KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Daimler AG and Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd, expects to post higher sales volume for this year, after registering a 53% growth in passenger vehicle sales for the first half of 2015 (1H15), compared with a year earlier.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and chief executive officer Roland Folger said the group sold 5,163 cars in 1H15, compared with 3,366 units previously. The group sold 6,932 units of passenger cars for the whole of 2014.

“As we further strengthen our network, our focus remains on providing the best. With the implementation of the double shift at the Pekan production plant [in Pahang], we can fulfil orders in a shorter time,” Folger told a news briefing on Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s 1H15 performance yesterday.

“Taking the S-Class as an example, we went from an initial production rate of four cars a day to currently building 12 units a day. We are really surprised by the massive success of our cars at the moment,” he added.

Locally produced Mercedes C-Class, E-Class and S-Class models showed the highest growth, with sales increasing by 62%.

Folger said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia intends to grow qualitatively in Malaysia.

“We, as a company and brand, would like to grow in this country not only through the product range, but also by viewing Malaysia as an attractive investment destination.

“For us, it is truly an investment in a future that will hopefully provide more jobs as well as technology transfer into a country that is in competition with other countries,” he said.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on July 9, 2015.