Petronas launches LubeXperts in Malaysia

Petronas Dagangan Bhd (PDB) plans to spend up to RM3 million (US$984,785) to engage 40 workshops in Malaysia to embrace the Petronas LubeXperts concept by year-end, according to Managing Director and CEO Aminul Rashid Mohd Zamzam. He said PDB would help dealers by providing business support and solutions.
PDB is the domestic marketing arm of Malaysia’s national oil company, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), which owns 69.86% of its equity.
“The exercise is expected to provide the impetus to boost our position as the total fluid specialist in these markets,” he said at the launch of the first Petronas LubeXperts workshop at Auto Deutsch Desa Pandan. Auto Deutsch Sdn Bhd operates a workshop which specializes in BMW cars in Kuala Lumpur.
The LubeXperts workshop is a platform to showcase PDB’s expertise in fluid, technology and solutions by leveraging on the technology gained from its partnerships with Formula One teams and Petronas Lubricants International (PLI).
Aminul said the lubricant segment contributes about 24% of the company’s earnings and that PDB aims to raise it to 26% by year-end.
“We hope that the expansion of this LubeXpert workshops will generate the growth of our lubricant business thus achieving our target to be the brand of choice,” Aminul said.
PDB would expand the initiative regionally, particularly in its operations in Thailand and the Philippines, he added. He said PDB plans to enter the Thai lube market this year.
He also said that the company plans to add another 60 petrol stations by year-end. It currently has 1,050 stations in Malaysia.