Mazda gets new distributor in Malaysia

Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd (CCB) has given up yet another automotive franchise � with its previous Peugeot distributorship having ended by end-2007 � this time surrendering the Mazda brand. BerMaz Motor Sdn Bhd, a unit of Berjaya Corporation will acquire Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd�s wholly-owned current Mazda�s franchise holder, Hercules Automotive Engineers Sdn Bhd, for RM16.8million.

BerMaz Motor has sealed a 3 years distribution agreement with Mazda Motor Co. which will take effect as of 1st of April 2008. Berjaya Corp is currently involved with the sole distributorship of Skoda brand and has future prospect set on China�s Changan auto vehicles in Malaysia. With such acquisition, Bermaz Motor Sdn. Bhd. will officially take over all of Mazda�s automotive business in Malaysia by H2 2008.

You may want to read this:

http://newbiecars.blogspot.com/2007/10/ccb-gives-up-peugeot-in-malaysia.html

CCB gives up Peugeot in Malaysia

Cycle & Carriage Automobiles Sdn. Bhd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cycle & Carriage Bintang (CCB) Bhd will cease operation as Peugeot franchise holder in Malaysia. CCB has recently notified Bursa Malaysia that it will not renew its franchise contract with Automobiles Peugeot of France when it expires by 31st December 2007.

CCB has also announced in its annual report that its Peugeot business arm had incurred net losses of RM250,000 in 2006 and RM1.77 million for the six months ended 30th June 2007. By giving up the Peugeot franchise, it is expected that �funds released from the discontinuation of the business will be used to optimise the Group�s working capital�. For the record, CCB has held the Peugeot brand for the past five years.

Market talk has it that local automotive conglomerate Naza will take over from CCB next year as Peugeot sole distributor, franchise holder and of course, importer for future CBU Peugeot automobiles in Malaysia.

W204 C-Class Preview at Cycle & Carriage Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

By Dr Long

A W204 C200K Elegance was previewed at Cycle & Carriage Bintang (CCB) showroom in Ampang (Tun Razak/U-Thant), Kuala Lumpur today. I must admit the new C-Class looked very stately and elegant in the metal. It is spacious up front, much better than the W203. Quality is back where it should be and up to the good-old 3-pointed star standards, with stitched leathers even on the door trim. Rear legroom is adequate with comfy seating and ergonomics.

Prices are still unfinalised (pending final approval by the authorities) but CCB' order books are running into the hundreds now. Some are expecting the Elegance-spec C200K to be slightly below RM260k, with C200K Avantgarde (possibly RM10k extra) deliveries likely only in 2008. Mercedes fans can look forward to the C230 2.5 V6 Avantgarde only sometime Q2 next year.

Click on images to enlarge

The preview dates for the new 'C-for yourself' showcase at CCB are:

-Sept 25 � CCB U Thant/Tun Razak Branch at 7 pm

-Sept 27 � CCB Mutiara Damansara at 7 pm

-Sept 29 (Saturday) � full day at CCB PJ (Federal highway)

1,000th Mercedes-Benz in 17 months!

For Cycle & Carriage Bintang, the main dealer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the country, it has taken only 17months period of �gestation� to �deliver� its 1,000th customer. She�s none other than Dr. Chua Hui Yen, who purchased a Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor EL recently from the Mercedes-Benz Autohaus showroom in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

To mark the occasion, C&C Bintang (CCB) presented Dr Chua with a one-night stay at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel together with a wine-and-dine voucher worth RM300 and a hotel spa package for two. In addition, she also received two VIP tickets to the internationally acclaimed stage production of The King and I performance at the Istana Budaya. �I have always been a loyal Mercedes-Benz fan and have eyed the C230 K for a while now. Thus, this is certainly a pleasant surprise to be appreciated in such a special way,� she said.

C&C Bintang's retail operations director, Matthew Stuart and Florian Mueller, Vice President of Sales & Marketing of DaimlerChrysler Malaysia, were on hand to present the prize. The company has sold 630 Mercedes-Benz models thus far in 2007, from its five branches located nationwide, which include the Autohaus showrooms in PJ and Mutiara Damansara.

As one of the latest promotion, CCB is offering its customers the opportunity to participate in the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Active Safety Experience 2007 - driver training programme - at Sepang from July 11th -14th, 2007. The one-day training session, valued at RM1,800 per person (existing M-B owner), will be complimentary to all customers who purchase a new Mercedes-Benz from any of its Autohaus showrooms in June.