The current COVID-19 pandemic crisis is depressing and everyone is uncertain about the future. Hopefully, it will come to an end before long and we can return to normalcy although we may need to be more conscious of personal hygiene and care more for each other’s safety.
Where cars are concerned, some may be considering buying a new vehicle, perhaps as an overdue replacement to their old one which may be costing too much to maintain. Or there may just be a need for an additional car in the home.
The latest X70, made in Malaysia.
You can’t go to the showrooms at this time due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) which, hopefully, ends on April 14, 2020. In the meantime, if you are considering the latest Proton X70, the carmaker has launched its WhatsApp chatbot which can provide information on the details, promotions and features of the popular SUV, now made in Malaysia.
The chatbot serves as an alternative channel of communication with Proton and is one of several initiatives the carmaker is taking to provide convenience for customers – while also keeping in mind their safety. It does not, however, respond to natural language or questions from users. Instead, users just need to send replies in the form of numbers to get more information on corresponding topics.
Through the chatbot, accessible via https://bit.ly/HiProtonX70, customers can learn more about X70 variants and their prices, specification, sales offerings, trade-in offers, and Proton Financing. They can also register their interest in making a purchase.
Incidentally, for those who wish to make a booking at this time, you need to pay only RM99.00 for a new X70 and RM.9.99 for an Iriz, Saga,Persona or Exora. This offer is applicable only for online bookings at www.proton.com.
With the extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) by the government, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has announced that all authorised Toyota and Lexus dealerships will continue to remain closed.
However, the company reiterated that it continues to be contactable to all customers for any emergencies or enquiries during this period on its existing helplines as well as 5 additional helplines created for this period of time. Customers may contact the following numbers throughout the duration of the MCO.
Additionally, it was announced that all vehicles purchased from UMWT or their authorised dealers with existing warranties that are valid and expiring during this period will enjoy a 30-day extension calculated from the last day of the MCO.
All service appointments scheduled during this MCO period will be rescheduled after the MCO is lifted and when operations resume. It gives assurance to all customers that support, where necessary, will be provided during this period.
If you’re planning on buying a new Ford vehicle but cannot go to the showroom at this time because of the restrictions of the Movement Control Order, you can still start the process using a new service offered by Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC). It’s known as the ‘Digital Salesperson’ and is a dedicated WhatsApp live chat line to address customer queries relating to vehicle purchases.
“In light of the Movement Control Order being extended until 14 April 2020, we are introducing an alternative method of a ‘Digital Salesperson’ which will allow customers to continue conversing with us via digital means. This comes as we understand that there are customers wanting to purchase our vehicles, but unable to walk into our showrooms during this period,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, MD of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.
“After the Movement Control Order ends, we will continue to offer this alternative method as we care and understand that customers may still want to limit public exposure,” he added, saying that the service will be available until the end of June 2020 and extended if it is popular.
The Ford Digital Salesperson can provide information about promotions.
The ‘Digital Salesperson’ can respond to product-related queries as well as provide information on any ongoing sales promotions. This service aims to bridge the gap by linking customers to an actual Ford authorised salesperson located nearest to them. Once connected, customers can know about colour and stock availability as well as loan financing options and other information concerning a purchase.
The ‘Digital Salesperson’ by SDAC is available to assist customers from 9 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday. Customers simply need to WhatsApp +6019-204 1200 to start chatting and queries will be attended to within 24 hours.
With the introduction of this alternative option, customers would also be able to transact at their own convenience and pay the deposit for their vehicle – and take advantage of upcoming festive promotions. Once the Movement Control Order is lifted, the necessary documents can be signed and processed.
The new Ford 3S centre at Sime Darby Motors City in Ara Damansara, Selangor.
“When the Movement Control Order is lifted, we welcome customers who wish to come in-person to any of our flagship showrooms located at our latest automotive facility, Sime Darby Motors City, in Ara Damansara, as well as our showrooms at other parts of the country,” Jeffrey Gan, MD for Retail & Distribution, Malaysia, Sime Darby Motors, said.
“We would like to assure our customers that we have taken the necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of our staff and visitors which includes, practicing social distancing. At certain showrooms, we require all visitors to perform temperatures checks upon entering the premise, in addition to supplying hand sanitiser dispensers located in the showrooms.”
For more information on Ford and the latest promotions, customers may also visit www.sdacford.com.my.
Sime Darby Swedish Auto Sdn Bhd, which was appointed Volvo Car Malaysia’s dealer-partner in October last year, has completed its new 3S (Sales, Service & Spare Parts) Centre for Volvo customers. To be officially opened on February 20, 2020, the brand new facility is located at Sime Darby Motors City in Ara Damansara, Selangor.
