Sime Darby Wins Big at Rolls-Royce Global Dealer Conference

The Shanghai Dealership bagged nine awards at the event, including Best Marketing Team Performance in Greater China, and Sub Regional Dealer of the Year 2011, Greater China, which was held in February this year.

Dato’ Lawrence Lee, the Executive Vice President of Sime Darby Motors, praised the concerted efforts of the Shanghai team: “All units in Motors Division are hardworking and constantly in search of excellence! Our Shanghai team has done us proud. The awards are not only recognition of our relentless efforts for the past, but also a milestone which represents higher standards and new challenges for the future. Thanks to everyone's efforts, Rolls-Royce and Sime Darby Motors has created history for our Motor group”, said Dato’ Lawrence.

The performance reflects the importance of China to Sime Darby Motors. In 2011, Sime Darby Motors’ operating profit rose 11% to RM308 million, mostly driven by the operations in China and Malaysia.

Already, China has overtaken the United States to become Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ biggest market for the first time. The company also had its best year in 2011 as it sold 3,538 cars globally, a 31% jump from the 2,711 unit sales in 2010.
“The previous record of 3,347 cars was set in 1978, now the new record of 3,538 cars encourages us to believe that the expansion in Asia market may offset ‘shaky’ conditions in Europe. We will attach significant importance to the Greater China Market,” said Mr. Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, the Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce.

Sime Darby Motors’ Rolls-Royce Dealership also posted record sales of 286 units in China in 2011. This was achieved amid a tough environment as sales of passenger vehicles in China inched up 2.8% last year, the slowest growth in 13 years.