MANILA, Philippines - The Berjaya Group, one of the largest and most influential conglomerates in Malaysia, is entering the Philippine automotive market via Berjaya Auto Philippines, taking over the Mazda distributorship in the country.
Berjaya Auto Philippines, which has obtained a corporate license from the Securities and Exchange Commission, will become the official distributor of Mazda vehicles, parts and accessories beginning 2013.
The Berjaya Group’s venture into the Philippine automotive distribution business will expand its existing portfolio in the country, which include gaming/lottery management (Philippine Gaming Management Corp.), hotel (Berjaya Manila Hotel), and food and beverage (Papa John’s Pizza).
The group owns 80 percent of BerMaz Motor, a joint venture with Japanese auto maker Mazda Motor Corp. and the sole distributor of Mazda branded vehicles in Malaysia.
Berjaya acquired from Ford Group Philippines the rights to distribute Mazda vehicles in the country. This has been widely expected by industry observers after the American automaker slashed its shareholdings in Mazda to a meager three percent in 2010.
Ford acquired as much as 33.4 percent of Mazda after rescuing the Hiroshima-based Mazda from bankruptcy.
Founded in January 1920, Mazda ranks as one of Japan’s leading automakers with two main production sites in Japan and 14 overseas facilities. Its Hiroshima factory is one of the largest single-site automobile facilities in the world with an annual production capacity of over 500,000 units.
Mazda intends to continue its focus on emerging markets with a goal to sell 150,000 vehicles in the ASEAN region through March 2016.
Aside from Mazda, Berjaya distributes other car brands such as Aston Martin, Mercedes Benz, Skoda and Chana, Brilliance and Joylong.
Aston Martin Lagonda Pte Ltd., an associate company of Berjaya Leisure Cayman Ltd, owns the licence to distribute and sell Aston Martin vehicles in Singapore and Malaysia.
Marketed under the high luxury sports car segment, Aston Martin models include the DB9, V8 Vantage, Vanquish S and the DBS used in James Bond movies.
Meanwhile, Nusa Otomobil Corp. Sdn Bhd is the exclusive importer, authorized dealer and authorized service center of Mercedes Benz Malaysia for the new CBU Mercedes-Benz multi-purpose vehicles namely the Viano, Vito and Sprinter in Malaysia.
The Berjaya Group is keen on further expanding its business in the Philippines. Papa John’s, the third largest and fastest-growing take-out and delivery pizza restaurant chain in the United States, enjoys strong following from local consumers.