KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group recorded its best performance in Malaysia with 12,680 units of BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad vehicles delivered in 2017.
It said on Tuesday this was the seventh consecutive all-time high performance, with sales up 16% from the 10,906 units in 2016.
It said the Malaysia's strong performance refletced the BMW Group worldwide. The premium automaker recorded a new all-time sales high with a total delivery of 2,463,526 vehicles – its seventh consecutive year of record sales.
Its BMW brand's posted a 4.2% increase with a total delivery of 2,088,283 vehicles while the MINI brand recorded a 3.2% increase to 371,881 deliveries. Sales across the BMW Motorrad motorcycles range rose 13.2% with a total of 164,153 units delivered worldwide.
BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Han Sang Yun said its successful growth in Malaysia was due to to its absolute commitment to the country as well as all our customers, dealers and their premium ownership experiences.
“Going into 2018, with the continued support of the Malaysian government, our customers and our strong dealership network, we will realise our investments and plans for the region here and we hope in sustaining this momentum and achieving yet another milestone for the group and the country,” Han said.
The BMW brand grew by 18% in 2017, delivering a total of 10,618 BMW vehicles from 9,000 vehicles in 2016.
The growth was mainly driven by the BMW 3 Series with 3,564 units delivered, of which 2,408 were the BMW 330e and BMW 330e M Sport.
The BMW X5 xDrive40e is also a key contributor of the brand’s performance, with over 3,000 units sold last year.
The BMW 740Le xDrive, which which was introduced in the first half of 2017, recorded over 400 units delivered.
Its electrified vehicles strategy resulted in the successful delivery of BMW’s electrified vehicles to customers in Malaysia continues to underline the company’s leadership role when it comes to electro-mobility.
This also showed Malaysians are ready for the newest technology in the automotive industry.
Driving its product portfolio of BMW Hybrid vehicles with eDrive Technology forward, BMW Group Malaysia will continue to prioritise on infrastructure and mobility services in its strategy to make electric driving a more comfortable and convenient experience and a daily pleasure.
The launch of the all-new sport-business sedan BMW 5 Series in the first half of 2017 also accelerated the brand’s sales with over 1,600 units delivered.
As for MINI, it also saw a record performance in 2017 with 1,010 MINI vehicles delivered, up 12% from the 902 in 2016.
It said MINI is the second fastest growing brand in the Malaysian premium segment and is now the third largest brand in the segment.
Last year, MINI added the new MINI Countryman, MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and MINI John Cooper Works Countryman to its portfolio.
As for its motorcycles, BMW Motorrad delivered 1,052 units, up 5% from the 1,004 in 2016.
In 2017, BMW Motorrad unveiled five new motorcycles – the BMW S1000RR, BMW R1200GS, BMW K1600 GT and Bagger and BMW R nineT Urban GS.
BMW Group Malaysia also opened its doors to its newest regional parts distribution centre facilities at the Free Trade Zone of the Senai International Airport of Iskandar Malaysia.
A total of RM130mil was invested in the new regional facility, making it one of the largest of its kind in the Asia Pacific region and supports over 22 countries in the region.
“In 2018, BMW Group Malaysia will begin delivery of the first BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series and BMW 7 Series to Vietnam and the Philippines.
“To support the move, the BMW assembly plant in Kulim increased its local assembly capabilities to over 10,000 vehicles in 2017 with an investment of over RM10mil,” it said.
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