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客车新知
Lee Swee Hock
Puchong based SKS Coachbuilders Sdn Bhd, the market leading bus and coach builder, has announced that it is looking to dramatically increase export activity and increase overseas sales by as much as fourfold in the com- ing years. This was revealed by Lee Swee Hock, Head of Marketing and Sales in an exclusive interview with Truck and Bus News.
SKS, whose domestic clients include the likes of Transnasional, PlusLiner, Rapid KL/Penang, Aeroline and Cityliner current- ly make around 800 buses a year on their 22 acre site, of which around 20% are ex- ported. According to Lee, SKS are looking to increase the export share of their total business to 30%, whilst maintaining their domestic sales. This would mean an extra 80 buses a year. Lee points out that SKS only began exporting around 50-60 units in 2009 and has increased export sales at over 100% per annum since then.
The company currently exports to Myan- mar, Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong, Mau- ritius, Russia, Bangladesh, Tanzania and India. According to Lee, the aim is now to expand primarily within Middle eastern and
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South East Asian countries. “The domestic market, which stands at between 1200 and 1500 units, offers relatively little potential for expansion”, explains Lee. “Export is where the expansion potential lies.
In order to help them achieve their aims, SKS has placed a heavy emphasis on technology in recent years, helping them to achieve a higher production rate and better quality in terms of the welding of structures. In particular, the company has invested in 10 Kuka robotic builders as well as CAD machines, test lanes etc. The company has also achieved Rollover Bench Certification from TuV Nord, being the first company in Malaysia to carry out a physical rollover test as a body builder.
SKS describes itself as the “unconventional bus company”. Lee Swee Hock explains; “Most buses are conventional featuring a square design to maximise space. SKS want to be unconventional. We want to de- sign buses that are attractive to customers and passengers so we focus on better look- ing buses. As a result many of our custom- ers are reporting 100-200% increases in passengers simply because the public like travelling in our buses”.
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