Business

Thursday September 20, 2012

Peugeot distributor will have 34 outlets next year

By EUGENE MAHALINGAM
eugenicz@thestar.com.my


KUALA LUMPUR: Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Peugeot vehicles in the country and a member of the Naza group of companies, plans to open at least five new outlets in Peninsular Malaysia next year as part of its network expansion plan.

Nasim chief operating officer Datuk Samson Anand George said each outlet would cost RM3mil to RM5mil.

“That will bring our total network to 34 outlets,” he said after the launch of the Peugeot Blue Box Chan Sow Lin yesterday Nasim's latest 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre.

Samson said there were a number of independent dealers that are keen to tie up with Nasim, adding that the company is also looking to expand its network in Sabah and Sarawak.

<B>New outlet:</B> (from left) Peugeot general director for Asean countries Lionel Faugeres, Sing Huat Premium Sdn Bhd MD Ng Sin Yean and Samson at the launch of the Peugeot Blue Box Chan Sow Lin centre in Kuala Lumpur. New outlet: (from left) Peugeot general director for Asean countries Lionel Faugeres, Sing Huat Premium Sdn Bhd MD Ng Sin Yean and Samson at the launch of the Peugeot Blue Box Chan Sow Lin centre in Kuala Lumpur.

“We are looking at certain places in Sabah and Sarawak ... perhaps two new outlets. But we still need to firm a few things up first,” he said.

The Peugeot Blue Box Chan Sow Lin centre is the fifth outlet to be launched by Nasim this year (and the company's 22nd outlet so far) following the launch of outlets in Penang, Seremban, a new 2S centre in Balakong and the new Peugeot Blue Box Glenmarie.

The Peugeot Blue Box Chan Sow Lin facility is owned and operated by Sing Huat Premium Sdn Bhd, which invested RM4mil in the 35,000 sq ft facility.

“The Klang Valley is a key market comprising 55% of Peugeot's total sales in Malaysia. In light of that, Peugeot Blue Box Chan Sow Lin will play a pivotal role in meeting the after-sales needs of our customers in the Klang Valley,” said Samson.

“With this new 3S centre, we now have a total of 58 service bays in the Klang Valley with the capacity to service up to 3,500 cars a month, which represents a 46% increase from 2011.

He said Peugeot Blue Box Chan Sow Lin would serve customers in Taman Bandaraya, Taman Sri Lempah, Mutiara Seputeh, Jalan Pudu, Kampung Malaysia Tambahan, Cheras, Pandan Perdana, Pudu and Bandar Tasik Selatan.

Samson said Nasim would be opening new outlets in Kota Damansara, Ampang, Old Klang Road, Penang, Taiping, Batu Pahat and Kuala Terengganu by this year.

On another point, Samson said Nasim was maintaining its sales target of 9,300 units for this year, boosted by new model launches this year.

“Our model range has grown,” he said, adding that Nasim planned to launch two new models next year. He said the company currently had seven models comprising 15 variants.

As at end-August, Nasim had sold 4,200 units, up 7.5% from the same period in 2011.

Separately, Lionel Faugeres, Peugeot's general director for Asean and Pacific countries, declined to comment on speculation that Naza could take over the Citroen franchise in Malaysia.

According to a recent report in a local Malay daily, France-based PSA Peugeot-Citroen was said to have informed current Citroen distributor, Brooklands Motors, that it was ending its franchise agreement with the Malaysian company.

The report, citing a source, claimed that PSA Peugeot-Citroen was looking for a new partner to develop the brand in Malaysia.

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