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Published on: 3/8/2007
Last Visited: 8/4/2007
Auto Bavaria's managing director Mathias Heimann said the upgrading of its branches was to provide new levels of customer comfort and convenience, in line with BMW's global standards.
With 19 years of experience in Malaysia, Heimann said that this was also part of Auto Bavaria's continuing quest to grow the BMW brand in the northern region.
Heimann said the new branch in Penang â€" with a space of 46,000 sq ft features a BMW sales and service facility, a separate area for BMW Motorrad motorcycles, as well as the first MINI showroom outside the Klang Valley.
"MINI owners in the north will soon be able to fully embrace the MINI experience with a fantastic range of models, lifestyle items and service centre available in a new facility," he said.
"This showroom will also service the BMW Motorrad, which is well anticipated by motorcycle enthusiasts in the region as previously they had to go to KL."
Heimann said the branch was expected to see over 8,000 customers serviced throughput annually, while the national average was 35,000 to 38,000 per year.
Asked if there were plans to move to Auto City on the mainland, where most of the automotive industry players were positioned, Heimann said the location on the island was chosen to facilitate its customers who mostly lived on the island.
"We are a premium brand, and the fastest-growing premium brand with a growth rate of 8.9% last year.
"The automobile brands located at Auto City cater to a different set of clients â€" unlike our brand, which caters to a different clientele," he added.