DRB-HICOM is stepping up its automotive business in Malaysia. Despite rumours not more than a month ago alleging that the relationship between DRB-HICOM and Suzuki had gone sour, it looks like things are the exact opposite.
The latest news is that DRB-HICOM’s plant in Pekan will be exporting its first Suzuki Swift in April 2010. The Bernama report did not say which markets the Malaysian-assembled car would be sold in, but logic says that it’s the ASEAN region.
UPDATE: Chips Yap of Motortrader dropped us a tip that our Pekan plant’s sole export market for now is Brunei.
DRB-HICOM group MD Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil also revealed that its Suzuki Malaysia Automobile unit would be launching two new Suzuki models soon, and one of them will be CKD. Our local Suzuki line-up currently consists of the Swift, Swift Sport, the SX4 Sedan, the SX4 Crossover and the Grand Vitara. I’m not sure what else is available to be launched, perhaps the Kizashi and a new locally-assembled Alto? There is also the Suzuki Splash (a co-developed model with GM and also sold as the Opel Agila), also known as the Suzuki Ritz in India.
Since Suzuki is now (or soon to be) just under 20% owned by Volkswagen, this is as close to Malaysia being a VW regional assembly hub as we’ve been able to get so far. Volkswagen makes good cars and we should enjoy them with CKD price tags!
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
2 NEW WV!!!
hope it gonna be SX4 sedan replacement.
Yay!
it has to be the new suzuki swift
Suzuki +VW= cool cars.
more competition then..it's good to bring more models
Congrats to DRB-Hicom to finally help in generate some income to the country/company by earning OUTSIDE money instead of:
1) Proton – earning rakyat hard earn money with less safty car
2) Naza/kia/peugeot/harley – trading house to earn money for the management only
3) Perodua – re-badge to earn rakyat hard earn money only
Salute to DRB-Hicom achievement.
Any other so-called car company can help earn OUTSIDE money?
Remember we were the power house of National/Matsushida once make the TV and Air-Cond and EXPORT to the world. Did they help only 1-race people? Wake up people.
theres been a lot of the new suzuki swift spyshots in the net.. its got to be the new 2010 swift and the kizashi.
Yeah, if VW bought over DRB-Hicom and came out suzuki + VW cars. We will have a better competitive market here… Hehe… i am imagine about Suzuki Swift sport with 1.4 TSi + 7-Speed DSG… Rocket blasting.. Wow..
old man said,
December 14, 2009 @ 7:31 pm
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proton already export cars before any other local maker made it.
it just a matter of time, and how strong their branding to be.
and if drb hicom also export cars, you think all 100% profit will go to DRB?
huh!
i hope its kizashi
BTW: 'Meanwhile, Britain's Financial Times has reported that Ferdinand Piech, VW's veteran chairman and consummate empire builder, has said he would like to see the German group controlling 12 brands. It currently has 10 (if you include Porsche and Scania) and with truckmaker MAN, which VW is seeking to secure, and Suzuki, Piech would have his equal dozen.'
So VW's shopping spree is over now. They won't buy DRB-Hicom or Proton or anything else…
oow not againn
suzuki alto….
I agree with you Paul on your last statement. We all should enjoy good cars by VW, but not with insanely prohibitive price tags. I just don't understand why we must punish them for being the leader in making safe and efficient cars. Open up the market, I'm sure Proton will "mature" faster (or die faster, it's their choice).
It's our right to have safe cars
It's our right to have reliable cars
hope suzuki sales will rise up so they can compete with other manufacture.but if kizashi is made here,i hope i can get one and it will be cheap right…..
The writer says since VW owes nearly 20% of Suzuki, the DRB Hicom plant in Pekan is like VW locally assembly plant and prices will be cheaper. Just you think anything about cars' prices in Malaysia will not be cheap unless you throw out the UMNO led BN govt.
must be the new swift…cos theyre giving free laptops and lower interest rate for the current swift,probably to clear the current stock…
i hope the other car is ritz…!
one of them is suzuki splash
Bring Suzuki Landy aka Nissan Serena C25 here please….
Wow the Volkswagen leviathan seems to gulping down everything and anything in its sights. My guess is that its set to take the top spot from Toyota sometime soon.
On the local front, I predict we'll be getting the Suzuki Alto in CKD to rival the Hyundai i10. As for our typical P1 and P2 woes, I think I have a solution.
We know that the policymakers arent going to allow Proton to be absorbed by other manufacturers any time soon so we can't expect Volks to buy P1. However most people's dissatisfaction here seems to point to substandard safety/ quality specs in local cars that is not in proportion to the retail prices couple with our natural affinity for Euro cars (Paul included
). So instead of rebadging Volkswagens, why not rebadge ……..SKODA? Yes the relatively quiet brand here, actually has good products (read safe, solid but not sporty).
You see Skoda is the poor man's Volks or Audi if you will and having tried out the Superb and Octavia several years ago, I can put my foot down and say that they are better than the Kia Forte that seems to be all the rage now.
Locally assembling Skodas and injecting them with Protons' (actually Lotus') ride and handling will actually make a desirable product at competitive prices. If not the whole range, then at least the Octavia (next Waja) and Fabia (next Savvy).
Im just trying to be constructive and offer a universal solution for the benefit of all. What say u guys?
it could be the swift 1.3 since currently they have 1.5 CKD and the long lost forgotten new Jimny???
klaka seram said,
December 14, 2009 @ 9:03 pm
It’s our right to drive courteously n safely
It’s our right to maintain our cars properly, regardless of make.
>>> fix'd.
The writer says since VW owes nearly 20% of Suzuki, the DRB Hicom plant in Pekan is like VW locally assembly plant and prices will be cheaper. Just you think anything about cars’ prices in Malaysia will not be cheap unless you throw out the UMNO led BN govt.
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you sure aa the other party will reduce car tax? i dotn see in their manifesto… but i agree the other party become strong…balance
hope it will be kizashi…
i want splash
just dont rebadge a likes of Kia or a Peugeot, really spoils the face of the originals…
we want the new suzuki swift…the current models been launched since 04/05? it's time to launch a new model!!