Saturday 26 September 2009

Ducati Superbike Centre


Naza opens second Ducati Centre with Launch of New 1198 Superbike

On 18th May 2009 – Next Bike Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Naza Group of Companies, the sole importer and distributor for Ducati motorbikes in Malaysia, proudly opened the doors to its second Ducati Flagship showroom on the first floor of the 28,000 sq ft Naza Autoworld Complex which was built at a cost of RM25 million at TTDI Plaza in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail. The three storey Complex’s opening was officiated by the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Yg Bhg Dato’ Ahmad Fuad bin Ismail. Present at the ceremony was Group Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Naza Group of Companies, En. SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin and CEO Ducati Asia Pacific, Mr Mirko Bordiga.
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The Italian Ambassador to Malaysia His Excellency Mr. Allesandro Bussaca, Naza Group Vice President Operation, Yg Bhg Dato’ SM Zulkifli SM Amin and Next Bike General Manager, En Ahmad Rusly Yaacob were on hand to witness the Plaque signing ceremony and the unveiling of the Ducati 1198 superbike. The second Ducati showroom opening marks a major growth for Next Bike, after nine years of operations since getting the distributorship rights in Malaysia in November 2000.

This opening marks a new chapter in the development for Next Bike and the Naza Group. SM Faisal, Group Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Naza Group of Companies and Next Bike CEO said, “This is a significant milestone for Next Bike as we move to retail our products beyond a common showroom, and we hope the opening of this second showroom for Ducati will be the pre cursor of many more of Ducati bikes on Malaysian roads. The centre for this Italian marque was set-up to meet the growing interest for the Ducati motorcycles and to provide a more convenient location for fans and customers to experience the Ducati passion. Next Bike is proud to be able to bring the complete spectrum of the Ducati motorcycles, especially the ultimate superbike Ducati 1198 and the 1198S, which were both recently launched at the Portimao track in Portugal.”

SM Faisal added “This is not only a showroom for Ducati; it is a place that allows every Ducati enthusiast to get in touch with the Ducati world in Malaysia, offering premium experience and possibility to touch the dream.” SM Faisal, the eldest son of the late Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin has managed to capture the signature touches and cultures of the Brand. He said this is a tribute to his late father who introduced this brand to Malaysians nine years ago. Today, he is expanding the great passion for such exciting motorbikes with a commitment to continue his late father’s work.

The CEO of Ducati Asia Pacific, Mr Mirko Bordiga said: ‘’I’m very excited to attend the launch of the 1198 and 1198S in this brand new showroom in Malaysia. This iconic and dynamic city in Asia is definitely the right place to be in. I am sure this technological jewel will exceed the expectations of the Malaysian riders. We feel privileged to have a partner who shares the same passion as we do at Ducati and that is a highly valuable feature, which will undoubtedly assure our market success here in Malaysia. The 1198 and 1198S carry more features coming from our racing experience than any other model before, they are products of a team of designers and engineers who have combined their Ducati MotoGP and World SuperBike technologies to create the finest sport bikes in the world.’’
Next Bike is will be bringing in a comprehensive product line up in this segment with various technical and design features; Superbikes, Dual purpose bikes, street bikes and classic bikes with models such as Ducati Sport Classic, Monster, Hypermotard, Multistrada, and the new 1198. The Ducati showroom also features a full range of accessories, apparel and a club area for riders and fans to meet, mingle, share and indulge in their passion for all things related to Ducati.


SM Faisal added, “This second Ducati centre is expected to contribute 30% of the total sales of Ducati bikes in Malaysia for Next Bike, which expects to retail 120 Ducati bikes in 2009 from its full Ducati product range from the Monster, Hypermotard and the Superbikes series. The new 1198 has proven a major success even before the official launch, with several bikes of those allocated to Malaysia already pre-sold. We hope the 13 units we will receive from Borgo Panigale will last until the next shipment”.
SM Faisal, dubbed the ‘automotive icon’ has successfully grown this international brand in Malaysian and has more plans in mind for the car and bike segment in continuing his late father’s legacy in expanding the automotive arena. SM Faisal’s automotive business divisions are represented in a wide range of makes, categories and value chain in the automotive industry.

When asked about the business potential of the companies under his care during the current economic climate, Faisal who has a 13 year experience in the group said, “There will always be demand for good products and services and currently, Naza is continuously able to provide facilities that showcase a range of vehicles and bikes with multiple brands and services being made available to the consumers.” He adds that the factors that are going to make the difference is the Group’s bid to increase its market share in the various fields that it is involved in. The Naza Group is taking aggressive moves to position its companies so as to be ready to take advantage of the situation once the economy rebounds.

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