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Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited origins in the Australia automotive industry started 46 years ago when Ian Campbell commenced his own small auto service business in the Sydney suburb of Carlton in 1962 called “Ian H.Campbell Pty Ltd.”. The business at this time was a service organization specializing in light to heavy truck and buses.

1968 Ian H. Campbell Pty Ltd. was the first company in the Southern Hemisphere to be awarded Caterpillar Truck Engine, Parts & Service Dealership and was instrumental in introducing Caterpillar truck and bus engines to the Australian market place.

In the early 70’s to the 80’s the company designed and manufactured a wide range of heavy and medium duty bus chassis using components sourced from America, such as Caterpillar, Eton, Rockwell and Allison. These chassis were marketed under the “IBC” name.

Throughout these years Ian H. Campbell Pty Ltd business has been characterized by a “customer first” attitude to sales, service and spare parts support.

Ian Campbell’s company links with the Korean automotive industry began in 1981 when he was asked to advise Asia Motors Co. Inc. on manufacturing refinements to heavy duty bus chassis and the importation of the very first motor vehicle out of Korea to Australia, (Boxer Bus Chassis in LHD). This has progressed through to the full importation and distribution of Kia Motors Corp. and Asia Motors Co. Inc. products such as the Kia Ceres multi purpose truck, the Asia Combi Mini Bus, the 4x4 Asia Rocsta and through Itochu, the Kia Mentor and Kia Sportage.

1985 Ian Campbell changed his company name to Kia & Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited to reflect the company’s exclusive distribution rights which it held with Kia Motors Corp. and Asia Motor Co. Inc. of Korea.

Kia & Asia Motors was established to provide expertise in the areas of A.D.R Certification, Importation, National Distribution, Service, Technical Support and Spare Parts back up on behalf of Kia and Asia motors Korea. An extensive dealer network was recruited to achieve this end.

1996 Kia & Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited was directed, by Kia Motors Corporation to relinquish its rights for the Kia product to the Japanese company Itochu Ltd.. Before doing so Kia & Asia Motors Pty Limited conducted all the necessary ADR testing requirements for the Kia Sportage and Kia Mentor so they could be sold in the Australian motor vehicle market.

Also in 1996 due to the transfer of the Kia distribution rights to Itochu, Kia & Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited changed its name to ASIA MOTORS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LIMITED.

The financial crisis in the Kia/Asia group in 1996 and the uncertain future during that period, caused many of Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd. established dealers to lose faith in the product of Kia and Asia. This loss of faith resulted in the products being difficult to promote to dealers and end users. This problem was also compounded by the lack of product range available to Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd..

1998 Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited expanded it’s business activities further by entering the Central European market after recognising the possible affect that the Asian Financial Crisis could have on the company’s established markets. From this, Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited was successful in sending one sample unit of Asia Combi Mini Bus, directly from Korea to Slovakia resulting in a follow on bulk order. From this order Kia/Asia Korea group was able to expand into these markets.

1999 - 2002 Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited during this time imported and distributed the Kia Cosmos Bare Bus Chassis and the Kia Combi Mini Bus via a dealer network of 96 Kia Dealers nation wide. During this time Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited re-established consumer confidence in the Kia marquee by supplying its customers unique produced diversity at a very competitive price, backed up by service and spare parts availability. This developed new market areas in Australia such as the new RV Motor Home chassis. Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited had the exclusive rights to supply manufactures such as Winnebago, Outback Australia and Starwagon with bare chassis platform for the production of RV Motor Homes.

2003 Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited started to import its chassis from Hyundai Motor Company due to a rationalization of product between Kia Motors Co. Inc. and Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. New ADR’s being introduced into the Australian market place, meant that product from Hyundai Motor Company did not meet these new requirements. Ian Campbell re-engineered the Hyundai bare chassis by fitting the latest ISBe 220 Hp Cummins Euro III Diesel Engine to meet the new ADR’s and ensuring his company’s progress and maintaining its market share.

On the 1st October 2003 Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited secured the rights to become the sole importer and distributor of the Alexander Dennis product from England beating other major importers and distributors who were eagerly bidding for the rights. The Alexander Dennis product expands Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited product range and adds a new dimension to its business by the introduction of Fire Trucks.

2004 February, Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited won the right to import Daewoo Bus from Korea. The Daewoo marque adds the final dimension to Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited business plan to hold the rights to import bus chassis from Korea’s big three automotive vehicle manufacturers (Hyundai, Kia & Daewoo).

2004 September, Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited commenced negotiations with UBC / Chrion of Australia to bring complete built up buses into Australia. Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited took this new direction so it could reduce the overall vehicle cost to its customers. The first CBU bus from Chrion built on the latest Daewoo bus chassis were on sale in the first quarter for 2005. Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited was able to increase sales in the 2005 year by 65% due to the introduction of its new CBU bus range.

Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited is well positioned in the Australian bus market with its wide range of product, knowledge and experience to aggressively expand its operations within its existing company infrastructure. Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited together with its many years of experience and with its suppliers, will ensure a steady controlled growth in the automotive field for many years.

2006- 2007 continued expansion and co-operation with UBC / Chiron Australia had resulted in a healthy order book for the company with sales in 2008 increasing by a further 60% over the 2007 output. Daewoo and UBC / Chiron with the new Euro IV chassis were on line with first deliveries beginning in February 2008.

Asia Motors has continued to expand the available product range by introducing the Hyundai Aero chassis range of two and three axle heavy duty coach chassis with bodies supplied by NorthCoast body works.

The Alexander Dennis bus chassis range was reintroduced during 2008 with the production of a Dennis E200 with bodywork from NorthCoast as a demonstration vehicle. A demonstration road tour was planned and carried out during 2008 for a high passenger capacity Dennis Enviro 500 Trident Double decker which visited Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. This decker was fitted with an Alexander Dennis CBU Bus body.

2009 and Beyond. Asia Motors (Australia) Pty Limited is well positioned in the Australian bus market with its wide range of product, knowledge and experience to aggressively expand its operations within its existing company infrastructure. Ensure a steady controlled growth in the automotive field for many years.
 

 

 

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