Naza To Launch Four New Peugeot Models This Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) — The Naza group plans to launch four new Peugeot car models this year and is targeting to sell close to 3,000 units.

Its joint executive chairman SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin said the group sold 3,766 Peugeot cars last year, comprising 2,347 units of the 206 Bestari, 885 units of the 308, 491 units of the 407, and 43 units of the 207.

“Excluding sales figures of the 206 Bestari which has been phased out, sales of Peugeot vehicles by Naza in 2009 would be a total of 1,419 units,” he said during a media briefing here Tuesday in conjunction with the visit of Peugeot’s deputy managing director Nicolas Wertans.

The Naza group is the main importer and distributor of well-known automotive brands such as Ferrari, Peugeot and Brabus.

On its year-end target for total motor vehicle sales this year, SM Nasarudin said the group hoped to achieve between 25,000 and 26,000 units from 16,000 units last year.

“For this year, Peugeot will begin exporting the new T33 model that will be assembled at Gurun to Thailand and Indonesia,” he said.

Besides exporting the T33, Peugeot has also started to expand its Asean regional office in Petaling Jaya to coordinate operations for the entire Asia-Pacific region.

Wertans said Peugeot and Naza planned to make Malaysia its manufacturing hub for right-hand-drive cars in Asia and export Peugeot vehicles assembled at the Naza plant in Gurun to Thailand and Indonesia.

“We hope to increase our market share in Malaysia to between three and eight per cent from one per cent currently,” he said at the media briefing.

Wertans also unveiled Peugeot’s new brand identity as part of the French carmaker’s plans to move up three places in the world car market by 2015.

Currently, Peugeot is ranked 10th in the global automotive market in terms of size.

The new marque plan involved the launch of 14 new models in its core market and in new markets between 2010 and 2012, he said.

Wertans also said that Peugeot will continue to push the frontiers of the motor industry by designing vehicles which will embody all of the spirit of the BB1 concept car which is 2.5 metres long and can seat up to four people and is 100 per cent electric.

Naza’s unit Nasim Sdn Bhd, which distributes the Peugeot vehicles locally, recently announced it is undertaking a re-branding exercise at all its branches and dealers following the carmaker’s unveiling of a new global brand identity.

The exercise will entail the incorporation of Peugeot’s new logo and brand identity at all Nasim’s branches and dealers nationwide.

Source: BERNAMA