There have been rumors for some time now that Mercedes-Benz was planning to leave the current dealership in Kuwait and yesterday a letter started making its way around social media which confirms it. According to the letter which was sent to employees, the dealership agreement between Mercedez-Benz and Al Bisher & Al Kazemi Group of Companies will be terminating on December 31st, 2018.
I’ve already contacted my source at the dealership to confirm the authenticity of the letter and once they get back to me, I’ll post an update here. But, if it is actually true, then the next question is who will be taking over the brand? Currently, the rumors are pointing towards Al-Mulla Group who are also the dealers for Acura and Mitsubishi, but I had also heard that Al-Sayer were interested in acquiring the brand as well (but I’ve been told that’s not happening).
Al Bisher & Al Kazemi have been the dealers for Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait since the 1950s. The last time a big change like this took place in the local car market was when Arabian Motors Group lost the Ford and Lincoln dealership to Alghanim in 2016.
21 replies on “Local Mercedes-Benz Dealership Might Be Changing”
Al Sayer and Al Mulla are both pretty bad!
Any reason for this change?
What are you talking about? Al-Sayer are like the best dealership in Kuwait, I’ve had my FJ for over 8 years now and I’ve never run into any issue with them. Their prices are great, they have multiple service locations and they’re open till 9pm!
God no! When your car is on warranty he reuses to replace parts and only “fixes” them and when your warranty is off he will demand that you replace it. Many of his employees are completely incompetent (including the Kuwaiti ones). Both Toyota and ford used to have horrible service and maintenance quality, now after ford has been taken over it’s just Toyota. And btw I contacted the people we know in Mercedes-Benz and they said that even if the contract ends it will be renewed because they get excellent ratings every year, we called our friends at the head office, amg and German representative who all said that Mercedes was more than happy with them.
You were saying?
There is rumours of Alghanim as well in the run to take it.
Alghanim are friends with the Al Bisher family and said they would only take the brand if they were partnered up with the Al Bisher family. That’s what I heard though, don’t take it as a fact.
I concur, I’ve heard the same.
Al Bisher & Al Kazemi had the most tolerable of tramp stamps. As long as they don’t fix a an ugly badge on the back of my new vehicle I’m fine. Is there even a way to get a new car without having someones name literally stamped on it? Perhaps have it in the contract?
Yeah, you can just ask them not to stick it. Thats what I did with my Lotus, told the dealer I didn’t want the Alghanim badge on the back and I so I don’t have it. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh8iJ3XhRd-/
Nope no contract for sure. If You are talking about the logo/emblem of the local company, somewhere on the rear truck, it’s not such a hard thing to take them off. It’s not coming from the factory. Local company logo’s/emblems are just fixed here locally just before delivery using a double-sided 3M tape. Some have really good adhesives. Did you know that people steal Alsayer emblems to stick on “out of kuwait” used Toyota vehicles, just to con customers that it was purchased in Kuwait? Heard a lot about it. The local emblems can fetch a premium.
Perhaps if you request the Sales Manager not to install it at Mercedes, they might take on the request. I don’t think that is such a hard request. I don’t think they will call off the deal.
It’s going to Yosef Ahmad Alghanim (Chevrolet-Ford etc), this has been going for almost two years now, it’s no secret. Many people especially Mercedes fans would rejoice. Current dealer is miserable.
Source?
Its a well known secret, all of the auto insurance companies know about it, al Bisher family signed off but al Kazemi hadnt.
At the same time, speak to the low-level mechanics while doing service, they’ll tell you the same.
Going to Yousef Ahmed Alghanim. The initial agreement was for Alghanim to buy out Al-Bishir in full and buy a share of Al-Kazemi in order to have controlling stake – all dictated by the mother company. Not sure if that agreement is still in place. But Yousef Ahmed Alghanim are taking over.
You also forgot that another big change in the car market was the shift oh Honda delaership from Mutawa & Alkazi to Al Ghanim
Oh now I finally know what AMG at the back of most Mercs stands for: Arabian Motors Group!
Ha ha ha
I’m selling my Mercedes-Benz since I had a lot of terrible experiences with the current dealer. This might turn out to be a good choice and news for many Mercedes owners (like me) who don’t like to deal with the current dealer.
Good riddance, worst dealership in Kuwait.
They lost it in 2014 but taking this long to go thru the process. Back in 2014 i heard Alghanim was getting it.
Its under Almulla, there was a massive recruitment done last Friday by Al mulla for this new partnership.
Almulla took it all