Distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia, Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd, and Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan, has officiated their Joint Venture (JV) at the new Mazda 4S Centre in Glenmarie this morning.
Their new JV involves a manufacturing programme that will see more models added to the assembly line-up over time. With the Mazda3 already being assembled at Inokom in Kedah, the next model to follow suit will be the recently launched and rather popular Mazda CX-5.
According to Bermaz, about RM20 million has been invested in preparation to see more Mazda vehicles roll out of the plant in Kedah, come second quarter of next year and their SkyActiv-equipped CX-5 will be leading the way. Priority will be given to local demand before looking to supply off-shore markets (export) with Mazda vehicles.
Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer of Mazda, Yuji Nakamine describes this collaboration with Bermaz as their “second phase”, having increased sales from 991 units in 2008 to 6,131 units in 2011 and have launched the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda8, CX7, CX-9, CX-5, MX-5 and ever popular rotary powered RX-8.
The two parties are now looking very keen to re-establish the Mazda brand here in Malaysia that would be better known as Mazda Malaysia Sdn Bhd, with Shinji Sakatani at the helm as the first president of this company that has Mazda Motor Corp owning a 70% majority share in this JV. They now look to achieve a new sales target of 150,000 units, come 2015.
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