Kia Motor can now resume its business in Malaysia with greater clarity. The company has confirmed today that it has appointed Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn. Bhd. (a subsidiary of Bermaz Auto) as its new distributor for Malaysia, replacing Naza Kia Malaysia, effective today.
With this, Kia will become the fifth brand to be represented by Bermaz and its affiliated companies: Mazda (Bermaz Auto, Bermaz Auto Philippines) Peugeot (Berjaya Auto Alliance, Malaysia), Ssangyong (Berjaya Motor Philippines), and Changan (Berjaya Auto Asia, Philippines).
More importantly, newly-minted Kia Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (the manufacturing side) will kick-start Kia’s revival by introducing several competitively priced locally-assembled (CKD) models, something which the previous distributor Naza Group was not able to do after selling control of its Naza Automotive Manufacturing plant in Gurun, Kedah to Groupe PSA in February 2018.
The Gurun plant is being retooled to make the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 for both Malaysia and Thailand, but progress have been slow.
Anyway back to Kia, the locally-assembled Kia models will include the Proton X50-class Kia Seltos and the Toyota Alphard-class all-new Kia Carnival. The latter was recently launched in Thailand, imported from Korea.
More CKD models are planned and these will be announced in due time. WapCar.my understands that discussions to CKD the Kia Sportage and Kia Sorento are still on-going.
CKD sedans are unlikely, seeing as the Kia K5 (formerly known as Optima) is only available in left-hand drive form. The appeal of the Kia Stinger on the other hand, is still too narrow.
The new CKD Kia models will be assembled at the Inokom plant, which is 29 percent owned by Bermaz Auto.
Also read: 2021 Kia Seltos launched in Malaysia: 1.6L NA, CBU India, 2 variants, from RM 116k
Bermaz Auto’s manufacturing joint-venture (with Japan’s Mazda Motor) Mazda Malaysia currently operates a Mazda assembly plant within the Inokom campus but the Kia models mentioned here will be put together at a different facility.
As Hyundai has reduced capacity utilization at Kulim plant, the excess capacity will most likely be taken up by Kia.
Also read: Hyundai Ioniq discontinued in Malaysia – Goodbye fuel and safety king
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Mamak Talk
Which brand have a better after sales service? Hey, knowledgeable people of this forum. I want to own a car for around 90K. What I’m concerned about is Which brand have a better after sales service? Because one of my friends bought a Proton, and he had to wait for parts sometimes. Now I‘m interested in Perodua/Honda/Toyota/Kia/Nissan. How about their parts, after sales service? good enough？
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