Sime Darby Auto Selection (SDAS), a unit of Sime Darby Motors, is offering an opportunity for its customers to derive income from their vehicles and also have the assurance of a guaranteed resale price at the end of a 12-month period. The programme, called ‘Fund Your Drive’, is in collaboration with TREVO, SOCAR Mobility Malaysia’s people-to-people car sharing marketplace.
The first of its kind in Malaysia, the ‘Fund Your Drive’ programme seeks to make car ownership for Malaysians more affordable and accessible. Starting from today until November 18, 2021, it offers the opportunity to purchase a reliable, refurbished vehicle from SDAS with a guaranteed resale price to SDAS within 12 months through the BuyBack option. In addition, they will also have a guaranteed income when they list their cars for rental on TREVO, which helps offset the costs of ownership such as loan repayments and maintenance fees.
Free auto servicing for 12 months
The guaranteed income from car rental, which covers at least 70% (terms and condition apply) of the monthly loan repayments, provides car owners with loan instalment support for 12 months. As part of the programme, car owners will also enjoy free auto servicing from SDAS for the 12-month period.
“This collaboration with TREVO offers a good opportunity for those who want to own an affordable car with the chance to earn extra income from it, which will also help in financing the car. Additionally, SDAS is also offering free 12-month servicing for TREVO Hosts participating in the ‘Fund Your Drive’ programme, which will provide a substantial amount of savings on car maintenance and ownership,” said Vi Thim Juan, Managing Director of SDAS.
“During this time of economic uncertainty for many, those who need to own a vehicle may be thinking twice due to the financial outlay required. Through a programme like ‘Fund Your Drive’, owners not only have a variety of reliable, pre-owned vehicles that suit their budget from SDAS to choose from, TREVO also offers them additional means to fund the expenses associated with owning a vehicle,” added Leon Foong, CEO of SOCAR Mobility Malaysia.
As an example, Mr. Foong said a TREVO host who owns a 2015 Hyundai Grand Starex can earn approximately RM850 a month if their car is booked for just 7 days in each month, while also keeping the car for personal use during the other 23 days in the month. The supplemental income is estimated to cover almost the full amount of the monthly loan instalment.
Making the purchase and ownership of cars as convenient as possible is important to retain customers so they continue with the brand the next time they replace or get an additional car. For many companies, providing convenience has been through making retail outlets 3S – offering sales, service and spare parts. In this way, they are a one-stop centre for all the customer’s needs, from the time of purchase through owning the vehicle.
Sime Darby Motors has gone further by not only having 3S outlets but also clustering them at one site so that customers can choose from a wider range of models from different brands without having to go to different locations. The site is the new Sime Darby Motors City located in the township of Ara Damansara within the Klang Valley, near Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (formerly Subang International Airport) which is claimed to be the largest automotive complex in Southeast Asia.
It is the realisation of an idea which has been considered for at least the past 30 years, perhaps gaining more relevance as the number of brands increased from the early ones such as Ford and BMW to now include Porsche, Hyundai, Jaguar, MINI, Motorrad (BMW motorcycles), Land Rover and Volvo. Though operational for over a year now, the official opening of Sime Darby Motors City has taken place only today due to COVID-19 pandemic and Movement Control Orders which restricted public events.
6 showrooms plus pre-owned business unit
The complex of 6 flagship showrooms and service centres is built on 8.6 acres of Sime Darby land adjacent to the highway to the airport. The built-up area is considerable – 1.3 million square feet – with up to 8 levels, some of which are for the service centres. It has a Green Building Index (GBI) certified facility built with sustainability in mind and incorporates technologies to cultivate a paperless organisational culture.
There is also an indoor facility with space for almost 100 vehicles that are managed by the Sime Darby Auto Selection unit dealing with pre-owned vehicles. Sime Darby Motors City also has mobility collaborations with SOCAR (a car-sharing network) and myTukar (an online used car trading platform).
