Mercedes-Benz Targets Sale Of 12,000 Units In 2016

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd is optimistic to achieve the sale of 12,000 cars in 2016, surpassing last year's 10,845 cars, based on the positive growth achieved in the nine-month period of this year. President and Chief Executive Officer Dr Claus Weidner said from January to September, the company sold 9,047 cars, up 10 per cent from the same period last year, underpinned by new model launches. "Our market share also increased 0.6 per cent to 2.4 per cent for the period," he told reporters during a briefing on the company's third quarter performance. He said the C-Class model topped the sales chart with 3,733 units sold, representing a 90 per cent jump compared with the previous nine-month period of last year. Meanwhile, the A-Class remained the most popular compact model with 829 units sold, representing a 21 per cent increase from last year, he added. Driven by a growing demand for its vehicles, Weidner said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia had increased local production and 6,424 vehicles rolled off the assembly line in the first nine months of this year, up 15 per cent, from the same period last year. He said the company produced eight models at its local plant in Pekan city of Malaysia's Pahang state, including the first locally produced plug-in hybrid, the Mercedes-Benz C350e. The plant produced about 70 per cent of the cars sold by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and employed a workforce of 1,100 people. "Moving forward, the newly completed warehouse in Pekan is expected to further support Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's effort to facilitate the growing demand for Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the country," he said. As of September, Weidner said the company recorded its highest throughput in history of servicing 79,917 vehicles across Malaysia, up 18.1 per cent, from last year. Apart from the car distribution business, he said the company in-house financier, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MBSM), also recorded a significant increase in the servicing portfolio. "Known for its innovative and flexible financial solutions as well as comprehensive range of insurance offerings, MBSM recorded an equally strong performance with a year-to-date servicing portfolio of US$429.37 million (RM1.8 billion) representing an 80 per cent jump over the same period last year," he said. On the 2017 Budget wish list, he hoped the government would continue with the National Automotive Policy which has been positive in developing the automotive industry. "We hope government policies, which are very positive to the automotive industry, will continue," he said. --BERNAMA