The opening of Sime Darby’s new assembly plant for Porsche in Kulim, Kedah is a landmark moment for the Malaysian automotive industry. It is the first facility of its kind outside of Europe, and the high-tech building was transformed from what used to be an old warehouse.
Yes, we’re talking about a dedicated facility that only assembles Porsches. But currently, the base Cayenne is the only model being built along the production line. Construction of the plant began in December 2020, and was fully operational in February 2022.
Its exterior walls are specially curated to match Porsche’s global manufacturing identity, replete with thermally insulated walls to reduce energy consumption. Sime Darby says this is the first air-conditioned plant in the country, and it’s equipped with solar panels to provide supplementary electricity and rainwater harvesting technologies.
The plant is also 100% staffed with Malaysians who have been comprehensively trained by Porsche, with production being supported by a network of local suppliers and service providers. Six key modules are sourced locally – centre console and cockpit (Clarion), front and rear axles (ZF), and the front end module.
During a press conference, Sime Darby Motors managing director Andrew Basham said other variants of the Cayenne will remain as CBU units, though the plant can be scaled up to produce other variants or other models should there be demand. This won’t be anytime soon, but it’s a possibility.
Porsche AG board member for sales and marketing, Detlev von Platen said “we must learn to walk before we run” while hinting at further plans, including ASEAN exports. The base Cayenne – with a slightly enhanced kit list – now starts from RM550k, making it RM115k cheaper than its CBU counterpart. You may refer to CarBase.my for the full specs breakdown.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
I am very surprised to see their assembly line…moving with trolley instead of conveyer bell? Woo!!!
Congrats to our NAP success story automotive abams, VW Group have much trust in your capabilities and hardworking culture to entrust you with the first Golf GTi outside of Europe and now trusting even more with making cars fir their top performance brand! With cheaper prices leading to more sales, your hardwork will be recognised by the whole VW Group. That is why VW CEO have admitted the truth that our abams are more hardworking and better performing than Wolfsburg and now Stuttgart abams. Covid must have made EU abams lazy but instead made us more hard working and the VW big bosses clearly see this effort. This is the trust they gave to us.
Well done Malaysia! Well done abams! Well done NAP!
Spend so much money just to produce 1 variant?
Other models coming soon
Copy paste: “Matthew Tong: Porsche & Sime Darby did say they must first learn to walk before they can run, so this is hinting at future plans to assemble further models of the Cayenne, and possibly the next generation Macan or even the current generation Macan facelift.”
When Honda first opened their plant in Melaka, they were only assembling a component, not even a full car. As the Director of Porsche said, “Learn to walk before you run”.
CKD automotive assembly is about having Body Assembly/Welding, Painting, Final Assembly, and CBU testing process/facility in place. So, this so called assembly plant having all those? I don’t see the Body Assembly/Welding nor Painting being highlighted ..
There are various levels of CKD. From this Posh level to Perodua entire lineup CKD level.
Minute ~1:40 .. “the body comes straight from Europe .. body arrives bare ..”; meaning the white body is assembled, welded, fitted, and painted from Europe. IT IS NOT CKD OPERATION then ..
There are various levels of CKD. From this Posh level to Perodua entire lineup CKD level..
Please, CKD Cayenne S.
Maybe Porsche never want to open it plant in Kiyiy or St. Petersburg. They choose Asia for good.
https://paultan.org/2022/03/04/bmw-forced-to-pause-production-at-european-plants-ukraine-crisis-disrupts-supply-of-wiring-harnesses/
VW learnt from BMW. Trust Asia. Trust Malaysia.