The early introduction of ‘green’ vehicles was the key driver for the BMW Group Malaysia’s sales growth in the first three months of the year.
Managing director Geoffrey Briscoe said proactive introduction of sustainable and highly advanced green technology alternative vehicles to the Malaysian market had proven to be a key factor for the group’s success.
“Our bold strategy of introducing advanced diesel models when no one else was willing to do so has also paid off and today BMW advanced diesel variants comprise around 18 per cent to 20 per cent of our total sales volume.
“Moving forward we expect to further build on our success with the imminent introduction of our BMW Active Hybrid variants this year, and electric vehicles in the near future,” he said in a statement yesterday.
BMW Group Malaysia sales were up 16 per cent in the first quarter of this year versus a year earlier for its BMW, MINI and Motorrad vehicles.
As of March, the group delivered 1,516 vehicles in the country, consisting of 1,362 BMWs, 80 MINIs and 74 Motorrads, which reflected another record-breaking performance.
Since entering the market in 2003, BMW Group Malaysia has grown to become Malaysia’s fastest growing premium automotive firm and has recorded growing business performances for nine consecutive years.
The premium carmaker has also made extensive strides in introducing its Malaysian customers to all new innovations in automotive technology through its BMW ConnectedDrive and BMW EfficientDynamics strategies.
“We are the most sustainable car company in the world. So it is only natural that we should continue to grow our leading proposition, the BMW EfficientDynamics strategy, here in Malaysia.
“We believe that clean and green technology is the future of the car industry and by introducing them to the Malaysian market, we aim both to show our commitment and ambitions in the creation of cars that are not only fuel-efficient and better for the environment, but also retain the drive feel and performance that is needed in a car that we call Sheer Driving Pleasure, which is the signature of BMW,” said Briscoe.
Briscoe said while the Malaysian government had made significant strides in encouraging the greater adoption of green technology, additional steps still needed to be taken, particularly in light of the Government’s set objective of achieving a 40 per cent reduction of current emission standards by 2020.
“The current level of incentives for vehicles using alternate fuel and engine technology needs to be expanded to also encourage the greater adoption of diesel fuel in Malaysia, as was done with the introduction of tax and duty waivers on hybrid and electric vehicles.
“Furthermore, the current scope of government incentives for hybrid vehicles also needs to be expanded to encompass vehicles with engine capacities of two litres and higher,” he said.
Also contributing to BMW Group Malaysia’s growing performance is its network of dealerships, which has grown steadily to 15 throughout the country.
“Our goal in Malaysia has always been to provide customers with the complete premium ownership experience that goes beyond the precise engineering and innovative technologies which our vehicles are built upon.
“Today, we now possess the infrastructure, product and services portfolio, which demonstrates why we are the most dynamic automaker in the premium segment of the car industry and through this winning combination, I am pleased to report that we are indeed now Malaysia’s number one selling premium automotive carmaker,” said Briscoe.
