QUOTE(zweimmk @ Dec 19 2012, 11:19 AM)
It isn't that simple. The distributors also have to answer to the marque headquarters or regional office if they don't meet sales quota or is getting a lot of negative feedback from customers. Of course this also depends on how active these car marques are themselves in pushing their distributors.
Toyota is very active in the region. They determine the spec, variant and conduct all the necessary research needed before launching vehicles. For example, the latest Camry 2.0 and 2.5 spec are virtually identical throughout the ASEAN region, differences come with variant types offered, naming and of course pricing. It's almost the same story with Honda. Both companies have their regional office and factories in Thailand, so countries around the region will report there. UMW is the distributor, so they determine pricing but it is likely they also need to conform to the standards set out by Toyota in order to keep their distributorship.
For the Koreans, I think KIA has a more active direct influence here compared to Hyundai while Ford has recently only started taking a more active interest here because of the success of the Fiesta and the launch of their new Thai assembly plant. Volkswagen, probably same story, they've only started becoming more active in the region themselves in the last few years hence all the aggressive push. The previous distributor didn't do too well with the marque and got kicked away, that's the reality of the business.
At the end of the day, it really still depends on how active and how directly involved these car companies are themselves. To be frank, the bigger focus around ASEAN will be on Thailand and Indonesia, everywhere else is pretty much chum change or just another training ground for them.
That may be true, I agree that it depends on how the marque themselves put in the equal if not more effort. It still takes 2 to tango, marque + local distributor, so the local distributor is undeniably part of the influence.
History has shown how some local distributorships changed hand because the local partner was blamed for not playing their willing parts. take the recent case in point:PSA Peugeot Citoen with Brookland.
However the automaker themselves being in Auto industry is first and foremost a very challenging field to be in. Being automaker, they are very vulnerable to economic downturn, Nissan + Renault Alliance ,Peugeot (now having a somewhat debatable alliance with GM) has all been through that and when the automaker themselves are facing issues, and can't inject more fund in marketing or whatever, the perseverance of the local partner can makes a lot of difference. Exception : VW did it all by themselves... still doing it now and hence a harder road to make for themselves, but what to do when you have the busy DRB Hicom having something else on their NATIONAL agenda.
Of all the old established local car distributor company, Tan Chong was the one that has persevered, owing partially to how they have perservered and wheathered the storm. In comparison, the Penang based equally old Boon Siew/oriental (now surviving only as Kah Motor) has to surrendered its sole distributorship entirely since 2011 to allow formation of JV of DRB-Hicom and Honda Japan. Holding merely 15% of the new Honda Malaysia, now they only survived as Kah Motors being one of the many Honda dsitributors.
What is the reason?
Step into any Tan Chong's Nissan showroom, SA will welcome you with very above the market trade in value for your old ride, give you further discount/tinting, some time thrown in some gadgets, etc. etc. Is Nissan the one giving them or is it Tan Chong, who is placing the dough and sweat it in? Nissan? all they have thrown in may be just the standard warranty like all japs do.
Boon Siew/Oriental? possibly a victim of political agenda but they have also been resting on their laurels , i.e. counting solely too much of Honda doing all the hardwork, but who can blame them? in Malaysia Honda sell fast, just slower then Toyota.
Now look at SD-Ford, and Naza or Nasim-Peugeot. Do you know the 5 year warranty UNLIMITED MILEAGE from Nasim for Peugeot car is actually 3 year by Peugeot and +2 by Nasim? although no free maintenace. Did SD do the same? i think not, so instead give combi of 3 y warranty+3 year main free LIMITED to 60km
First 3 years/60 km maintenance is perhaps 3-4k for Ford (focus) and Peugeot (408), so SD give u that 3-4k, stick with standard 3 years /60k warranty (possibly by Ford anyway) while Nasim give you 5 years unlimited mileage.
Considering the chances of warranty claim for the next 2 year after 1st 3 initial years is higher, i will gladly maintain my Peugeot from my own pocket than leave it at risk of any warranty issue after the 1st 3 years, why, with Msian high car price, we tends to take long pay back in car loan, and the hot+humid weather here has strange effect on durability of our ride.
All the above of coz is only IMHO. Cheers
Dec 18 2012, 02:16 PM
Just take the first batch of Vios J for example with no airbags, no ABS etc etc and it still sells like hotcakes. I'd imagine if Toyota came out with a bicycle with the Toyota and Camry emblem on it, our streets will be flooded with bikes now 
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