage, unlimited towing costs within Malaysia, and waiver of betterment for vehicles up to 15 years. Another new feature of SOMPO Motor is that it provides consumers with the option to choose the Voluntary Excess of the Policy, ranging from 0% to 3% of the sum insured. Voluntary Excess of the Policy gives consumers the option to pay out of their own pocket for each claim, up to 3% of the claim amount, in exchange for a lower premium each month.
In addition, Berjaya Sompo is collaborating with esteemed car brands such as Honda Malaysia, Mazda Malaysia, and Nissan Malaysia to provide bundled insurance packages that are tailored to the needs of car owners.
Digitalization of Berjaya Sompo
In today’s digital-first world, consumers are now expecting and consuming information faster than ever and we need to constantly innovate to stay ahead.
Understanding the consumer mindset, Berjaya Sompo has taken major strides in activating digitalization across the company via a number of key initiatives, including: online product innovation, increasing digital distribution channels, introducing new B2C channels as well as strengthening its digital infrastructure.
Mr. Tan said, “Berjaya Sompo will be investing heavily in digitalization as a key focus area to move the brand forward. One example of this is digital innovation, as we are developing new B2C channels to serve today’s mobile customers, as well as the simplification of our online products across Motor, Travel, Snatch and Home as we make it quicker and easier for Malaysians to purchase our products. In the near future, we will also be looking at strengthening our data capabilities and translating meaningful data that will help us serve our customers better.”
As for brick and mortar stores, Berjaya Sompo has opened a new branch in Petaling Jaya in 2017 and another one in Seremban in September 2018. Beyond this, it has no further plans to increase its branch network – in accordance with Berjaya Sompo’s digital-first approach.
“We are confident that with on our digitalization journey, we can service our customers from any of our current locations, regardless of distance. Furthermore, we anticipate more and more clients moving online to buy, renew and claim insurance in the coming years, hence dependency on physical storefronts will reduce,” added Mr. Tan.
A Robust Talent Strategy
For Berjaya Sompo, building the capabilities of its internal talent pipeline is key. This will ensure that the workforce is motivated and driven to establish customer experience as the number one priority in becoming the preferred insurer, working towards achieving customer excellence.
“Internally, we have various development programmes in place for all levels of our workforce that provides training and practical skills for not only work-related tasks, but also developing intrinsic skills that will shape them for long-term advancement,” said Mr. Tan.
With these plans in place, Berjaya Sompo is fully committed to growing in and with Malaysians, especially at this historic era of Malaysia Baru. As the brand works towards not only fulfilling but exceeding the expectations of its stakeholders, the brand is confident about fulfilling its aspirations of becoming one of the top five general insurers in Malaysia, contributing to the Malaysian economy and serving Malaysians nationwide.
Lexus Malaysia recently opened the doors to its refurbished flagship Lexus facility in Mutiara Damansara, marking its further elevation beyond being just a premium automotive brand. Guests can now experience the exquisite Lexus luxury lifestyle in a facility that truly elevates all the five senses and more.
Through liberal use of high-tech digital innovation and technology, the new facility is able to create an unparalleled Lexus experience for every guest who visits the new outlet be it for a brand new Lexus automobile, quality after-sales care, a high-quality certified pre-owned vehicle or simply to purchase Lexus Lifestyle merchandise.
In presenting the new Lexus Mutiara Damansara, Ravindran K., President of Lexus Malaysia said that the enhancements to the facilities allowed Lexus Malaysia to redefine its core brand values and to clearly showcase them with a truly exclusive Lexus experience.
“Not by any means is the Lexus brand and its products deemed conventional. Neither then should the retail experience be. By designing innovative ways to excite and change the world, Lexus remains the visionary luxury brand that anticipates the future for people and society,” said Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of Lexus Malaysia.
Part of the challenge for a luxury lifestyle brand is to remain in step with the customer and at Lexus, this challenge is amply met through its omotenashi mantra by anticipating and fulfilling customers’ needs at every touch point.
Highlights of the new Lexus Mutiara Damansara include:
The Lexus Centre will delight all the senses beginning with the Lexus Signature Scent of Wild Earth greeting visitors.
Seamless and wireless sales and service experience where customers and prospects are able to receive precise, consistent and updated information via the Lexus Touch tablets.
Coffee is of the highest quality and sourced from Cafés Richard, a highly sought-after French brand synonymous with high-end Parisian cafés.
