Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MBM) recently launched its new headquarters, Wisma Mercedes-Benz, and the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) Training Academy in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, Selangor. The new purpose-built facility is said to add to MBM’s longstanding investments in support of the nation’s EEV (Energy Efficient Vehicle) hub aspirations and brand promise of delivering ‘The Best Vehicles’ and ‘The Best Customer Experience’ to customers.
New Headquarters for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
“We have very exciting times ahead of us as we look forward to continue redefining the benchmark in the premium segment with the Best products, Best service and Best customer experience. As you can see, we take very seriously our motto of delivering ‘The Best or Nothing’ in every aspect of our business,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner.
Wisma Mercedes-Benz is described as the first of its kind in Malaysia. The six-storey industrial facility is accredited as the first green industrial building in Subang Jaya and was awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification. An investment of RM74 million, the facility houses Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, Daimler TSS GmbH and the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training Academy. Operations offices utilise 53,000sq ft of the 118,000sq ft facility, while the Training Academy occupies 65,000sq ft.
“Malaysia is an important market for the Mercedes-Benz brand. The lead we have taken in the premium vehicle segment indicates the trust customers have in our vehicles and service quality. Our new purpose-built facility will enable us to consistently provide high levels of service, expertise and reliability to satisfy our customers, who expect the highest standards of excellence. Be it in Malaysia or anywhere in the world, customers are assured of this exceptional experience every time they encounter the Mercedes-Benz brand,” added Dr Weidner.
All the investment and operation facilities are shared between Daimler and MBM, thus giving Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial vehicles (MBM CV) in Malaysia a stronger foothold to better serve its customers for both brands – Mercedes-Benz and Fuso.
The training facilities include the Commercial Vehicle (CV) Technical Room, CV Drive Train Room and Fuso CoC. The CV Technical Room conducts MBCV/Fuso certification training and vocational training for non-technical and chassis training, and is equipped with CV pit lift according to Global Training standard and work bay setup. The CV Drive Train Room has special tools and equipment for conducting MBCV/Fuso certification training and vocational training on engine, transmission and axle overhauling. The Fuso CoC is to conduct troubleshooting for highly complex technical issues for Fuso trucks and involves vocational trainees for diagnostic strategy.
Following overwhelming response to its training programmes, the MBM Training Academy has expanded its capacity to accommodate more than 2,000 training days per year. The MBM Training Academy features a fully operational workshop for real world workplace simulation and state-of-the-art training rooms built and equipped to the latest Daimler AG Global Training standard. MBM said a host of certified and qualified international standard Mercedes-Benz Training Programmes would be delivered regularly to all retail staff.
To mark the launch of the MBM Training Academy, Director of Global Training, Joerg Himmelmann, handed over a unit of the ‘ultimate in automotive technology and luxury’, the Mercedes-Maybach S500, to Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Vice President, After Sales, Heinrich Schromm.
This training vehicle would be put to use for participants to fully experience all repair and diagnosis routines on all systems currently available in series production. This is said to further create an opportunity to develop participants with the highest level of diagnosis and fault-finding skills on the ‘latest and greatest’ Mercedes-Benz technology.
Complementing the state-of-the-art equipment are the Daimler Certified Trainers who adhere to strict international standards. As part of MBM’s regional role, regular Train the Trainer events are arranged and conducted within the facility by Global Training, Stuttgart topic expert Trainers. Trainers from Malaysia and all the countries in the Asia Pacific region would travel here to upgrade their skills and knowledge so that they could stay on the ‘cutting edge’ of the automotive industry. With this, MBM said its Training Academy was striving toward its maxim ‘Developing The Best Automotive Talent’.
Following a rigorous recruitment process, apprentices under the MBM vocational training programme (Advance Modern Apprenticeship), aside from attending international standard qualifications and first-hand experience, were said to have greatly benefitted from its full scholarships that included an allowance as well as a secured career path in Mercedes-Benz authorised dealerships nationwide. MBM added that this further reaffirmed its commitment to develop the skills of Malaysia’s youth and create more job opportunities for them.
“We are certain that our continuous efforts to enhance the experiences of our customers each time they encounter the Mercedes-Benz brand will continue to drive the success of the brand. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will continue investing in our dealer network and enhancing all customer touch points nationwide. We will also continue to extend our unwavering support to the nation’s ambition of becoming an EEV hub in line with global standards,” concluded Dr Weidner.
Also present to mark the significant milestone were Head of Region Overseas, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dr Till Conrad; Director of After Sales Region Overseas, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Pierre-Emmanuel Chartier; Director Regional Centre, Daimler Commercial Vehicles South East Asia, Kay-Wolf Ahlden; Member of the Board of Management, Africa & Asia Pacific, Daimler Financial Services AG, Peter Henn; and Senior Vice President, Regional Head South-East Asia and Southern China / Sales & Marketing DFS Africa & Asia Pacific, Thomas Hungerland.
