Sime Darby’s assembly facility in Kulim, Kedah, which opened in 2022 as the first Porsche assembly plant outside of Europe, has achieved a significant milestone. The facility has produced over 2,000 units of two Porsche Cayenne generations. To further expand its local operations, the facility is now assembling the plug-in hybrid Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe. This model will also be exported to Thailand, marking a significant step forward for the facility and contributing to job creation and knowledge transfer within the Malaysian automotive industry.
The collaboration between Sime Darby and Porsche underscores the growing importance of the ASEAN region for the luxury automotive market. The expansion of the assembly facility not only supports local job creation but also highlights the confidence both companies have in the Malaysian automotive industry’s capabilities.
Sime Darby, Group Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, said, “This is a significant milestone for us at Sime Darby together with our partner, Porsche, in unlocking new opportunities in the ASEAN region while affirming the capabilities of our 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.”
Porsche AG, Member of the Executive Board for Production, Mr. 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 Cayennes 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.”
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The export of the locally assembled Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid to Thailand, one of Porsche’s key markets in the ASEAN region, underscores the region’s expanding luxury automotive market. The move highlights the growing demand for premium vehicles in the region and demonstrates the potential for further growth and innovation within the ASEAN automotive industry.
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