A highly-digitalized experience with surround LCD displays, digital vehicle information consoles, real-time service status and digital reading materials available throughout the building.
A Mark Levinson audio system is installed in an acoustically tuned room for guests to experience the kind of audiophile-quality sounds they can enjoy in select Lexus vehicles.
The flagship outlet boasts a retail space offering an array of well-stocked premium quality Lexus Lifestyle Collection merchandise allowing customers to fully enjoy their lifestyle aspirations.
The new Lexus Centre features a Zen Room where guests can enjoy a few moments of tranquility relaxing to soft music on massage or lounge chairs while their vehicles receive expert care.
The new Lexus Mutiara Damansara facility on Jalan PJU7/2 (after IKEA) is open daily showcasing brand-new and pre-owned Lexus models as well as offering quality care for all Lexus vehicles. For more details, visit Lexus.com.my.
For the 20th consecutive season, BMW M GmBH returns to the racetrack at the 2018 MotoGP World Championship to lead the world’s best motorcycle riders with its fleet of vehicles at the front. Every season, BMW M GmBH creates new highlights with its Safety Car. The latest models and impressive technical innovation are what makes the BMW M MotoGP Safety Cars of the past, present and future so special.
Prior to the high-octane event in Malaysia, the new spearhead of the Safety Car fleet – the BMW M5 MotoGP Safety Car with BMW M Performance Parts – will make appearances across Kuala Lumpur on a convoy with the BMW M5, BMW 530i M Sport, BMW S 1000 RR, and the BMW S 1000 RR Safety Bike.
The convoy will make a pit stop at Bangsar Village II, where a meet and greet session with BMW M MotoGP expert and three-time World Champion, Loris Capirossi will take place. Fans can also participate in the BMW S 1000 RR Safety Bike puzzle challenge and stand a chance to win main grandstand tickets to the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, happening from 2nd to 4th November 2018.
PROTON announced recently that it has received over 10,000 bookings for the Proton X70 SUV during the official launch of Ming Heng Motor Sdn Bhd, a new 4S dealer in Setapak. The Company also confirmed that it exceeded its 3S/4S outlet submission approval target of 109 and that more applications to open such outlets were still being received. PROTON’s highly anticipated first SUV, the Proton X70, was made available for prelaunch bookings from 8 September. Interested parties were invited to place a deposit at a PROTON outlet but since 17 October, they have also been able to use an online booking platform, allowing bookings to be made from anywhere with an Internet connection.
To date the response from Malaysians has been very encouraging as total bookings now total over 10,000 units of which nearly 2,000 were made online, thus confirming the Company made the correct decision to develop and launch the platform. “We are thankful to all Malaysians for the support they have given to PROTON since we started accepting bookings for the Proton X70. Despite our need to control the flow of information prior to its launch, the response has been very encouraging as we have received over 10,000 bookings with those placed online via our booking platform exceeding our expectations. We were unsure how customers would react to this new method to book a car but its success points to how cars might be sold in the future” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON (above).
“Now we ask for a little bit more patience from everybody as we make the final preparations for the launch of the Proton X70. This will be the first Proton SUV as well as the first car to be jointly developed by PROTON and Geely. We are working hard to ensure it meets the expectations of buyers and are also investing heavily in our outlets and dealerships so that we have the necessary sales and after sales resources to support such an important product,” he added.
Target for 3S/4S outlet approvals achieved…
Having stated its target to achieve 109 submission approvals for 3S/4S outlets earlier in the year, PROTON announced it has now exceeded the target amount. To date, 113 outlet submission approvals have been recorded, accounting for a 104% achievement against the set target. “We are very proud of this achievement as it means the market has responded well to the PROTON brand by deeming it as a good investment. I commend the efforts of our existing dealers who took the opportunity to stay invested with us as well as the new dealers for their faith and vision to see the potential for PROTON in the current and future automotive market,” added Dr Li.
“When JD Power released their 2018 Sales Satisfaction Index ranking (SSI) for mass market automotive brands, it showed PROTON had improved to sixth in the table with a score of 782 points. While we are not satisfied, we still managed to surpass the score of some of our major rivals, which is a sign our customers have responded positively to our efforts to serve them better. I believe with a concerted effort, we can achieve our target to be ranked in the top-3 by 2019,” he added.
