NASIM WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD FROM PEUGEOT

Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of the Peugeot brand in Malaysia, has won an International Award from Automobiles Peugeot for its efforts in growing the Lion brand last year. Automobiles Peugeot presented Nasim with the Successful Industrialisation and Commercial Launch of the 207 Award at the Peugeot 2011 Convention for Worldwide Distributors in Valencia, Spain. Mr Jean-Phillipe Imparato, Vice-President of International Sales and Marketing for Automobiles Peugeot, presented the award to Mr SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Joint Group Executive Chairman of the Naza Group of Companies and CEO of Nasim.“This award from Peugeot is a recognition of our efforts in manufacturing the 207 in Malaysia for right-hand drive markets in the region. At present, we have had over 600 bookings for the new 207 and it is currently the most attainable European offering in the market,” SM Nasarudin said. He said the 207 is produced at Naza Automotive Manufacturing Sdn Bhd’s plant in Gurun, Kedah for both the domestic and export markets. The 207 was launched in November 2010.“We have already begun exports to Thailand and exports to Indonesia, Brunei and Sri Lanka will commence in the first quarter of 2011,” SM Nasarudin said. In early 2010, Automobiles Peugeot appointed Nasim as its partner to make Malaysia the French carmaker’s manufacturing hub for the region. Besides the 207, other models launched by Nasim last year were the new 3008, 5008 as well as upgrades to the 308 VTi and 308 Turbo. Nasim is targeting to sell some 5,000 units of the 207 in 2011. For this year, Nasim has already launched the new 308 CC and will introduce three more models to the market during the course of 2011. These models, along with the 207, are expected to increase Nasim’s sales this year to 7,000 units.