Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin
| SM Nasimuddin SM Amin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 January 1955 Kuala Pilah,  Negeri Sembilan, Federation of Malaya (now  Malaysia)
|
| Died | 1 May 2008 (age 53) Los Angeles, California,  United States
|
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Occupation | Founder of Naza Group |
| Spouse(s) | Puan Sri Zaleha Ismail (1977-2008, his death) |
| Children | SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin Nur Diana SM Nasimuddin SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin SM Faliq SM Nasimuddin Nur Nadia SM Nasimuddin |
Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin (27 January 1955 – 1 May 2008) was the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of the Naza Group of Malaysia.
The Naza Group, formed in 1974, has 14 business divisions including motor trading, bikes, manufacturing, transport services, machine tools/parts, engineering, plantation, cigarette distribution, credit & leasing, water crafts, properties, hotel operation and insurance agency.
However, Naza is more famous for its automobile business. Naza Group currently holds the Malaysian franchise for South Korea's Kia vehicles, and France's Peugeot vehicles. It also holds the import permits for Mercedes Benz and Mazda vehicles.
Nasimuddin was born to a Minangkabau ancestry. He was always interested in cars and the automobile industry. He received his early education from Sekolah Rendah Tunku Munawir (1961–1966). He then studied at Sekolah Menengah Tuanku Muhammad (1967–1972). Both schools are located in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan.
In 1974, when he was 19, he had RM80,000 in his bank account which he saved from his remunerations from helping out his contractor father. He started his automobile business with an allocation of Approved Permits (APs) to import foreign cars. APs are government-issued permits to import cars for bumiputras. He made his first million in about a year.
After starting up the business, he flew to Japan where he spent three months purchasing his first 20 units of used Japanese cars. Upon his return to Malaysia, he sold off all 20 units within three months.
Nasimuddin's automobile business began with a shop lot in Taman Maluri selling 10 to 15 units of cars each month. In 1979, he opened a branch in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur doing retail and selling 40 to 60 cars monthly.
During those years, Nasimuddin had already shown his business acumen when he decided to import used Japanese cars at a time when Japanese cars were popular with Malaysians.
He faced some challenges, including financing and how to convince customers to buy used cars when many were then not keen on foreign cars. But his passion and faith in the business drove him to success.
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