KUALA LUMPUR: With minimal or no down payment, Sime Darby Motors (SDM) hopes its Employee Mobility at Ease Programme (EMAEP) will enable all employees of Sime Darby Berhad and its subsidiaries in Peninsular Malaysia greater accessibility and flexibility to owning selected SDM franchise cars and used cars.
Sime Darby employees under the programme can enjoy the convenience of owning a car without the usual hassle of traditional car ownership by paying a fixed monthly fee for a short lock-in period of only one year.
The monthly fee will cover the car, insurance, road tax, maintenance and wear and tear. Most importantly the programme shields its user from unpredictable depreciation cost factors out of the user's control.
Additionally, unlike most car owners in Malaysia who are limited to a particular car for a five to nine-year period depending on the loan tenure, employees also have the flexibility to upgrade or switch to different models based on their needs after they return the car to SDM's used car arm, Sime Darby Auto Selection (SDAS) - upon completing the 1-year term.
"The modern marketplace is asking for mobility solutions not just transportation. EMAEP is the logical response to society's changing mobility needs, guaranteeing mobility and the joy of experiencing a new car every year with peace of mind," said SDM Malaysia's Retail and Distribution managing director Jeffrey Gan.
"SDM is constantly looking at ways in which we can leverage on our expertise and customer know-how to elevate our value proposition. This programme addresses customer's wants for convenience and choice but also complements our existing initiatives by SDAS to provide consistent and quality used car supply", he added.
This initiative is said to be in line with SDM's continuous efforts to futureproof its business by pushing for innovative mobility solutions that place customers' needs at the forefront.
Sime Darby Motors operates 27 dealerships representing the BMW, MINI, Hyundai, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, Volvo and Auto Selection brands in Malaysia.