Weiming Soh, executive vice-president of Volkswagen and president of commercial operations greater China/ASEAN has outlined several strategic initiatives taking place at Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM).
As a part of VGM’s commitment to, and increasing presence in, Malaysia, Soh announced Volkswagen is following up on previous collaborative discussions with the Malaysian government to investigate the export of Volkswagen vehicles assembled in Malaysia to meet the growing demand in the region.
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Soh also shared that the on-going VGM dealer network expansion to provide greater accessibility and convenience for the company’s customers in Malaysia, will see the current total of 38 conventional outlets grow to 45 by the end of 2014. Moreover, VGM is now pioneering additional strategic and innovative channels such as lifestyle dealerships, Volkswagen brand stores, and potential light-house flagship centres, which are all being actively investigated.
“This quantitative, qualitative and innovative expansion of our dealer network will provide new business development opportunities, step-by-step, for our investors, dealers and automotive related sales and service providers” said Soh.
“Volkswagen is in full ramp-up mode in Pekan employing state-of-the-art technology such as the only advanced laser-welding equipment in Malaysia to assemble cars, which are structurally stronger, and as a result, safer. With a highly trained and skilled Malaysian workforce, we are assembling a wide range of Volkswagen vehicles,” said Soh.
“In the near future, to address our growing sales and to further improve customer satisfaction, we are establishing a state-of-the-art Technical Competence Centre featuring up to 40 bays in a 9,000 square metre facility. This facility will provide the latest in all areas of training, in order to bring the very best to our Malaysian customers”, announced Soh.
Additionally, Soh announced a change in the German carmaker’s senior management. Christoph Aringer, who was appointed earlier in 2014 as the managing director of VGM for his retail expertise, will be returning to his native Austria due to unanticipated personal circumstances. Aringer will be returning to Porsche, where he is previously from.
As such, Volkswagen has appointed Armin Keller as managing director of VGM, effective 1 July. During the past three years, he was the executive director for Volkswagen ASEAN sales operations; Keller brings to Malaysia more than 25 years of Volkswagen senior management roles, including extensive ASEAN and Malaysia sales and marketing experience.
Armin Keller shared, “Malaysia is a strategic market for Volkswagen and I am looking forward with the VGM team to raising the bar of Volkswagen’s engagement and continuing our impressive track record in Malaysia.”
