UMW Toyota Motor Opens New Vehicle Distribution Centre
It may seem like UMW Toyota Motor’s main activity has mostly been to introduce new models and just keep selling cars and trucks. However, behind the scenes and away from the glamour of new model launches, the Toyota distributor has been busy extending its infrastructure in preparation for significant market growth in the years to come.
Evidence of this can be seen in the RM28 million Vehicle Distribution Centre (VDC) at the Lion Industrial Park of Shah Alam, Selangor, which was officially opened today. More than just a parking lot for new units (up to a maximum capacity of 1,200 vehicles), the VDC is also where brand new vehicles are given further checks after they come off the assembly lines at Assembly Services Sdn Bhd, (ASSB) also located in Shah Alam.
The layout of the VDC is spacious, a far cry from the somewhat limited space at ASSB, allowing freer movement of vehicles. Maintenance bays have been built to carry out any work necessary before the vehicles are shipped off to customers.
UMW Toyota Motor makes use of car carriers to deliver vehicles to its branches outside the Klang Valley, a move which avoids the possibility of damage while being driven. Needless to say, the vehicles also do not clock up mileage before they are handed over to their new owners.
According to Tan Sri Datuk Asmat Kamaludin, the VDC is one of three new facilities in the company’s infrastructure development. Now under construction is a new headquarters building in Shah Alam as well as a new and larger Central Parts Warehouse.
Commenting on the sale of Toyota vehicles this year, Tan Sri Asmat said the total sales for the first six months were 16,616 units, 31% more than for the same period in 2002. Complementing this rise in volume was an increased market share of 8% from 5.7% for the first half of 2002, maintaining its leading position among non-national makes as it has for the past 13 years consecutively.
He felt that the sales trends certainly did not reflect any sort of apprehension on the part of consumers who were expected to defer new car purchases in the belief that prices would come down significantly in 2005 when the government conformed to the AFTA agreement on common tariffs that are set at a maximum of 5% on import duty for ASEAN-sourced products.
