Naza Group of Companies has a total of 14 business divisions and is involved in motor trading, and automotive franchises. Founded in 1974 by a Malaysian business tycoon, Nasimuddin Amin, Naza was listed as one of the top 10 best car brands. Naza sold approximately 11, 419 units of vehicles the previous year (2.1 percent).
Besides automotive franchises, Naza also runs other businesses such as vehicle and bike manufacturing, transport services, property development, limousine services, engineering, cigarette distribution, water crafts and hotel operations.
Franchisee of few big automotive brands in Malaysia
As mentioned earlier, Naza is involved in automotive franchises and the group is a franchise holder for France’s Peugeot, Italy’s Ferrari, German’s Brabus, Ducati and Harley Davidson bikes and South Korea’s Kia. Based on Kia’s Carnival, Carens and Picanto, the group designed and launched several models such as Naza Ria, Naza Citra and Naza Suria to suit Malaysian market. Naza also developed Naza Sutera based on the unique Hafei Lobo. It was launched in April 2006.
Home-made global brands
One of the more well-known models under Naza’s belt is Naza Forte. Originally known as Kia Forte, the car was imported into the country and Naza group changed its name to Naza Forte. The car is available in 3 variants – 2.0 SX, 1.6 SX and 1.6 EX. This sporty car was designed by Kia’s Chief Designer Peter Schreyer.
Other models launched by Naza for Malaysian market are Optima, Rondo, Sportage, Sorento, Pregio, Ria, Citra and the small-compact car Picanto. Naza Picanto or previously known as Naza Suria is a low-cost car manufactured in South Korea by Kia Motors. This model undergone generational changes before it was launched in Malaysian market.
Naza Malaysia
The group made into the limelight when Naza Malaysia established the largest automotive showroom in the country in August 2005. When founder Nasimuddin Amin passed away on May 1, 2008 due to lung cancer, his son Nasarudin Nasimuddin became Naza’s Chairman.
Naza Group entered into a new phase in 2000 after being awarded to distributorship for luxury motorcycle brand, Ducati. It was a year later that Naza started becoming a full-fledged auto assembler when it began making the Kia Spectra in Malaysia. This will lead to many other models from Kia and the success prompted more brands to follow when Brabus appointed Naza as the exclusive distributor.
It then pursued further and before long, the Gurun automotive manufacturing facility in Kedah was built and by 2003, a motorcycle manufacturing plant in Shah Alam was opened. That year, the first Naza Ria MPV was rolled-out from its RM500 million manufacturing facility, the NAM or Naza Automotive Manufacturing plant. This then led to the building of the Naza 206 Bestari, a joint-effort with Peugeot that would then lead to Naza assembling cars for the French automaker.
The widely-anticipated Naza Auto Mall was then launched 2 years later which put Naza as the largest importer of used and re-conditioned luxury models. Besides Ferrari and Harley-Davidson, Naza was appointed the exclusive distributor for Maserati in 2009 and a year later, Naza would start distributing the Chevrolet brand before expanding to involve the Piaggio Group as well.
Models by Naza
Besides the known models like Naza Ria and Naza Citra, the company has launched the Citra II Rondo which is based on the third generation of Kia Carens. Meanwhile, Naza’s foray into the Kia brand includes the usual Carens, Cerato, Mohave, Optima, Pregio and others. A whole list of Peugeot models are being marketed by Naza which include the 207, 2008, 408, 1007 and 604, among others.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE INNOVATION AT GE-NAZA EV EXPERIENCE
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 29 May 2012 – General Electric (GE) and NAZA Group of Companies hosted the ‘GE-NAZA Electric Vehicle Experience today, bringing together key stakeholders and industry players in the electric vehicle (EV) space to discuss EV deployment in Malaysia. The event, part of GE’s collaboration with the NAZA Group of Companies (NAZA), was officially launched by Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui, Minister of Energy, Green Tech and Water.
Supported by the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (MGTC), a Government agency under the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, the event saw public and private sector collaboration to promote clean and energy efficient transportation for the country, in line with the National Policy on Green Technology. A plenary panel discussion was also conducted during the ‘GE-NAZA EV Experience’ by industry experts like Datuk Maruan, Chief Operating Officer, NAZA Quest Sdn Bhd, Mohamad Madani Sahari, CEO of Malaysia Automotive Institute and Azli Mohamed, Director of Growth Initiatives – Malaysia, GE ASEAN, among others. The topic, “Building an EV ecosystem” focused on EV technology applications, infrastructure requirements as well as incentives, regulations, policies and strategies needed to accelerate the growth of EVs in Malaysia.
Joint Group Executive Chairman of Naza Group Datuk Wira Haji SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, who was present at the event, commented on the partnership with GE, “The NAZA Group constantly seeks to collaborate with the World’s best brands. Our relationship with GE is testament to that and we hope to set the standards for the EV market in Malaysia.” GE and NAZA’s collaboration in the EV space began last year when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two companies. The MOU provides a platform for both parties to endeavor to collaborate in joint-lobbying and education to raise public and government awareness, engage in further opportunities such as utilizing GE technologies in NAZA’s electric vehicle manufacturing line, and running electric vehicle pilot tests in several cities across Malaysia.
GE’s breakthrough technology touches every part of the EV infrastructure – ranging from charging stations and software solutions, as well as circuit protection equipment and transformers. NAZA’s role as a key player in the industry will go hand in hand with GE’s offerings to optimize the EV experience. GE will continue its partnership with NAZA to explore the development and implementation of sustainable energy solutions for EVs, from ordering, installing, financing and tracking.
Dr. Nazily Mohd Noor, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Green Technology Corporation, who was a panelist at the plenary session said, ““While the Government plays a lead role in putting the necessary policies and incentives in place, there is a need for the support of private entities such as automakers, battery technology developers, engine manufacturers, and component suppliers to achieve our vision. We are pleased that we have the support of both GE and NAZA.”
GE and MGTC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in September last year to collaborate on public awareness campaigns to promote green technology and sustainability initiatives through sharing of best practices and green technology development through Ecomagination. .
Guests and customers at the GE-NAZA EV Experience were given the opportunity to test drive the Chevrolet Volt, a full–performance and full–speed electric vehicle.
Corporate Profile
Nazaworld Heritage From our humble beginnings as a used and reconditioned car trader, the Naza brand has just begun to grow and assert its business, expanding within the Malaysian automotive market as the opportunity for trade in that particular niche was booming.
Thus marking the foundations of the Naza group as they then moved on to acquiring import and distribution rights to some of the best brands in the automobile industry. The key to their successful trade lies in their ability to meet the high standards of showcasing each individual automobile brand and creating the experience necessary to entice and deliver the brand experience to their customers.
In essence the heritage that is shared in the Naza conglomerate is creating an experience that reflects the quality of service or product through perseverance, professionalism and dedication, transforming this principal into total customer satisfaction.