New 4S outlet opens in Setapak… Ming Heng Motor Sdn Bhd (Ming Heng) is the newest 4S dealership to join the list of PROTON 4S outlets. Situated along Jalan Genting-Klang, the facility has a built-up area of 3074 square meters and cost RM6 million to build. On-site facilities and amenities include 14 work bays with 12 service hoists, a customer lounge, coffee area, free Wi-Fi, kids’ play area, laptop and mobile charging facilities as well as prayer rooms for the convenience of customers. The body and paint shop is still being commissioned and will be operational by December 2018.
“The decision to apply for a dealership was made because Ming Heng is confident of the potential the PROTON brand has for the future. We are thankful our proposal was accepted and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship that is focussed on delivering the best products and customer service to all customers,” said Eric Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Ming Heng Motor Sdn Bhd.
EFKON Asia Sdn Bhd, the Austrian technology provider of the Infra-Red Toll Collection System on Malaysian highways, has reassured the more than four million“SmartTag” users in the country that the company will continue to provide sales and service support for the system, since Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd recently announced that it would stop selling the SmartTAG devices through its channels. Long story short, yes, you can still use your SmartTag device in the given lane, and you can still buy a new one to install your TnG card into, only it’s not called a “SmartTag” anymore, it’s called a E-TAG. Same device, same price, different name.
A media briefing was held recently to allay any fears or suspicions that any might have in regards to this ‘new’ TnG card reader replacing the SmartTag, which actually looks very much like the SmartTag device we are all used to. In fact they are identical. Think of them as Big Apple and J-CO donuts, same thing, different branding.
The good news is that these devices are serviceable, so even if your current SmartTag has ‘lost’ its digital display readout (a major gripe among users of this device), EFKON can fix them for free if they’re still under warranty. A slight charge applies if they’re past their warranty date. This month, EFKON Asia plans to have in place a nationwide sales and service network to ensure wider availability and convenience to highway users who wish to purchase or service the Infra-Red E-TAG device, starting with SHELL petrol stations along major highways.
More on EFKON: Plans & availability…
Moving forward, the Infra-Red TAG device will be available under various brands which will be fully compatible with the current Malaysian toll system. MaxTAG by Sigma Technology Sdn Bhd is already on sale on the e-commerce platform, www.lazada.com.my and www.11street.my. In a firm endorsement of the device’s effectiveness, EFKON’s product has been incorporated as a built-in device in several new car models by major automotive manufacturers in the country (Perodua Myvi for example) at a rate of hundreds of thousands of units a year.
The TAG, which is manufactured in Malaysia, is also exported to Vietnam and Indonesia with a fast-expanding user community. Developed in 1997 and rolled out across the country in 2005, the Infra-Red Toll Collection System developed by local companies together with EFKON has proven to be the most reliable and efficient system in facilitating traffic flow on Malaysian highways.
According to EFKON the reason for the digital display in the previous SmartTag failing was the use of hot-glue instead of proper spot-soldering to connect the digital display to the main board. This glue didn’t hold up very well to our climate. We were assured that the new E-TAG devices are better made.
According to EFKON Asia director Helmuth Blasch, (above) the company’s Infra-Red Toll Collection System is also ready and suited for multi-lane traffic free flow. “In Germany, a similar Infra-Red System has proven to be effective and reliable in multi-lane traffic free flow environment for speeds above 120 km/h. We have also successfully replicated this test in Malaysia. In contrast to simple solutions, the Infra-Red DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communication) System also provides high security and protection from cloning the TAG for misuse. We are confident that this Infra-Red TAG System with its 13-year track record and more than four million satisfied customers in this country, will continue to prove its worth as an efficient, convenient and cost-effective cashless toll collection system,” he said.
“Infra-Red TAG devices are cost-effective solutions for frequent highway users. Each device is robustly-built with a high-impact resistant casing. As it can be kept inside a vehicle and not subject to external environment conditions and vandalism, one can easily last 15 years or more,” he added. “In Germany, the Nationwide Truck Tolling System that EFKON installed on all highways in a Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) configuration has proven to be highly effective, catering to more than two million trucks travelling at up to 100 km/h. In the Netherlands’ Westerschelde Tunnel, an initial plan to replace the Infra-Red System with RFID was scrapped after it was proven difficult to accurately direct microwaves at specific stickers, especially with the presence of large reflective metal surfaces such as tankers and containers nearby,”
