Taikoo becomes No. 1 seller of imported cars in Taiwan in 2004

Taipei, Jan. 18, 2005 (CENS)--Taikoo Automotive Group ranked as the No. 1 auto importer in Taiwan in 2004, recording sales of over 10,000 units of imported Audi, Volkswagen (VW) and Kia cars.

Hotai Motor Co. Ltd., local agent of imported Lexus cars, was the No. 2 with sales of 7,100 units of such cars.

Last year, Taikoo, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based Swire Group, sold in Taiwan 5,300 VW cars and over 1,900 Audis sedans, including new A8, A6 and A3 series models. The sales volume of imported Kia cars doubled to about 5,000 units last year, Taikoo said, due mainly to the hot sales of the Euro Star mini-car model.

Taikoo has set up 2005 sales goals for imported VW, Audi and Kia autos at 6,000, 2,100 and 6,100 units, respectively.

Taikoo disclosed that it would have a chance to become a local agent of another foreign auto brand, Skoda of Czech, by the end of 2005.

The Universal Pan Germany Organization, local agent of imported BMW luxury cars, said that its 2004 sales remained a normal level of 5,000 units, adding that its strong sales of high-price new 7-series limousine and X-series sport utility vehicle (SUV) models (about 2,000 units) have upgraded its profit margins, compensating for decreased sales of the 3- and 5-series caused by the appreciation of the euro.

Universal Pan Germany has set an annual sales goal at 6,000 units for imported BMW cars, big engine-displacement motorcycles, and Mini mini-cars.

Universal Motor Traders Ltd., local agent of imported Citroen cars from France, claimed that it expects to sell over 1,500 Citroens (including the new C2 mini-car model) and over 100 Porsche sport cars this year.

Meanwhile, Hotai said that it has gained an annual quota for about 10,000 imported cars this year and expects to continue enjoying increasing sales volume. Hotai also plans to introduce Toyota cars to the island to digest the increased quota.

DaimlerChrysler Taiwan, local agent of imported Mercedes-Benz, Smart, Chrysler and Jeep cars, said that it aims to sell over 5,000 Mercedes-Benz limousines in Taiwan this year.