Mercedes-Benz Malaysia aims to outgrow 2017 sales

Daimler said the return on sales at Mercedes-Benz cars fell to 7.3 percent in the fourth quarter from 9.5 percent in the year-earlier period.

KUALA LUMPUR:  Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd is upbeat on its performance this year, aiming to outgrow its sales of 12,045 vehicles last year.

Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Mark Raine said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's sales have grown 15 per cent to 6,790 units for the first half of this year over the same period last year.

“We are confident we are on a good track, but the main indicator is that our customers are satisfied with our service and we are gaining market share, which is currently at 2.5 per cent,” he told reporters after Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's Mid-Year Media Briefing 2018.

So far this year, he said, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's locally-produced limousines, namely the Mercedes-Benz C-, E-, and S-Class, collectively recorded a total of 4,322 units sold, or 18 per cent higher over the first half of 2017.

Its range of premium compact cars comprising the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, B-Class, GLA-Class and CLA-Class recorded 20 per cent higher sales of 996 units.

Raine said the Premium SUV range by Mercedes-Benz remained a growth driver recording 1,291 units sold, while the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars collection also recorded a notable achievement with 181 units sold.

For the second half of the year, he said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia plans more than five launches.

President/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Claus Weidner said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's concerted efforts into improving customer services along the ownership journey, together with its growing locally-assembled portfolio, innovative customer touchpoints and lifestyle experiences, have formed a holistic endeavour to achieve ever higher customer satisfaction.

“Our market leadership is not the ultimate goal, rather the credible result of this focus and the fulfilment of our premium luxury claim.

“Care for the customer is of utmost importance, falling in line with our efforts to deliver nothing but the Best Customer Experience,” Weidner added.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's automotive financing arm, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MBSM), recently issued a RM3 billion corporate bond programme to diversify its funding sources in anticipation of further growth prospects in the local market.

MBSM Managing Director, Mike J Ponnaz said its first issuance of RM250 million of the bond programme in June this year had been comprehensively taken up by local investors.

“We expect to use up the RM3 billion in the next few years.

“At the moment, this bond programme is a first for the group, so we went with a route that we and our stakeholders are familiar with, given that our German stakeholders are guaranteeing the bond. Going forward, perhaps we will consider sukuk,” he added.- Bernama