Sime Darby completes SsangYong deal

SIME Darby Motor Group (Australia) completed its acquisition of the Australian distribution rights for SsangYong motor vehicles and parts last Friday, November 7.

The Malaysian-based multinational, which is also responsible for Peugeot in Australia, said the new company was now trading under the name of SsangYong Motors Australia (SMA) and that Peugeot Automobiles Australia dealer development manager Jeff Barber had been promoted to SMA general manager and director.

Mr Barber has worked for Sime Darby since it assumed control of Peugeot in Australia from Inchcape in 2001. Peugeot has named Andrew Huenerbein as its acting dealer development manager, who will remain in this position until further notice.

“We need to significantly increase the awareness of SsangYong, though with the resources we’re putting in place along with our committed network of dealers, we’re confident of success,” Mr Barber said.

“In SsangYong we see a tremendous opportunity. SsangYong dual-cab utilities, SUVs and people-movers are quality products representing excellent value for money. Furthermore, the availability of diesel technology in 2WD and 4WD and in both manual and automatic transmissions provides some very unique propositions for our customers in Australia.”

VFACTS figures released last week show that to the end of October, SsangYong sales are down 36.5 per cent for a year-to-date total of 1238 units. It managed just 31 new registrations across its entire line-up last month, which was an 87.6 per cent fall from October last year

Left: SMA general manager and director, Jeff Barber.

Sime Darby Automobiles (and Peugeot Automobiles Australia) managing director Rob Dommerson said the acquisition would “add a new dimension to the established business base that Sime Darby has successfully operated in Australia for the last seven years”.

Former SsangYong Motors Australasia principals Russell Burling and Vince Barbagallo announced in September that they were relinquishing the Australian distribution rights for SsangYong to Sime Darby.

“We see Sime Darby as the best candidate in the market to take the SsangYong business to the next level and look forward to working with them,” said Mr Burling and Mr Barbagallo in a joint statement issued on September 11.

As reported at the time, Mr Burling will continue to be the SsangYong distributor and retailer in New Zealand via his Rapson Holdings enterprise, while Mr Barbagallo will retain his SsangYong dealership in Perth.

Sime Darby is also the importer and distributor of Caterpillar vehicles in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

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SsangYong changes hands