Tan Chong building RM500m auto hub in Bagan Datuk

Tan Chong building RM500m auto hub in Bagan Datuk

Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd has announced plans to set up a RM500 million automotive hub on 338 acres in Bagan Datuk, Perak. The “Tan Chong Automotive & Commercial Vehicle Hub” will tap into the growth regions of the North Corridor Economic Region.

“More than just an automotive hub, this is a strategic business plan that demonstrates the Tan Chong Motor Group’s commitment towards Malaysia’s industrialisation and economic growth,” the company said in a press statement, adding that the long-term investment will create new jobs, an influx of new investments and spur economic growth in Bagan Datuk.

The initial RM100 million investment will go towards land acquisition and the construction of a bus and truck plant in the first phase of the development. The commercial vehicles produced at the plant, which is expected to start operations in 2021, will be for domestic consumption and exports.

Tan Chong points out that the buses it produces are currently exported to Singapore, Hong Kong and Myanmar; and it is exploring potential markets such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia, among other countries.

Best known as the distributor of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, Tan Chong also markets Renault and Infiniti brands as well as UD Trucks buses and trucks. The group operates auto plants in Segambut (KL) and Serendah (Selangor), and does contract assembly for the likes Mitsubishi and Subaru.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Ahmadjr on May 07, 2018 at 4:51 pm

    Even without rakyat money, tan chong and naza are doing just fine

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
    • hamidee on May 07, 2018 at 5:58 pm

      Tanchong shud consider Tanjung Malim instead of Bagan Datuk.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 3
      • Ini salahan Tan Chong ni…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 55
        • Abahko on May 07, 2018 at 8:29 pm

          Hebatkan Bagan Datuk ku!

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
          • Michelle on May 07, 2018 at 10:46 pm

            ETCM should just buy up Proton and teach the Proton workers how to work hard like Tan Chong workers

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 21
          • But then P1 is in same predicament as Tanchong. So based on ur logic, P1 workers r working hard lar. Hahaha!

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 62
          • Tido oh Tido on May 08, 2018 at 11:19 am

            Yeah. Logic is P1 workers shud work hard but mentally P1 workers need to tido more…

            “Buat apa kerja banyak Bang? Ada Perkasa jaga kan? Lagipun kereta Proton tak jual banyak. Baik rehat di bilik stor”

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 4
          • Tido oh tido on May 09, 2018 at 12:48 pm

            Basher used my name. You must be sleeping too much until cannot even remember your name!

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • lilytan on May 08, 2018 at 9:56 am

      Dont be that naive. U have no idea what they are getting.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Looks like Nissan will overtake Proton soon

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 8
    • Ploton on May 07, 2018 at 6:29 pm

      Sure… They will be going against Geely, Volvo, and Lotus and I ain’t even a fanboy.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • 2017, Nissan ETCM only sold 19k cars compared with 71k for P1. Hahaha! First will overtake Toyota lords waterfall sales, then can talk.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 28
      • Michelle on May 07, 2018 at 10:40 pm

        Proton from 200,000 cars few years back now collapsed to 70,000 cars. Judging from MAA figures past 4 months, this year Proton hardly can even make it at 50,000 figure.

        And they have 12,000 employees making 50,000 cars per year. Means 1 employee makes 4 cars in 1 whole year.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 4
        • P1 sales drop only after 10 year period. Ur toyota lord waterfall drop from 1st to 3rd within 1 year. Hahaha! Padan muka.

          ETCM even worse, drop 33% sales within 1 year.

          Yeah both jepunis lords can teach P1 alrite. On how to lose sales drastically!

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 53
          • Chong on May 08, 2018 at 8:51 am

            So how come P1 sales is behind Toyota this year?

