Malaysia next year will have a new Porsche sports car importer under a well known group of company Sime Darby. In a short time, Sime Darby now is one of the largest car distributer covering expensive cars like BMW, Ford, Alfa Romeo, Hyundai and Land Rover. Read further news from btimes below.
High-Performance German marque Porsche will soon have a new importer and distributor in Malaysia come next year.
It is learnt that Jaseri Automotive Group Sdn Bhd (JAG), the official importer of Porsche cars here, will soon cease to represent the famed brand.
Automotive industry sources told Business Times that by next year, a company under Sime Darby Bhd will take over this responsibility.
They said that talks are close to being finalised with the new Porsche importers in Malaysia and work is under way to prepare for the brand to come under its wing.
“Sime Darby is keen to start the Porsche operations by early next year where they will operate as a separate entity parked under the group.
“Porsche will most probably follow the dedicated set-up of BMW and Hyundai which are the other two independent brands under the group,” said the sources, who could not be named as they are not authorised to speak to the media.
JAG, controlled by oil and gas entrepreneur Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, has been active in promoting the Porsche brand since acquiring it in 2001.
When contacted yesterday, Mokhzani, who is also JAG chairman, said his organisation was still the official importers.
“I’m aware of the situation, but I have nothing to comment at this point in time,” he said, adding that it was still early for him to comment.
It is learnt that once Sime Darby acquires the Porsche franchise, Mokhzani may have a small stake in the business and end up as a director of the new entity.
Porsche Asia-Pacific, when contacted by telephone, confirmed that there have been talks over the new importers of the Porsche brand in Malaysia.
However, the regional principal declined to elaborate and clarified that any official statements on the current Malaysian operations will only be issued next year.
Datuk Aishah Ahmad, the head of corporate affairs for Sime Darby’s motor division, also declined to comment.
Sime Darby, a leading multi-national conglomerate involved in plantations, healthcare, property, industrial and energy, also has an automotive arm.
At present, its motor division handles several well-known brands such as BMW, Hyundai, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo and also Ford.
The last three brands are parked at one of Sime Darby’s subsidiaries called Auto Connexion Sdn Bhd.
BMW and Hyundai are separate entities with their own dedicated showrooms and service centres.
Earlier rumours had pointed that the new franchise owner as the Naza group of companies. The privately-owned group was said to be eyeing the Porsche brand for several years as acquiring it will complete their line-up of exotic cars that include Ferrari and Maserati.
In October, JAG created waves locally by introducing the much-awaited Porsche Panamera shortly after its global launch in April this year.
At that time, JAG was upbeat about selling 30 to 40 units of the Panamera four-door, four-seat luxury sedan per year. The basic price starts from RM998,000, RM1.1 million and RM1.4 million for the Panamera S, 4S and Turbo variants respectively.
JAG is headquartered in Glenmarie in Shah Alam and has a dedicated showroom, service and parts centre. It also operates in Penang.
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