300 ORDERS FOR NEW MAZDA AT LAUNCH
New vehicle sales are often viewed as an indicator of the country’s economic state and the fact that C&C Bintang’s Mazda division has already collected 300 orders by the time it officially launched the new Mazda Fighter Double Cab 4WD today must indicate that things are going pretty well for Malaysians in 2000.
Speaking to Autoworld.com.my at the launch of the new model today, C&C Bintang Managing Director Datuk Haji Mohamad Haji Hasan said: “We began taking orders this month once we got price approval and virtually all of our first batch of Fighters has been sold out. If someone orders one now, I’m afraid they may have to wait at least a month or so to get their vehicle.”
Nevertheless, he expects that demand will still be high as the waiting period is slightly shorter than for the technically-similar Ford Ranger XLT. “I’m sure that there will be people who can’t wait to take delivery of this exciting new 4WD,” he added.
Datuk Haji Mohamad is optimistic that the company will sell an average of 100 units a month, given the increasing demand for such vehicles by individuals. He could not give any specific figures for the ratio of buyers for private usage to those who were buying it for business applications but believed the latter group would be substantial.
“This is the first time C&C Bintang is offering a pickup oriented towards personal use – as you can see from the accessories we have included – and I am confident that there will be many people buying it for such use rather than commercial purposes,” he said.” However, in East Malaysia, we expect that there will be more purchases for commercial applications and for that area, we will be not be promoting the accessories package.”
The accessories package, which includes a bullbar with spotlamps, sportbar behind the cab, alloy rims and fat 245/70-16 tyres, is priced at RM8,000. According to C&C Bintang GM Teo Woon Hud, customers may opt not to take the accessories package but they would have to wait longer because the initial production batch is all fitted with the accessories in the assembly plant in Shah Alam.
The 2.5-litre turbo-diesel intercooler Mazda Fighter is priced from RM75,002.29 (inclusive of insurance) and comes in seven colours, including a range of bright metallic shades. For those who want to add accessories, there is also a custom-designed canopy and bedliner priced at RM6,000 and RM2,000, respectively.