Besides drawing inspiration from the brand’s Scandinavian-inspired ideals and heritage, the 3S Centre also adheres to Volvo Car’s global retail standard – the Volvo Retail Experience (VRE). It is the first 3S Centre to be equipped with a VR Studio (Virtual Reality Studio) and a Reception at The Counter (RATC) Bay. The 4-storey centre also boasts of being the first fully air-conditioned workshop in Malaysia.
While the showroom is situated on the ground floor, the layout differs from traditional retail facilities in that the service centre is on the upper floors. The service centre, which has a car detailing area, is spread across the second and third floors, while a wheel alignment and balancing zone is located on the fourth floor.
There are 14 repair and service bays, of which two are specifically RATC Bays. All customer parking bays will also be equipped with an Electric Vehicle Charger.
Since 2015, the total annual sales of Proton vehicles have been below 100,000 units but 2019 saw it cross the 100,000 mark again to record a total sales volume of 100,821 units (including exports). The achievement was helped by a boost in December which were the highest for the whole of 2019 – 11,117 units which was 112% over the corresponding month in 2018 and also the first time the carmaker has sold more than 11,000 cars in a month since July 2014.
While the December sales number is equivalent to a 20.5% share of the anticipated Total Industry Volume (TIV) for the month (pending release of official data by the Malaysian Automotive Association), the final number represents an increase of 55.7% over 2018’s TIV. Proton believes it achieved the strongest sales growth among the top 5 brands in Malaysia in 2019, with overall market share estimated to be at 16.7%.
NB: 2019 sales include exports.
Segment leaders
According to a statement by the company this afternoon, Proton’s sales growth was powered by the X70 SUV, along with double-digit percentage increases in sales for the 4 updated models it launched in 2019. The X70 began its first full year of sales strongly and was the fastest-selling SUV in its class. It maintained its position at the head of its segment for the entire year and ended 2019 with a total of 26,331 units sold, which Proton says makes it the leader within its segment.
Meanwhile, sales of the Saga continued on an upward trajectory after appearing in showrooms on August 6. In December, 3,892 units of the youngest model in Proton’s current range – and also the brand’s oldest nameplate – were registered nationwide, a number which Proton says makes it the most popular A-segment sedan. Total sales for 2019 closed at 38,144 units, equivalent to a 36% increase in volume.
Unfortunately, comparisons of official data will not be possible for another 12 months since the powerful Competition Commission will not allow the transparency of data being published that allows the public to verify such information.
The Persona ended the month with 3,384 units sold, the highest for the model since March 2012 and presumed to be the leader in its segment. Despite a few low months before the improved 2019 model was released, the total sales volume still grew by 29% to 21,876 units for the year.
Sales for the Iriz (left) nearly doubled during 2019 and grew by 97% following the launch of the updated 2019 model in April. The Exora, which has been around for over 10 years, soldiers on and remains a popular choice for those requiring an affordable 7-seater MPV.
Major contributions by X70 and Saga
“The Proton X70 and the Proton Saga are two major ingredients to Proton’s sales success this year. We are humbled by the popularity of the Proton X70 and would like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to all our customers for their support, despite it being a brand new market segment for the company. As for the Saga, with over 41,000 bookings and counting, it remains as our core product and is a popular choice regardless of a buyer’s age, status and purchasing power, making it a car for all Malaysians,” Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of Proton said.
“While sales of the Persona were very strong following the launch of the updated model, the numbers posted in December show many are becoming increasingly aware of the outstanding features, practicality and value we offer in our family sedan. Proton is confident of maintaining these numbers in 2020, so the company has at least three sales leaders in their respective segments,” he added.
New vehicle sales in the month of November declined by 2.4% or 1,286 units, bringing the Total Industry Volume for the month to 52,584 units of passenger and commercial vehicles. By segment, passenger vehicles accounted for 47,754 units (91%) of the month’s TIV with the remainder being commercial vehicles (including pick-up trucks).
Compared to the same month in 2018 when the market was still in a state of ‘fatigue’ after the surge during the 3 months of GST-free sales, it was to be expected that the figures in 2019 would be higher, with 4,302 units more sold in 2019. A larger volume of passenger vehicles (10% compared to 2018) was sold but commercial vehicles were actually 2% lower.
Source: Monthly reports of the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA)
As for the TIV for the year to date, ie 11 months, the cumulative volume has reached almost the same level. From January to November, the TIV was 549,445 units which was just 965 units less than for the same period in 2018.
The output of locally-produced vehicles was lower than in November 2018, probably as companies started preparing to scale down stocks with the year coming to an end. 46,517 vehicles were produced, about 8% less than in 2018.
However, the cumulative TIV for 11 months shows that 2019 saw a higher output of 528,333 units where in 2018, the output during the same period was 522,572 units. Passenger vehicles accounted for the boost in numbers but commercial vehicles declined.
A last push to get more sales before 2019 ends.
