BAuto unit sees Mazda sales jump in 2014

PETALING JAYA: Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Mazda cars in Malaysia, is aiming for a 12% jump in sales to 10,000 units this year from 8,931 units sold in 2013.

Bermaz is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berjaya Auto Bhd (BAuto).

“We want to keep to a conservative level in order to maintain our commitment to customer satisfaction by taking small sales increments at a time.

“We do not want to get ahead of ourselves,” Bermaz Motor managing director Datuk Ben Yeoh said during the launch of the new 2.0-litre Mazda3 sedan (pic) and the 2.5-litre Mazda CX-5 SUV (sport utility vehicle) at the 1 Utama shopping centre yesterday.

Both the new Mazda3 and 2.5-litre CX-5 are imported from Japan.

Yeoh said the new third-generation Mazda3 sedan would contribute significantly to sales.

“We aim to sell up to 400 units each month. Local assembly of the car will start towards the end of this year,” said Yeoh.

He added that 300 units were delivered to customers last month.

The launch of six new Mazda models this year is also expected to boost sales.

Locally-assembled models such as the 2.0-litre Mazda CX-5 and 1.6-litre previous-generation Mazda3 are expected to contribute between 60% and 70% of targeted sales this year.

The new 2.0-litre Mazda3 sedan, equipped with SkyActiv technology, comes with premium features such as bi-xenon headlights with auto-levelling and washer, reverse camera, a sunroof and daytime running lights.

It has a five-star Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) safety rating and features include six airbags, ISOFIX anchor points at the rear, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, dynamic stability control and traction control.

(ISOFIX is an international standard for attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars.)

The new Mazda3 is priced on-the-road with insurance at RM138,935.50 and has a three-year warranty while the new 2.5-litre CX-5 is priced on-the-road with insurance at RM165,066.80 (two-wheel drive) and RM175,326.80 (four-wheel drive).

BAuto had made its debut on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia in November last year.

It should be noted that Bermaz’s associate, Mazda Malaysia Sdn Bhd, is involved in the local assembly and export of Mazda vehicles.

Mazda Malaysia is a joint venture between Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp (70%) and Bermaz (30%).

Last year, Mazda Motor had announced that it was investing in a new RM100mil assembly facility located at the Inokom Corp plant in Kulim, Kedah.

The Hiroshima-headquartered carmaker is targeting annual production in Malaysia to hit 20,000 vehicles eventually.