Along with the official preview of the second-generation (KF) Mazda CX-5, Mazda Malaysia also launched its new paint shop at the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah. The setting up of the facility was revealed to us back in April 2016, and has since started operations as of August 29 this year.
For the first time, Mazda’s premium colours will be offered for locally-assembled models sold in Malaysia, beginning with the CX-5. Prior to this, customers who wanted the SUV in Soul Red Metallic were only able to do so by purchasing fully-imported (CBU) units. The same can be said of the Mazda 3 sedan as well.
When it finally makes its launch debut, the CX-5’s colour palette will include Soul Red Crystal (an evolution of Soul Red Metallic), Machine Grey as well as Snowflake Pearl White Pearl Mica. All these finishes do come at a premium, which has been suggested to be an additional RM2,000 for all variants, as per what we saw on a dealer’s price list.
Although both the CX-5 and 3 are locally-assembled Mazda models in Malaysia for now, the company has yet to confirm if or when the sedan (and even the hatchback) will see an update to its colour palette.
The need for the new facility is largely due to Mazda Malaysia’s plans to expand its export market to Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Myanmar. Both left- and right-hand drive cars will be assembled on the same line for export to the respective markets. Currently, the CX-5 SUVs are meant for local consumption in Malaysia, and also exported to Thailand.
“We see Malaysia as an important production base in the ASEAN region and, with the aim of establishing a sturdy production system, we’ve worked closely with our business partners to develop manufacturing of Mazda cars here,” said Masatoshi Maruyama, managing executive officer in charge of Global Production and Business Logistics at Mazda.
“Customers in ASEAN markets are constantly raising the bar for Mazda’s products, technologies and quality standards. We see it as our mission to offer value that exceeds their expectations. And the Malaysia-made all-new CX-5, which is imbued with Mazda’s passion for car-making, is just the model to do that,” added Hiroshi Inoue, managing executive officer in charge of ASEAN business at Mazda.
The paint shop was built as part of a 2.3 billion yen (about RM86 million) investment, which also includes automating part of the body-welding process. With these enhancements, the Inokom plant is aligned with Mazda’s “parent factories” of Ujina and Hofu in western Japan, in terms of technologies.
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Good job Toyota Mazda!
OMG… meaning for the pass Mazda CKD all is manual spray painting …?
The new paint shop is mostly to cater to their signature soul red colour and future complex colour. That’s why previous ckd only got dull colours.
Ini semua salah… oh wai
Kudos Mazda MY!!
Both left and right-hand drive cars assembled on the same line!!
good..hopefully the quality is up to par with cbu products
Congrats to Mazda, Bermaz and Inokom on the launch of the new KF CX-5 !
It’s very reassuring to see Mazda’s commitment to our auto industry. Not many foreign car companies are willing to ‘gamble’ on our auto industry. But Mazda did, and so far, it has paid off handsomely. No doubt, Dato Ben Yeoh has worked his magic once again.
Mazda is one of only two Japanese car companies which export their Malaysian-assembled cars. The other company is Subaru. However, Subaru has stopped exporting their SUVs to Indonesia (apparently, due to some regulatory issues). We also know that Subaru has chosen to build their first proper ASEAN plant in Thailand.
On the other hand, Mazda Malaysia has gone from strength to strength. In less than a decade, Mazda Malaysia has become one of the leading exporters in our auto industry. It’s good to know that they plan to export LHD cars to ASEAN markets as well. Although, from what I’ve read elsewhere, Mazda Malaysia hopes to export the KF CX-5 to the Middle East too.
Of the 40,000+ KE CX-5s assembled in Malaysia (from May 2013 to mid-2017), over 15,500 have been exported and sold in Thailand (as of July 2017). The rest were sold locally. This is a very high export-to-domestic consumption ratio, only Subaru and Volvo can claim similar figures.
The CX-5 is also a premium car… which is good, because profit margins will be sustainable (Dato Francis Lee from Bermaz admitted this in an interview). Our CKD industry may not survive without support from premium and luxury car companies. Economies of scale is not as crucial when it comes to luxury cars. It is more profitable to export 3,000 luxury cars a year than 30,000 budget cars a year.
Anyway, I hope the government gives Mazda Malaysia the incentives and support they have rightfully earned. MITI, MAI, MAA etc.. should learn from the Penang government on how to accommodate and take care of foreign investors. Thanks to Penang, Malaysia has long been (and still is) one of the world’s leading electronics manufacturing hubs.
The same cannot be said about our auto industry… which has been strangled and held back by the federal government ever since it began in 1967.
Yes federal should learn from Geely China and the Penang government on how to accommodate and take care of foreign investors. Thanks to Penang.
I have been looking for jet black color for three months already, until now i havent received it yet. It’s very bad.