KLIMS13 expected to be bigger than before

KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show is expected to be a bigger show this year, as the response from automotive players has been strong with 93% of the exhibition space booked.

Organised by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), the eighth edition of the motor show or KLIMS13 is due to be held from Nov 15 to 24 at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

Themed “Efficiency in Motion”, KLIMS13 is expected to occupy close to 30,000 sq metres of gross exhibition floor with more than 150 exhibitors and attract over 330,000 visitors.

MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad ( pic) said: “The theme echoes the ethos of this era. Efficiency, whether in product designs or business operations, spurs the advancement of the auto industry.

“KLIMS13 aims to fuel the excitement for automobiles with showcases of cars which transcend boundaries where mobility meets efficiency, technology meets imagination, and design meets desire.”

Malaysia is the third largest market for passenger cars in Asean.

“KLIMS13 will offer Malaysia’s auto industry a chance to establish itself as a front-runner,” Aishah said at the announcement event for the motor show last week which was officiated by Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

Interexpo (M) Sdn Bhd was also appointed as the show manager of KLIMS13 .

MAA also announced last week that vehicles sales reached a historic high last year with a total industry volume of 627,156 units, overtaking the previous record of 605,156 units achieved in 2010.

“Compared to 2011, the registration of new vehicles for 2012 jumped by 27,630 units to register a growth of 4.6%,” she said at a press conference in MAA’s headquarters, Petaling Jaya.

The association, she said, had forecast a sales growth of 2.0% this year to 640,000 units.

Among the reasons were the continuing consumer demand for new vehicles and introduction of new models in some 200 variants into the market this year.