The Volkswagen Jetta and Polo Sedan – assembled in Pekan, Pahang – are set to be exported to ASEAN countries next year. Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) is currently in talks with its local partner DRB-Hicom and the Malaysian government on the matter, Bernama reports.
“We have reached the local content target of 40% which is necessary for us to export our models and hopefully we can start to do it next year,” VGM’s MD Armin Keller told reporters. “We are technically ready and now awaiting the approval from the authority before we proceed with the plan,” he added.
In an interview last month, Keller said that because the cars currently being produced in Pekan are right-hand drive, VGM is currently focusing on RHD countries such as Thailand and Indonesia. However, he did not rule out producing left-hand drive cars for countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines if the business case “makes sense”.
Despite reports that VW has applied to set up an assembly plant in Thailand under the second phase of the country’s Eco Car scheme, Keller insisted that the German giant remains committed to Malaysia as its regional production hub. He added that while VW’s application has indeed been approved by Thailand, it has yet to make a decision on pushing ahead with the plan at this moment.
Besides the Jetta and Polo Sedan, Volkswagen also assembles the Polo Hatchback and Passat in Malaysia. The latter D-segment sedan kicked off local assembly here in 2012. VW production at Pekan will total around 7,000 to 8,000 units this year.
Besides local brands Proton and Perodua – which exports the Myvi to Indonesia as the Daihatsu Sirion – Hyundai, Mazda, Peugeot, Volvo and Subaru are the other car companies currently exporting from Malaysia.
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there goes all the junk out of malaysia, taa-daa
These car at least help Malaysian earn some money.
Not like the junk Preve/Suprima S/Iriz, Cakap Sendiri Syok Sendiri can’t even sell good in Malaysia, forever can not cross the border to Thailand and SG.
They got no choice but export this car because Malaysians are 100% not buying VW cars with DSG anymore. The Polo got no DSG but Malaysians know that the SC is full to the brim with DSG related issues until you have to make 5 weeks appointment just to do normal service on your car.
Good now you are exporting the VW cars. At least, give the DSG problems to someone else and not Malaysians.
Hey, dont talk rubbish la DSG DSG, even though I dont own a VW, i have read all the latest information about DSG and also spoken to experts. All VW cars sold in Malaysia beginning Aug/Sept this year no longer have the weather affected DSGs. In fact, I see so many new VWs on the road now wit WA plate, that the car must be selling very well.
Hey, PugMan…don’t talk rubbish lah..! the car really cannot sell one.., as no one with the right mind would want to own a headache..!
SO good lah they export it out..
Why cannot sell?
My cousin had bought a New Passat last few months ago and he always fetch me to college.
It has very great horsepower, even can simply cut off most of the cars on highway..
Actually VW had announced that all the DSG issues have been resolved so there is no point for us to bring in the DSG topic into this blog.
good to know Malaysia export cars
Tun has been dreaming of it for decades.
tan tin tun..
This news reminds me of a suggestion I wrote to the PM with years ago – in a bid to attract car manufacturers to set up here and export they should be allowed to sell one tax exempt car locally for every one car they export (or something along those lines) – that would force them all to set up export operations to remain competitive in the market place.
Good suggestion but it will starve Proton or eventually close it.
Who (in the government) cares about car exportation? Everyone just wanna keep Proton survive.
It is all about money, bro.
Ya la…
Stok berlambak lambak sampai tak muat dah kat Pekan tu…
eksport konon…
So who says Malaysia lose out to Thailand?
Btul btul btul…export konon..boleh cannot export car
Malaysian assembled Polo Sedans & Jettas will make them competitively-priced in the Philippines under the ASEAN free trade area, once DRB-HICOM commences assembly of LHD steering units. These will eventually replace India-sourced Polos & Mexico-sourced Jettas, & Mexico does not have FTA agreements with ASEAN.
I only get to know
1. CKD Malaysian VW models have yet to be exported when Hyundai, Mazda, Peugeot, Volvo, P1, P2 and others have.
2. DRB Hicom have not been able to make the local contents reaching 40% until now. Which can either means VW is too strict or DRB Hicom’s suppliers are too lame. Take your pick!
Guys… this could had been Proton Saga and Proton Persona… anyone remember the black day the G decides to f us all?