Following the launch of the first locally assembled Cayenne, Porsche and Sime Darby inaugurated the sports car manufacturer’s first assembly facility outside of Europe at Sime Darby’s motor vehicle production and assembly facility in Kulim, Kedah in Malaysia.
A testament to the long-standing and trusted partnership built for well over a decade, Porsche and Sime Darby are connecting more Malaysian Porsche fans to their dream sports car, while also empowering the future by unlocking the potential of the local community and workforce.
The local assembly facility underscores Porsche’s commitment to Malaysia as well as the ASEAN region, and demonstrates Sime Darby’s dedication to expanding its high value assembly capabilities as a critical element for growth for its Motors’ business.
Member of the executive board for sales and marketing at Porsche AG Detlev von Platen said, “Today we have reached a new milestone, rolling out the first locally assembled Cayenne. Our growth strategy underlines the importance of Malaysia for Porsche as we look to expand its presence in the ASEAN region. It also demonstrates our confidence in Sime Darby as a strong partner on our side.”
Meanwhile, Sime Darby Berhad Group Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson said, “We are honoured by Porsche’s continued trust in Sime Darby, as we deliver a product consistent with Porsche’s highest standards for quality, performance and driving experience.
The facility, which is 100 per cent staffed by highly skilled Malaysians, not only supports the growth of our businesses across the automotive value chain in Malaysia; but also creates a pipeline of jobs to empower the local community.”
Member of the executive board for production and logistics at Porsche Albrecht Reimold said, “The new assembly site in Malaysia meets specific market needs and operates alongside Porsche’s established network of production sites in Europe. In particular, it meets comprehensive quality standards set forth by Porsche when assembling Porsche sports cars.
“The facility was built in line with the production philosophy – smart, lean and green.” Hence, the new assembly facility is not only a benchmark in efficiency and quality, but also in sustainability.
On the roof, solar panels provide all the power needed for operation, while on the ground, rainwater harvesting technologies ensure water waste is kept to a minimum.
The Porsche Cayenne has long been the symbol of Porsche’s broadening horizons, appealing to new customer segments by combining an elegant interior and unparalleled comfort with robust dynamism and functional off-road abilities. Today, it becomes another symbol of Porsche’s global expansion, as the first locally assembled Cayenne rolled off the assembly line of Sime Darby’s facility for Porsche.
The Malaysian-assembled Cayenne comes with an elevated and enhanced standard equipment range specified exclusively for its market, with a specially-curated Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur option package and an exclusive Porsche Design timepiece available for further personalisation. A wide range of lifestyle-oriented equipment accessories are available on request.
The inaugural launch was the latest highlight amid numerous exciting developments in the country. Porsche Malaysia recently announced the first high performance enroute charging network, in partnership with Shell, which will be finalised in spring/summer this year. A new Porsche Centre in Johor Bahru, is also scheduled to open later this year, complementing the existing facilities in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
