THACO becoming new BMW and MINI distributor in Vietnam
THACO becoming new BMW and MINI distributor in Vietnam
After Euro Auto Corporation’s violations of Vietnamese regulations, BMW Group Asia has issued a decision to choose Vietnamese automaker Truong Hai Automobile JSC (THACO) as an investor and importer of BMW and MINI automobiles in Vietnam from January 1, 2018, according to newswire TheLeader.
Accordingly, BMW Group Asia will end its four-year co-operation with a major investor of Euro Auto Corporation (EAC), Sime Darby Motors Group, in Vietnam on December 3, 2017.
However, Sime Darby Motors is still the world's second largest BMW car retailer and will remain an important partner of BMW Group in neighbouring countries, like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and China.
"Customers are our top priority and until the new announcement is made, EAC will continue to provide high-quality after-sales services to all current BMW, MINI, and BMW Motorrad customers in Vietnam,” said Paul de Courtois, CEO of BMW Group Asia.
BMW is a renowned automobile and motorbike maker with three fascinating brands including BMW and MINI. It has 30 manufacturing and assembling facilities in 14 countries and its distributing system in 140 markets across the globe.
THACO, established in 1997, is currently specialising in manufacturing, assembling, distributing, and retailing commercial and tourist vehicles with brands such as Kia from Korea, Mazda from Japan, and Peugeot from France.
THACO's 400-hectare manufacturing complex is located in Chu Lai Open Economic Zone based in the central province of Quang Nam. It consists of six automobile assembly plants, 12 auto-parts plants, an R&D centre, a vocational college, and a port. It has 97 automotive retail showrooms and 59 agents all over the country.
According to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA), THACO is the leading company in sales in Vietnam, with 40-42 per cent of market share in the 2015-2017 period.