One month remains and in order to achieve the forecast of 600,000 units for the year by the MAA, 50,555 units would have to be registered in December. This is likely to be possible, with some extra added, as companies will be pushing hard to clear stocks and offer special deals in sales promotions. Many will also be closing their financial year and will want to be able to report the highest numbers to shareholders.
The GVE Asia Group joins the Volkswagen dealership network in Malaysia as a new business partner of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM). The group has experience in retailing luxury and premium models and operates used car dealerships, sales and aftersales and other automotive related services.
It has acquired the existing Volkswagen Sg. Besi outlet in Kuala Lumpur which was previously operated by Wearnes as its first entry into the Volkswagen network. The outlet is a full-fledged 3S dealership so Volkswagen owners can get everything they need for their vehicles at one location.
With built-up area of over 75,181 sq. ft. on two floors, the showroom can display up to 9 vehicles. The aftersales facilities in accordance with Volkswagen’s global standards and customers can relax in a comfortable waiting lounge complete with cable TV, Wi-Fi and cafe.
“We thank Wearnes for being part of the Volkswagen family. We’ve seen many years of growth, and their service to the brand has been invaluable,” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM. “At the same time, it gives me great pleasure to welcome GVE Asia Group into the network. I look forward to a fruitful partnership as we continue to build the Volkswagen brand together and to meet the needs of our customers.”
To know more about Volkswagen products and services or to locate other authorised dealerships in Malaysia, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.
Volvo Car Malaysia has officially launched the latest Volvo 3S centre and showroom over in Ipoh, Perak last weekend. Aimed to provide customers in the region with greater access to the brand and services, the new showroom is being operated by their dealer-partner, iRoll Ipoh Sdn Bhd. (more…)
News from Proton has been good all year long, with upbeat press releases arriving at our mailboxes every month. And as the end of the year approaches, the carmaker reports that its cumulative sales volume (including export deliveries) is almost at 80,000 units (79,833 to be exact) after 10 months. This represents a growth rate of 46% in a market where the Total Industry Volume (TIV) has decreased by 1.3% to date.
Pending official industry data from the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), Proton estimates its market share to be 16%, which is 5.2% higher than the previous year. It has strengthened its hold on second place in the overall sales chart and is confident of maintaining this position to the end of 2019.
While sales of the X70 SUV have contributed to Proton’s upswing – over 24,000 units have been delivered so far – the Saga has also drawn a huge number of customers since being launched in August. Over 28,000 bookings have been received and in October, the new model posted its highest sales figure for over four years. 4,273 units were sold last month and for the first 10 months of the year, the cumulative total is 30,331 units, which is a 26% increase over the previous year.
“We are humbled by the response our products have received from Malaysian car buyers. In the space of just 8 months, we launched our first SUV and updated all our other models, giving Proton the youngest model range for any car brand in Malaysia. The hard work has paid off with increased sales and we are now confident of being able to sell 100,000 units this year, providing us with a solid base to move forward in 2020 and beyond,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of Proton.
Dr. Li said the company is matching the commitment of its dealers by continuing to invest in training programmes for sales and service staff to ensure the level of service delivered matches the premium image the brand aspires to. “As we grow the number of 3S/4S outlets, we can then deliver an improved brand experience to more Malaysian car buyers. Proton will continue to focus on improving customer service levels as we know it is one of the keys to building long-term brand loyalty,” he added.
A new bi-marque 3S dealership handling the Peugeot and Citroen brands has opened in Alor Setar, Kedah. The new facility is the result of collaboration between Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributor for the Peugeot brand, and Naza Euro Motors Sdn Bhd, the official distributor for Citroen in Malaysia, as both companies aim to extends their network reach to the northern region.
“The launch of this new bi-marque Peugeot and Citroen Alor Setar outlet is the continuation of our expansion plan to increase our network and reach in Malaysia. This also ensures that we are able to cater to the needs and demands of our customers at an accessible location,” said Dato’ Nik Hamdan, Deputy Group CEO of Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings.
RM2 million investment
Built with an investment of RM2 million, the new outlet has a showroom that can display up to 8 cars. There are comfortable lounges for customers and a cafe corner within the 15,000 square feet of built-up area. The service centre has the capacity to service up to 250 cars a month with its 5 bays.
Unique to the bi-marque outlet is the full implementation of the new Peugeot and Citroen showroom concept – Peugeot Bluebox and Citroen La Maison. The Peugeot Bluebox concept aims to introduce customers to an immersive Peugeot experience that is modern and upmarket while the Citroen La Maison offers customers an interactive and fluid experience inspired by its warm and contemporary living space.
“We are confident of meeting the expectations of the Alor Setar and overall Kedah market, as the team have been extremely committed on the implementation of the two holistic concepts from Peugeot and Citroën which is sure to add to the brand ownership experience,” added Dato’ Nik Hamdan.
