The Japan-based units of German automaker BMW AG and import car dealer Yanase & Co. said Monday they will work together to promote sales of BMW cars in Japan.
In April, Yanase will establish Yanase Bayern Motors Co. to handle sales and after-sales service of BMWs. Yanase Bayern Motors Co. will be wholly owned by Yanase and capitalized at more than 100 million yen, a Yanase executive said.
The new firm will purchase three sales outlets, a BMW used-car sales outlet and a repair factory from BMW Tokyo Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW Japan Corp.
It will also open new outlets in Tokyo's Ota, Meguro, Setagaya and Shibuya wards, according to officials from BMW Japan and Yanase.
"Yanase's long-term experience and expertise in retail of (imported) premium cars in Japan will contribute substantially to the sales of BMW," BMW Japan President Ludwig Willisch said.
BMW Japan, which has 187 sales outlets nationwide under the BMW banner, will expand its network of dealers across Japan in the next two years with the cooperation of Yanase, he said.
Yanase President Takahiro Inoue said dealing with the well-known brand will strengthen his firm's management.