First automotive facility with IoT
Each showroom has its own identity in keeping with the brand image, and aftersales services are provided with the highest standards, both in terms of equipment and personnel. Sime Darby Motors City is Malaysia’s first automotive facility that deploys Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, enabling improved service capacity, and supporting the company’s growth by accelerating efficiencies to deliver world-class services to its customers.
“As one of the key players in the automotive industry, Sime Darby Motors has always been committed to pursuing excellence as we strive to provide world-class services to our customers. The launch of Sime Darby Motors City is a testament to this steadfast commitment,” said Andrew Basham, Managing Director of Sime Darby Motors.
At the heart of the facility’s digital infrastructure is its Vehicle Tracking Management system which utilises a camera-based parking guide and customisable signages to ensure a higher level of guidance, security and convenience for the customer. It also allows for quicker collection of vehicles upon completion of service. Internally, the facility’s digitalised infrastructure communicates the status of each vehicle in real-time, ensuring greater efficiencies are achieved.
IoT-powered Automated Number Plate Recognition cameras have also been installed as part of a contactless self-check-in system, enabling customers’ appointment data to be accessed, upon their arrival. Concurrently, a service advisor will be alerted and automatically assigned to the customer, allowing for a seamless experience. The deployment of these technologies will be rolled out progressively throughout Sime Darby Motors City.
RM570 million was spent on building Sime Darby Motors City so it is not a project that may be replicated in other parts of the country. “We have no plans for another similarly sized complex but we could explore other approaches in future,” said Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director, Retail and Distribution for Malaysia, Sime Darby Motors.
Future-ready for EV era
With an eye on the future of the business, Sime Darby Motors City is future-ready as the automotive industry continues to evolve towards EV. It is equipped with specialised EV-certified technicians and designated areas for EV charging, storage and repairs, which are currently available at Auto Bavaria, Auto Hyundai, Auto Performance and Swedish Auto, all of which have brands that offer electrified models.
Sime Darby Auto Performance, which represents the Porsche brand, has installed Malaysia’s first fast Direct Current (DC) high-performance charger, operational since September 2020, within its Porsche Centre. Capable of delivering a maximum of 175 kW, it is able to provide a nearly full charge within 36 minutes, which is at least 8 times faster than the fastest Alternating Current (AC) charger available at 22 kW.
Grand Launch Weekend
This weekend (April 16 – 18) will be a good time to visit Sime Darby Motors City as there will be a ‘Grand Launch Weekend’ event with attractive deals at all the showrooms. However, it is recommended that those going there contact the showroom they wish to visit so that an appointment can be made. This is to adhere to the government’s COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures on crowd control and physical distancing.
Collaborating with SOCAR Mobility Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Honda Malaysia is providing 50 units of its City model to frontliners in the War on COVID-19 who are also Honda customers. This programme, on a first come, first served basis, is initiated for frontliners who are unable to use their vehicles during this difficult time, in order to help ease their travel challenges.
Available for one-month duration of usage (Honda Malaysia will bear all rental charges), this collaboration with the car-sharing platform provides mobility aid for the frontliners. The move is Honda Malaysia’s way of showing appreciation to the frontliners who have a brave spirit as well as making self-sacrifices.
The company hopes this initiative with SOCAR can reduce the transportation hassle of frontliners, and thus help them perform their jobs with more peace-of-mind. “Everyone is playing their part in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, and frontliners hold an even more important role in these difficult times. Despite having to withstand extra strain that is being put on them by the current situation, their selfless dedication and sacrifice have gained utmost respect from people in Malaysia and earned worldwide recognition,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.
“On behalf of Honda Malaysia, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the frontliners; the battle against COVID-19 would have been tougher without their unwavering perseverance. Inspired by the like-minded challenging spirit, Honda Malaysia would like to assist in any way we can in this unprecedented situation,” he added.
So if you are a frontliner, especially in the healthcare area, do contact Honda Malaysia. You can do at www.honda.com.my where there is also more information about the program.
SOCAR Malaysia, the country’s biggest car-sharing platform, has introduced broader services, upgraded features and even a revamped customer service team. The company also announced the expansion of their door-to-door car delivery service in the Klang Valley, now branded ‘SOCAR2U’.
