Taikoo to become Taiwan's No. 1 distributor of imported cars this year

Taipei, Nov. 7, 2003 (CENS)--The Taikoo Automotive Group, a local distributor of multi-brand imported cars, recently claimed that it is expected to become Taiwan's largest distributor of imported cars this year.

Taikoo is the exclusive distributor for Kia, Volkswagen and Audi passenger cars as well as Volvo trucks and buses in Taiwan. Except for Volvo trucks and buses, Taikoo operates its own branch offices with showroom and workshops, and has contracted dealers around the island.

Taikoo president Chen Bin-rong said that his company expects to sell about 8,900 imported cars this year including about 4,800 Volkswagens and 2,500 Kias, outstripping outstrip major local rivals Universal Pan Germany Organization (BMW, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Bentley and Citroen) and DaimlerChrysler Taiwan (DCT--Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep, and Smart) to become the largest distributor of imported cars in Taiwan.

With flexible marketing strategies, Chen said that his company has performed well in selling imported Audi cars despite the sluggish domestic market. Taikoo just took over the local Audi distribution right last year and expects to sell about 1,600 Audis this year.

Universal Pan Germany expects to sell 7,200 imported cars this year, and DCT 5,200 units. Taikoo said that it has set a higher sales goal of over 10,000 imported cars for next year.

Taikoo plans to introduce several diesel-engine VW models, including the Golf sedan and Touareg SUV, to the island next year and boost the annual volume of the luxury Touareg to 500 so as to achieve an annual sales goal of 6,000 imported VW cars.

Chen noted that Taikoo would also continue to import high-performance Audi sport car models next year to attain the annual sales target of 2,000 Audis next year. Taikoo recently introduced several big-horsepower car models to the island, including Audi Allroad Quattro (4WD), RS6 Avant, S4, A4 Avant 1.8T etc.

Taikoo also plans to import a new 1,100cc high-roof mini car model, the Picanto, and the step-up version of the Sportage SUV in the first quarter next year for local sales. Taikoo claimed that it expects to sell over 3,000 Kia cars and SUVs next year.

With the hot sales of the new 5-series luxury car models, Universal Pan Germany said that its annual sales volume of imported BMW cars, motorcycles and the Mini cars would reach about 6,000 units this year. The group's Citroen car sales are expected to reach about 600 units in 2003.