Taikoo to pump up sales of VW imports

Taipei, July 22, 2003 (CENS)--Taikoo Automotive Group recently claimed that it would pour over NT$100 million (US$2.9 million at US$1:NT$34.5) to set up nine dealerships in Taiwan to sell Volkswagen's flagship limousine Phaeton and luxury sport utility vehicle (LSUV) Touareg.

Taikoo, one of the largest automobile importers in Taiwan, is the local dealer for Audi and VW of Germany as well as Kia of South Korea. The company said that it would also cooperate with all Kia car distributors in Taiwan to renovate their sales points and promote an RV product image for the auto brand.

Taikoo said it expects to sell 1,600 Audi, 6,000 VW, and 3,000 Kia cars this year.

In order to reach the ambitious sales goal, Beldare Ltd., Taikoo's subsidiary for VW car sales, said that it would try to absorb the rising costs due to the sharp appreciation of the euro and keep car prices stable this year. Beldare also has plans to expand its distribution channels this year.

Beldare claimed that the introduction of the Phaeton and Touareg to Taiwan is part of the company's plans to upgrade the VW brand image among local consumers. According to the VW distributor, the nine new sales points will be decorated with imported German furniture and have sophisticated interior designs to stress the high-tech and workmanship images of the German auto brand.

Yuntung Motors Ltd., Taikoo's Kia sales subsidiary, said that it has built a strong RV brand image for Kia car models in the past over three years. In order to further strengthen the RV image of Kia cars, Yuntung recently inaugurated a RV-life flagship auto sales point in Taipei. Several top executives participated the opening ceremony of the new sales point, including Kia's Greater China president, and reiterated their determination to expand auto sales in Taiwan.

Yuntung said that the inauguration of the Neihu dealership coincided with the demonstration of Kia's first LSUV model, the Sorento.

Yuntung added that all of Kia's dealerships in Taiwan would be designed in the same style as the Neihu dealership in the future.