UMW to launch new Toyota models in 2013

SHAH ALAM: UMW Holdings Bhd, which is one of the country's largest automotive group plans to launch several new models of Toyota marque this year to maintain its market share in the country's competitive automotive market.

Group president and chief executive officer Datuk Syed Hisham Syed Wazir said the new model will be competively priced with several attractive new features.

However, he declined to reveal the model or class of the vehicle the company plans to launch.

"We will make the announcement when the time comes. We can't give much details as it will impact existing car models. But there will be new vehicle launches this year," he told reporters after a briefing on its full 2012 financial results at its headquarters, here yesterday.

UMW is one of the country's largest automotive group distributing Toyota Avanza, Camry and Vios as well as the Lexus premium brands.

Together with its 38 per cent associate Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), the Japanese marque which sold a total of 300,000 units last year commands a 47 per cent market share of Malaysia's total industry volume of 627,753 units last year.

Toyota is the largest non-national car company in Malaysia with a market share of 17 per cent after Perodua 30.1 per cent and Proton Holdings Bhd 22 per cent.