PRUDENTIAL = Mercedes-Benz

Excerpt from The Star 27th Mar 09

Friday March 27, 2009

Mercedes-Benz bullish on local car market despite economic woes

KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd is optimistic on the local car market, targeting to sell between 3,600 and 3,800 cars this year despite the global economic turmoil.

The company saw the signs of slowdown last year and hence was well prepared for the crisis, said sales and marketing (passenger cars) vice-president Florian Muller.

Last year, it sold 4,200 cars, Muller told Bernama yesterday at the preview of a RM100mil dress to be unveiled at the Mercedes-Benz STYLO Fashion Awards Gala here early next month.

“We will not see the figures achieved last year but so far, we have passed the first quarter without any negative sign. We are positive towards the coming second quarter.

“No doubt the current economic climate will make people think twice before making an investment as they prefer to have cash in hand,” he said.

The company had taken measures to ensure it did not overstock cars while maintaining the value and quality of the luxury brand, he added.

As a run-up to the 11th Malaysian F1, STYLO will be unveiling a RM100mil STYLO dress at the Mercedes-Benz STYLO Fashion Awards on April 3, the eve of the F1 Sepang qualifying round.

The dress, named “Nightingale of KL”, is a special commission to Jendela KL, a leading local fashion brand, and celebrity shoemaker Datuk Jimmy Choo.

The dress and its matching couture shoes will be put together with blinding rocks from world-renowned jeweller, Mouawad.

The long trail of the dress and shoes are expected to carry 750 diamonds weighing over 1,000 carats held together by its most important piece, a pear-shaped 70-carat diamond owned by the House of Mouawad.

Mouawad Malaysia managing director Antoine Bakhache said 5% from the sale of the dress would be donated to the Humanitarian Fund for Gaza, jointly initiated by STYLO and Raja Datuk Seri Azureen Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak. — Bernama