PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Motors (SDM) is eyeing expansion of its new multi-franchise one-stop service centre brand, Drivecare, in the South-East Asia and Asia-Pacific markets within the next one to two years.
SDM managing director Andrew Basham said the strategic expansion plan underscored SDM’s commitment to offering accessible and reliable automotive services.
He stated that the group will first be rolling out its Drivecare operations in South-East Asia, followed by the Asia-Pacific region later.
“We will roll out the ones in Malaysia first, then proceed to Singapore and then to Bangkok and Jakarta. Once that is completed, we will likely roll out in places like Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and China.
“Technically, that is the direction we are going in and we are looking at the period of the next one to two years to get into expansion mode,” he said.
He was speaking with the media after the launch of SDM’s Drivecare location in the Jalan Chan Sow Lin area of Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.
He stated that locally, two Drivecare locations have officially opened: in the Jalan Chan Sow Lin area and another at Lot 33, Glenmarie, in Shah Alam. Two more locations will open in Penang and Johor Baru within the year.
“We will definitely be on the lookout for other markets, which will be the right target market for us to penetrate,” he added.
When asked about the revenue contribution of its new Drivecare segment, Basham stated that it would likely be below 1% of total revenue for now.
The newly launched Drivecare centres are an initiative by SDM to offer customers care care at competitive pricing with convenience and comfort, backed by the expertise of SDM’s highly trained technicians.
Basham said that Drivecare reflects the group’s commitment to widening access to “top-notch” vehicle care for Malaysian motorists.
“By combining unparalleled service quality with great value, we aim to provide car owners with a seamless and exceptional experience.
“Drivecare is poised to set a new benchmark for excellence in after-sales service,” he added.
On pricing policies, Basham said that SDM’s Drivecare seeks to be competitive compared with the larger market.
He said: “It will not be as much as you pay for business class on an airline, but perhaps it will be a little bit extra than the usual economy flights.”
An additional benefit is that the Drivecare service centres will complement Sime Darby Auto Selection, SDM’s brand for pre-owned vehicles, which offers a cost-effective alternative to purchasing a new car.
Jeffrey Gan, SDM managing director for South-East Asia, said attaching the service centre and used-car sales centre together will enable both to complement each business.
Separately, he stated that the automotive industry in Malaysia continues to grow and remains a strong market.
“Last year, we saw a record number of close to 800,000 vehicles sold in Malaysia itself.
“Based on the Malaysian Automotive Association’s projections, we believe it will range around that this year.
“It’s still a very exciting market and that is why we believe that there is demand for something like the Drivecare service centres,” he added.