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Suzuki (Champion Motors) to move out of Pandan Crescent


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Borneo Motors Singapore plans to redevelop its Pandan Crescent property into an eight-storey complex housing various motor businesses.

 

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Borneo Motors Singapore (BMS) has revealed plans to redevelop its Pandan Crescent property into an eight-storey complex. The new project will be used to house its various motor vehicle businesses.

Experts in the field estimated the project to cost around $40 million.

BMS is the distributor for automotive brands such as Toyota, Lexus, Suzuki and Hino. It is part of Inchcape Group of the United Kingdom and has its flagship complex located at 33 Leng Kee Road - where it houses Toyota and Lexus showrooms.

The Pandan Crescent property is currently used to house the showroom for Suzuki cars, as well as the company's bodywork and paintshop facilities.

The Business Times reported that the new project will start by this mid-year. Meanwhile, retail business for Suzuki will be shifted to a ground floor unit at Ubi Megamart from May.

 

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BMS will put more JDM Toyota models there, to get back Cat A and Cat B market share from the Conti brands.

 

They realized (too late?) the they have been slip-sliding down the sales charts and losing market share big time, with their mainly Thai-made model range!

 

Yes, they did bring in the JDM 86, but that one 2-seater, very niche.

 

They next brought in the UK-made Auris.

But for a electric-steering, CVT tranny car, it was way over-priced. They just could not sell at the price they had wanted!

 

Hope they learnt their lesson, for being so stubborn!!

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BMS will put more JDM Toyota models there, to get back Cat A and Cat B market share from the Conti brands.

 

They realized (too late?) the they have been slip-sliding down the sales charts and losing market share big time, with their mainly Thai-made model range!

 

Yes, they did bring in the JDM 86, but that one 2-seater, very niche.

 

They next brought in the UK-made Auris.

But for a electric-steering, CVT tranny car, it was way over-priced. They just could not sell at the price they had wanted!

 

Hope they learnt their lesson, for being so stubborn!!

 

Don't think so. JDMs are not meant for export.

 

Toyota set up the Thai factories for the sole purpose of supplying the asian markets.

Only if the Thai factories do not produce a particular model will the SG side be able to source from elsewhere.

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I was hoping so much that they will bring in the 6 speed auris and the sports tourer model, which is an estate. Their range are reducing over the years compared to the 90s.

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I was hoping so much that they will bring in the 6 speed auris and the sports tourer model, which is an estate. Their range are reducing over the years compared to the 90s.

 

Many jap and korean car range is reduced becoz of the high COE. Just look at Honda, their range of cars is so few in sg.

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Many jap and korean car range is reduced becoz of the high COE. Just look at Honda, their range of cars is so few in sg.

Errr ... you mean the Conti brands are immune from high COE meh?

The VW Jetta and Renault Fluence are selling pretty well in the $130K+ family sedan range leh.

Not to mention the Golf hatchbacks.

So, is it really the high COE that is impacting the Jap/Korean makes?

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Supersonic

 

Don't think so. JDMs are not meant for export.

 

Toyota set up the Thai factories for the sole purpose of supplying the asian markets.

Only if the Thai factories do not produce a particular model will the SG side be able to source from elsewhere.

 

But motor image did bring in JDM models. 4AT WRX, WRX SGT, WRX STA.

 

The other thing is that Sin is a small market. Hence, shouldn't strain their production lines to supply some to Sin.

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But motor image did bring in JDM models. 4AT WRX, WRX SGT, WRX STA.

 

The other thing is that Sin is a small market. Hence, shouldn't strain their production lines to supply some to Sin.

It's just a stoopid corporate policy by Toyota Inc lah - to source Thai and Indon made cars to SE Asia market, cost being the main factor, and segregating the JDM.

 

They forgot that unlike countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam etc., car buyers in Singapore are more sophisticated, with higher expectations, a different breed altogether - no thanks to our very high COEs.

We expect better-spec'd/quality cars - what the Conti brands are able to provide.

What the third-world can accept does not necessarily mean that they can push the same model in Singapore!

 

Look at the Indon-made Avanza MPV example going for $134K.

Overall quality and plastics used really CMI!

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Errr ... you mean the Conti brands are immune from high COE meh?

The VW Jetta and Renault Fluence are selling pretty well in the $130K+ family sedan range leh.

Not to mention the Golf hatchbacks.

So, is it really the high COE that is impacting the Jap/Korean makes?

 

That is becoz continental cars are perceived to be better than Jap/Korean and if the prices are close people will likely to top up to get them. During years of low COE 5 years back, did the VW or Renault sell better than Jap/Korean ?

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partly it's due to dealership issues.

 

Reno took off W became its dealer.

 

VW took off after VW DIY its dealership.

 

 

That is becoz continental cars are perceived to be better than Jap/Korean and if the prices are close people will likely to top up to get them. During years of low COE 5 years back, did the VW or Renault sell better than Jap/Korean ?

 

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Turbocharged

 

But motor image did bring in JDM models. 4AT WRX, WRX SGT, WRX STA.

 

The other thing is that Sin is a small market. Hence, shouldn't strain their production lines to supply some to Sin.

 

 

There are Jap models which give the conti models a good run for the money in the B&B segments even in the west (ie on the home turf of conti cars). A case in point is the Mazda 3. In life-style, performance segments some Jap models are more than a match for the conti models, perhaps with the exception of high end, supercars, etc.

 

Due to the unique rules, tax system in local car market, whether a model does well or not relative to its competitors is not a true indication of its overall quality and competitiveness.

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So does that mean that when the new complex is ready, Lexus and Toyota will move out from Leng Kee

 

unlikely, because leng kee is still a strategic point for any car dealer. just that is has to be given to the most profitable make in the stable. furthermore, the toyota and lexus showrooms have just been refurbished last year. even if you move them out, there's unlikely to be a better use for the land, because i don't think its use can be converted to residential.

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So does that mean that when the new complex is ready, Lexus and Toyota will move out from Leng Kee

I'm guessing the primary usage will be a logistics hub of some sort. Secondary will be service centre cum training school/facilities and showroom for Suzuki and Hino.

 

Showroom for Lexus and Toyota will remain at Leng Kee as they just did a major makeover on the Lexus showroom recently.

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They are not likely to expand the range of Toyota vehicles probably due to corporate policies from TMC ( guessing).

 

Also not feasible to be stocking parts from multiple models if it's not moving. Imagine if BMS brought in Axio, Premio and whathaveyous, the warehouse need to double its storage capacity to fulfill fast TAT, if not sure kena customer complain. Need more vehicular training for different models as well

 

Look at Fortuner, how many moved off from the yard? 86 is a good car but defeated by the high COE and crampy backseats...

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Don't think so. JDMs are not meant for export.

 

Toyota set up the Thai factories for the sole purpose of supplying the asian markets.

Only if the Thai factories do not produce a particular model will the SG side be able to source from elsewhere.

 

The AD for Honda in Malaysia brought in the FD2R to Malaysia.

 

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