CAR distributor Muhammad Fadhil Ahmad, who has added two more marques to his portfolio, has targeted the sale of 1,600 units of SsangYong vehicles for the full year, partly to be helped by soon-to-be-launched SsangYong Stavic MPV, a seven-seater MPV (multi-purpose vehicle).

The Stavic is SsangYong's first MPV and was launched in South Korea in May. Malaysia is one of the biggest markets in Asia for SsangYong.

？his is a significant milestone for SsangYong and will reinforce SsangYong's position as a major player in the recreational vehicle category,？Muhammad Fadhil said.

He owns 51 per cent of Competitive Supreme Sdn Bhd, which sold 1,500 units of the Rexton SUV (sports utility vehicle) and Chairman luxury sedan in 2003, up from 700 units a year before.

Through Brooklands Motors Sdn Bhd, Muhammad Fadhil just recently brought Rover and MG ？two renowned British marques with 180 years of combined motoring heritage between them back to Malaysia after an absence of six years.

Brooklands Motors has been appointed by the MG Rover group of the UK as the sole importer and distributor for Rover and MG passenger cars in Malaysia.

It plans to bring in the new Rover 75 series and MG ZT sports salon by year-end.

Muhammad Fadhil has made great strides in his first two years running his own car business.

He is familiar with the imported car segment thanks to his experience with DRB-HICOM Bhd and Naza Motor Trading Sdn Bhd before starting Competitive Supreme. The remaining 49 per cent stake in Competitive Supreme is held by an unidentified partner.

Muhammad Fadhil also holds the local franchise of Italian motorbike marque Aprillia.

Competitive Supreme's general manager Melvinder Singh said the Stavic will be launched by November at a tentative price of RM168,000.

A sales volume of 150 units is expected in the first month before steadily increasing to 200 units a month.

Malaysians can expect to see a Stavic road show that will travel through major towns in Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak starting on September 3 in Johor Baru. A relatively new player in the industry, Competitive Supreme sold its first SsangYong in March 2002, and has since delivered more than 2,500 units to customers.

The seven-seater Rexton now accounts for 85 per cent of sales. The Chairman makes up the rest.

After the Stavic, a new mid-size SsangYong SUV rivalling the likes of Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trail will be introduced here, he said.

Competitive Supreme is looking at the prospect of assembling SsangYong cars in Malaysia, or setting up joint ventures with established automotive assemblers.

Melvinder said SsangYong, just like any other South Korean carmaker, would not want to miss out on the potential of the Asean Free Trade Area. Company executives said the fact that most South Korean carmakers are now actively expanding their presence in Malaysia with local partners is positive for Competitive Supreme.

- Source from Business Times Malaysia (Sep 06, 2004) -