KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd and Porsche AG have reached a new milestone with the expansion of Porsche's assembly facility at Inokom, Sime Darby's motor vehicle production plant in Kulim, Kedah.
The expansion of 11,000sq m has enabled the introduction of a new assembly line for a second model variant, the plug-in hybrid Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe.
The new Cayenne variant is the first locally assembled Porsche to be exported to the Thailand market.
The strategic alliance between Sime Darby and Porsche to drive growth and expansion in the Asean region has been a long-standing and trusted partnership built over a decade.
Sime Darby group chief executive officer Datuk Jeffri Salim Davidson said the achievement is significant for Sime Darby and Porsche in unlocking new opportunities in the Asean region while affirming the capabilities of highly skilled local talents.
"We remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering product consistency that meets the discerning demands of Porsche customers, expanding beyond domestic market to our neighbouring country, Thailand," he said.
(From left) Sime Darby Motors managing director Andrew Basham, Reimold, Porsche Asia Pacific chief executive officer Hannes Ruoff, Porsche AG Production Development vice-president Christian Will and Sime Darby Motors assembly & strategic businesses managing director Dennis Ho at the roll-out of the Cayenne Hybrid.
The local assembly facility for Porsche was the first of its kind outside of Europe when it was opened in 2022.
The local assembly facility has since rolled out two generations and more than 2,000 units of Porsche’s Cayenne SUV, also dubbed "the sports car for five."
The programme is now ready for its next phase with the assembly of its first PHEV variant and export into Thailand.
Porsche AG member of the Executive Board for Production, Albrecht Reimold said Porsche broke new ground when it established a local assembly facility in Malaysia in 2022.
"Since then, we have achieved many significant milestones, for example when more than 2,000 locally assembled Cayenne units found new homes with Malaysian families
just two years after assembly commenced.
"Today, we prepare for the future by considerably enhancing our site in Kulim, making sure that this first regionally exported Cayenne fulfils our customers’ demands and expectations," he said.
The locally assembled Cayenne S E-Hybrid will be exported to Thailand, one of Porsche’s biggest markets in the Asean region, fulfilling the growing demand of Porsche
enthusiasts there.
This signifies the immense growth and innovation potentials of the region, underlining its importance for Porsche’s global business.
