BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

CAR dealerships have launched a total of four new models this week despite the recent drop in sales in the Brunei market as recorded by the Brunei Automobile Traders Association.

Yesterday, Kia and Honda unveiled new car models and just a few days ago, China’s Chery also started selling a new model in Brunei.

Car sales in the Sultanate usually dip after the Raya season and pick up depending on how dealerships revive interest in new models.

Grand Motors Sdn Bhd launched two Kia models yesterday, the Sorento and Cerato Koup, in hopes of increasing its sales for the remainder of the year.

“The response has been good so far and a few customers have already made bookings since the launch in the morning,” a sales manager from Grand Motors said, adding that a lot of people came to view the new models.

The Cerato Koup is the first sporty model brought in under the Korean brand and is targeted at younger customers in between the age of 20 and 30, he explained.

The sales manager added that the Sorento is a new sports utility vehicle (SUV) which has a new design and will attempt to rope in more female motorists.

With the launch of the Cerato Koup priced at about $27,000 and the Sorento at approximately $36,000, Grand Motors hopes to attract a wider range of customers.

Happy Motoring Co Sdn Bhd also launched a new model yesterday, the Honda Freed, a Multi Utility Vehicle (MUV), the first of its kind under the Japanese brand.

Johrinah Mohamad, Grand Motors’ acting showroom manager, said that this is their small but spacious family car which seats seven.

“Generally, most companies won’t expect car sales to be bad and we all hope to increase our sales one way or another,” she said yesterday in an interview.

Honda is bringing something different with a new concept this time around and the response since their launch yesterday morning has been overwhelming, she said.

“Currently, the car is priced at $37,990 in conjunction with our promotion and will remain at that level until further notice,” she said, adding that the company has not sold any yet pending some approvals. The dealership could start selling as soon as today, she added.

Customers now are also more choosy as they tend to compare between other Honda models first before making a decision, Johrinah said.

A representative from TCY Motors, which launched the new Chery Tiggo earlier this week, said that the end of the year is when car dealers usually bring in new models.

“We are trying to compete with other brands especially Japanese cars, that’s why we have the automatic transmission to give customers a choice,” he said.

Industry insiders previously said that the months after Hari Raya were generally a slow time in car sales. Consumers also prefer to wait for the New Year to buy a 2010 model, believing this assures them a better re-sale value for their cars.

The Brunei Times

• AMBD cuts interest rate for credit cards
• US, Hong Kong eye trade with Sultanate
• Cream puff chain Beard Papa to open
• Business networking group set up
• Turn back the clock for Bandar