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 1
          • 69,000 potential customers awaiting Boyue with bated breath. Sabar.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 61
          • my england is bad on May 08, 2018 at 11:08 am

            That’s much help from commercial vehicles, try passenger vehicles, Toyota tak laku, can bungkus and close shop

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 65
    • Feels like Tan Chong has nearly ZERO interest to expending its personal vehicle businesses in Malaysia. At least until 2021, NISSAN, INFINITI, RENAULT, they will continue to sleep, sleep again.
      The Nissan Altima is a nice car though. Still wish that Tan Chong will bring it in, in the meantime.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • Good move. The second poorest state in Malaysia needs all the investment it can get.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 5
  • Remember Ong Ka Chuan, MP for Tanjung Malim? Remember the National Automotive Cluster launched on February 3rd? Remember his pronouncements?

    Remember the nomination day?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • YB Albert on May 07, 2018 at 7:25 pm

    Tan Chong,currently is languishing in terms of passenger car sales.Their Almeira is as ancient as the 2013 Vios.
    They better concentrate on the commercial vehicles segment.
    If not,each year… they r like poor protong…bleeding red ink.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Aero (Member) on May 07, 2018 at 8:48 pm

    This is good news and all, but do take it with a pinch of salt. Tan Chong has announced similar plans before, but they never went according to schedule.

    Some years back, Tan Chong said they were planning to build an all-new plant in Sabah (at an industrial zone near KK). If I recall correctly, it was to assemble Nissan ‘luxury’ cars (unsure if Infiniti was involved). But years passed and no updates came of it. Some local officials are still pushing for it, but Tan Chong hasn’t announced anything new. I remember e-mailing their customer service some time back, but didn’t get a reply.

    There’s also the all-new Nissan plant in Myanmar, which was announced, then delayed, and now I don’t even know whether it’s even being built or not. Currently, Tan Chong says they’re assembling Almeras at a small, low-capacity plant in Myanmar.

    Recently, Tan Chong announced plans to build Chinese buses in Vietnam as well. (They already build Almeras in Vietnam.) What I don’t understand is why Tan Chong has seemingly not expanded their Nissan CKD range in Vietnam. One model will not be enough, not when their competitors like Toyota and Hyundai-Kia are assembling multiple different models there. To make matters worse, Vietnam’s government has recently tried to restrict CBU imports from other ASEAN countries to protect their own fledgling auto industry. Tan Chong needs to keep up with things, otherwise they’re going to get left behind.

    But above all, local Nissan passenger car sales have slumped in the past couple of years, and Tan Chong is bleeding too much money in their core business. Part of the reason is also because Nissan themselves are not doing enough in ASEAN. Luckily, Tan Chong’s local contract assembly ops with Mitsubishi and Subaru are running relatively well, so they need not worry on that front.

    Anyway, I wish Tan Chong all the best & good luck on their latest Bagan Datuk plans. I know I’ve criticised Tan Chong many times lately, but it’s only because I want to see them improve and become a great company once again. Tan Chong still has the potential to grow and prosper, but they need to sort out their excess baggage built up over the past 5 or 6 decades. Some sacrifices must be made for the greater good.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 31
    • TC alwiz late in MY market, Vietnam market, Myanmar market, & tomyam market. Global Nissan has some exciting cars but ETCM refuse to bring them in. Nothing will change.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 51
      • Michelle on May 07, 2018 at 10:41 pm

        MITI does not allow many Nissan cars in to protect Honda and Toyota, which are both GLC owned.

        IF the Qashai comes in, HRV sales will kaput. Boyue sales will be NIL

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 14
        • Really? MITI controls market in Myanmar & Vietnam huh? Din know MITI was so awesomely powerful that it can dictate automotive policy in other countries. Bravo MITI! MY dah berjaya!

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 44
        • my england is bad on May 08, 2018 at 11:12 am

          Eh they already have Almera (B segment) and it’s priced cheaper than other jepunis cars.

          You said plotektion?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 32
          • Bashers pick and choose their realities. I wish I know what they smoking.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • Benard on May 08, 2018 at 7:49 am

    This is just news for election day. Remember bagan datuk is deputy PM zahid hamidi’s parliment seat.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
    • This project has long been in the making, only that its done quietly until now

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 60
 

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