Ingress Corporation Bhd, recently appointed as BMW’s fifth dealer, plans RM30 million investment in a 4S (sales, service, systems and spare parts) centre in Damansara, Selangor.

Ingress executive chairman Rameli Musa said on Feb 10 that the 4S centre, covering 9,783 sq metres, would be along Jalan Damansara fronting the Lebuhraya Damasara-Puchong Expressway. The centre is expected to start operations by first quarter of next year.

However, he said the automotive component manufacturer has no plans at the moment to supply parts to BMW, as such initiative needs “heavy investment and large volume”.

He was speaking to reporters after Ingress’ unit Ingress Auto Sdn Bhd was appointed officially as BMW fifth and latest dealer.

BMW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd managing director Wolfgang Schlimme looking at a model of the BMW showroom with Ingress Auto Sdn. Bhd executive chairman Tn Haji Rameli Musa.

BMW other four dealers are Sime Darby Bhd subsidiary Autobavaria, Sapura Holdings Bhd, Lee Motors Autocare Sdn Bhd and Seong Hoe Premium Motors Sdn Bhd

BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Wolfgang Schlimme said he expected further growth in sales to be driven by introduction of new model lines along with an efficient dealer-network strategy, said.

He said such approach has contributed a growth of 25.1% to over 3,000 units in its car sales last year. Its BMW-5 series alone recorded a growth of 82% in sales.

“Expansion of our model line gives us the growth. Plus we would be launching two more model lines, but later, not this year,” he added.

Noting that dealerships have always “formed the critical touch-point for the brand to its consumers” Schlimme said the appointment of Ingress as well as the establishment of Ingress’ 4S (sales, service, systems and spare) centre was a vital of its strategy.

“With the new Ingress centre, we have the right capacity to display, service and maintain all these products (new models).

“Ingress is covering a very important part of Kuala Lumpur, Mutiara Damansara, which has a fast growing infrastructure and investment,” he said.

Optimistic on a national automotive policy (NAP), Schlimme said, “The opportunity (of growth) is in the viability of assembling cars in the country as it had been clearly laid out."

Citing that growth of 50% in the premium car segment globally while, Schlimme said:

“Our outlook is that Malaysia is not behaving any differently than other of part of the world that the premium segment here has a steady growth over the last year and would grow further.”