“Although we have seen the demand for car-sharing increase tremendously since we first started in January 2018 – testament that choosing Malaysia as the first overseas expansion for SOCAR was the right choice – we are celebrating this key milestone of having deployed 2,000 cars to underline our strength as a tech-enabled company. At SOCAR, we use data to tap into the preferences of our customers, rolling out car models at locations and price points that prove irresistible to our end-user. Ultimately, we want SOCAR to go beyond mobility by allowing users to really tap into their deepest desires by giving them the freedom to go to the places they want to,” said Leon Foong, CEO of SOCAR Malaysia.
New services to meet different demands
“We’ve looked at the demand and driving patterns of our SOCAR members and over time, we’ve rolled out new services such as ‘One-way to the Airport’ and our newly expanded SOCAR2U service where we deliver a car right to your doorstep. Driven by data, we are a stronger SOCAR, even more attuned to customer preferences. Over the next 12 months, we will be focusing on delivering a customer-first SOCAR experience from the moment you sign up to the very moment you return your car. One example of this is how the majority of our local driver licence approvals are now done within 2 minutes, as long as you enter the right details and expiry dates,” he added.
SOCAR2U, serving the Klang Valley, was created to meet growing demand from members. The service now covers the span from USJ21 to Bukit Bintang to Kota Damansara. Users can reserve their preferred car and have it delivered to their desired pick-up point, as well as have the car picked up from their preferred return location. The fee is RM10.00, as long as the location is within the service coverage area.
Membership base of 500,000
Mr. Foong revealed that SOCAR’s membership base has grown to 500,000 strong. Typical reservations are between 4 to 5 hours but some users also book a car for up to 30 days! From 100 SOCAR zones, the locations have grown tenfold to over 1,000 zones across the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor.
Currently, SOCAR Malaysia has a fleet of 2,000 vehicles comprising 26 different models. These include the Volkswagen Polo, Perodua Alza, BMW 330e and Mazda CX-5, with new cars added to the fleet almost every month.
A fleet of 50 Volkswagen Polo 1.6’s will adorn the SOCAR logo and serve the car-sharing programme in the Klang Valley. SOCAR which launched in Kuala Lumpur just three months ago is continuing to reshape the way Malaysians think about mobility by leading the ‘multiflex movement’.
Key to SOCAR’s success is fast expansion which provides increased availability and convenience for their members. Another important element is to complement varying lifestyles and bring joy to the drivers on the platform. “The beauty of the car-sharing model is that as a member, you have several types of cars at your fingertips serving your different needs from a leisurely cruise out of the city to a trunk heavy trip to Ikea,” says Chief Executive Officer of SOCAR Malaysia, Leon Foong.
Signing Volkswagen as one of their preferred partners is just the beginning. “The Volkswagen Polo was a natural choice for SOCAR’s fleet expansion,” adds Foong, “because it is the perfect city car, offering an assuredly safe, yet fun quality drive. It is also one of the world’s most widely produced car models.” He also says that the current demographic of SOCAR users in Malaysia are in their mid-30s, who want to try new car models or are households that need to use a second or third car from time to time.
“We are pleased to collaborate with SOCAR. Through this partnership, we are able to offer the members of the public easy access to Volkswagen cars and have them enjoy its German engineered capabilities. The Polo is perfect for city driving, though it may be small in stature it offers a dynamic drive without compromising on safety and comfort,” says Erik Winter, Managing Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM).
The first batch of 21 Volkswagen Polo cars have been delivered with the remaining 29 due by mid-May. The Polo 1.6 hatchback comes equipped with a 1.6-litre 105PS petrol injection 16-Valve Multi Point Injection (MPI) engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic, the Polo 1.6 comes with a maximum torque of 153Nm available at a low 3800rpm with fuel consumption at 6.3L per 100km.
SOCAR app is available for download from the App Store and Google Play Store. The Volkswagen Polo for the month of May is priced starting from RM13.90 per hour which is inclusive of petrol and comprehensive insurance.