Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Ends 2019 On A High – Over 10,000 Cars Sold, 1.8% Marketshare

Despite challenging conditions in 2019, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has managed to hold onto its lead in the premium segment, doing so against bearish conditions that have affected the premium segment most of all. With 1.8% marketshare last year, the company is confident that 2019 has set the tone for the decade to come, even though they weren’t setting new sales records as we’ve come to expect from the brand.

2019 was certainly an exciting year for fans of Mercedes-Benz here in Malaysia, with product launch after product launch after product launch. The E-Class lineup was shaken up with the introduction of the E350 AMG-Line, E300 Exclusive Line, and the E200 Sportstyle Avantgarde very early on in the year, while the A-Class family was refreshed with A200 & A250 variants available as both 4-door saloons and 5-door hatchbacks. The new GLE-Class SUV also made its debut here in Malaysia, while the facelifted GLC & GLC Coupe models brought about the introduction of MercedesMe Connect services for the first time.

“We wrap up the decade on a great note as we continue to grow our customer base and set our footing in Malaysia. 2019 was a year where we placed great emphasis on expanding our product offensive with innovative technology and emotional design, catering to the needs of our customers. We also celebrated the 15th year anniversary of local production excellence, noting the 100,000th vehicle roll-out milestone and the commencement of Philippine export initiatives. Through a solid leadership and vision, we reaffirmed our commitment to the Malaysian market and our customers in delivering the best products and the best customer experiences.”

Dr. Klaus Weidner, President & Chief Executive Officer, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

On the AMG front, the A35 Saloon brought about fresh blood in the entry-level space (if you can call it that), followed by the C63S in both coupe & saloon forms. Moving further up saw the introduction of the AMG GT 63 S Four Door, as well as the refreshed GT C and GT R models.

Most notably for this writer, Mercedes-Benz also took a bold step in premium emissions-conscious mobility by introducing the new S560e plug-in hybrid limousine, aimed at creating eco-aware buyers from the top-down. Additionally, Malaysia was graced with the regional-debut of the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV at the same event, where it was announced that the zero-emissions family SUV will make a formal market introduction here sometime in 2020.

On a production side, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia marked their 100,000th locally-assembled vehicle this year, rolling out of their heavily-updated facility in Pekan, Pahang. That same event also saw the commencement of left-hand drive production for export to the Philippines, with C180 models assembled here for consumption in the Republic. We’re made to understand that reception of the Malaysian-made cars there has been very warm, with MBM looking at perhaps expanding LHD production to offer a wider selection of cars for Philippine buyers.

“Despite facing headwinds, we ended the year on a strong note to cement our position in the premium automotive segment. We delivered 10,020 cars to our Malaysian customers, signifying a continuous mark of confidence towards Mercedes-Benz. We are fully confident that 2019 has set up a great tone, as we power up great momentum for the new decade.”

Mr. Michael Jopp, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

With 2020’s total industry volume set to remain stagnant, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will certainly have its work cut out for it as it aims to maintain its lead in the segment. However, with the new Mercedes-Benz GLC & GLC Coupe already on our shores, and the promise of more MercedesMe Connect vehicles set to arrive throughout the year, we’ve no doubt that their offensive this year will most certainly do much to help the company maintain its lead.