Volkswagen Group strengthens aftersales business in APAC region

The Volkswagen Group is relocating its regional aftersales centre for the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore to Malaysia to make the supply of genuine parts in the region even more efficient.

Thanks to the direct connection to a port, parts will also be supplied to South-East Asian markets faster in the future. Regional retail outlets will then receive up to two deliveries per day. From 2018, 28 markets in the region will be supplied from Malaysia.

Explaining the expansion strategy, Imelda Labbé, Head of Volkswagen Group After Sales, says: "Over the past few years, the Asia-Pacific region has recorded steady growth. The expansion and the relocation of our regional genuine parts center from Singapore to Malaysia reflect the significance and potential of these growing markets and will lay the foundation for further growth. Malaysia will be the new hub for after sales logistics in the region." From January to August 2016, the Volkswagen group boosted its sales in the region by 7.0 percent to 2.7 million vehicles. Aftersales business is also benefiting from this growth.

The new Volkswagen Group regional centre for original parts is being built in the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) free trade area in Johor Bahru, at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Thanks to the direct connection to the port, there will be no need for intermediate handling; as a result, logistics processes will become more efficient and environmentally compatible. Work will start on the logistics centre in January in 2017. From 2018, the regional centre in Malaysia will supply 28 markets in the Asia-Pacific region. There are also plans for the later integration of the after sales activities of other Group brands and the regional pooling of the delivery chain for genuine parts.

Marcus Edelmann, Director Aftersales for the Volkswagen Group Regional Office in South-East Asia, said "Our new regional logistics centre in South-East Asia will allow us to supply parts throughout the region even faster than before. From 2018, directly connected dealerships in Singapore and Malaysia will receive two deliveries per day. This will significantly improve our customer service in the region at the same time as laying the foundation for further growth."