Kia Gross sales Malaysia takes over distributorship from Bermaz Auto – names ex-Jaecoo Emily Lek as MD

Kia Company has introduced it’s shifting to a principal-led mannequin in Malaysia, with Kia Gross sales Malaysia set to handle the model’s gross sales, aftersales, coaching in addition to all wholesale and retail operations in our market efficient January 1, 2026.

Established on November 3 this yr, Kia Gross sales Malaysia is an entirely owned subsidiary of Kia Company and can be the equal of Honda Malaysia, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and different OEMs immediately managed by their respective HQs – Hyundai went by an analogous transition in June this yr. Kia Gross sales Malaysia can be led by Hyung Ho Kim as its president and CEO, with ex-Omoda | Jaecoo vp Emily Lek set to formally change into its managing director efficient January 2026.

“Kia is happy to reinvigorate our model presence in Malaysia. We consider our innovation- and customer-centric technique will improve how followers expertise the model as we proceed to help the expansion of Malaysia’s economic system and automotive business. We’re right here to remain and, aligned to our ‘Motion That Evokes’ model imaginative and prescient, we’re devoted to constructing a future that conjures up new experiences and sustainable mobility,” stated Ki Seok Ahn, president and CEO of Kia Asia Pacific.

“Among the many milestones the automotive business and followers of the model can anticipate from the brand new principal-led transfer embody enhancements to the Kia supplier community, investments in aftersales service and new mannequin launches,” the corporate wrote in its launch.

Should you’re questioning why the corporate isn’t simply referred to as ‘Kia Malaysia’, that’s as a result of there’s already an organization by that identify right here – KMSB – that manages Kia’s native meeting operation in Kulim, Kedah. KMSB was fashioned after Kia Motors partnered with Bermaz Auto (BAuto) in April 2021which additionally noticed the appointment of BAuto’s subsidiary Dinamikjaya Motors because the South Korean model’s official distributor in Malaysia.

The Kia-BAuto partnership has since been concluded and the transition course of is at present ongoing. At current, clients can proceed to have interaction with authorised Kia service centres for his or her aftersales wants, and all car bookings made earlier than November 30 will proceed to be fulfilled. Nevertheless, new bookings can be quickly paused for the whole month of December 2025.

“We thank Bermaz Group for his or her dedication to the Kia model over the previous 4 years and the seamless handover throughout this transition interval. The return of Kia operations to a principal-led mannequin is well timed because the market stays hungry for brand new experiences and worth from automotive manufacturers,” commented stated Hyung Ho Kim.

“We’re grateful to our loyal followers for staying with us by the years and look ahead to curating an inspiring possession expertise that proves why a Kia is designed to fulfill the distinctive life-style wants of each present and new followers alike,” he added.

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