Kia Malaysia to now not enable mixed-brand showrooms – new sellers to be devoted Kia retailers

I’m certain that by now you’ve seen Kia fashions being offered alongside Mazdas and Xpengs at sure Bermaz showrooms throughout Malaysia. It’s because the corporate has hitherto held the distributorships for all three manufacturersand because it already has an in depth Mazda seller community – and since some retailers aren’t in a position to justify the additional outlay of constructing a separate Kia showroom – the three in any other case unrelated manufacturers are compelled to take a seat alongside one another beneath one roof.

In fact, Bermaz isn’t the one firm doing this. Stellantis Malaysia operates shared showrooms for Peugeot and Leapmotorthough these two firms are beneath the identical umbrella, in order that’s no shock. Maybe extra contentious is Stellantis’ tie-up with Cycle & Carriagewith no less than one outlet promoting each Peugeots and Mercedes-Benzes. That may’t be good for both model’s positioning.

Effectively, Kia has now taken over the distribution of its personal model beneath the Kia Gross sales Malaysia (KSM) banner, and the nationwide gross sales firm’s managing director Emily Lek has made it clear that the mixed-brand mannequin is not going to be allowed beneath the brand new regime. That is regardless of her welcoming current sellers to enroll and proceed promoting and servicing Kia fashions.

“It’s fairly clear in our settlement (with Bermaz) that Bermaz sellers can be taken out (of our community). On the identical time, we’re additionally rationalising our community; there are some sellers that do wish to stick with us, and naturally we’ll be speaking to them.

“Proper now, Bermaz has shared branding (at its sellers) and that’s one thing that we gained’t enable, so it’s actually about discussing with them on how they’ll rebrand in the event that they wish to preserve a Kia dealership,” she stated.

Lek added {that a} principal-led mannequin will allow the Kia model to have full focus by way of gross sales and aftersales efforts. “Prefer it or not, as an (exterior) distributor, I can herald a number of manufacturers; I’ll give attention to whichever automobile that makes me worthwhile. The model loyalty (for a distributor) may be very totally different, (in comparison with) a automobile firm coming in by itself,” she stated.

The clear break from Bermaz implies that KSM isn’t following the association made by sister firm Hyundai Motor Malaysia (HMY)by which the earlier distributor Sime Motors continues to be a serious Hyundai seller.

Nevertheless, similar to HMY, KSM will proceed to assemble its CKD automobiles regionally on the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah, by means of Kia Asia Pacific’s different subsidiary Kia Malaysia (KMSB). Both means, KSM might want to type out its seller community fast, as it’ll take over distributor duties beginning January 1, 2026.

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