Reaching ASEAN Market, Porsche Builds Assembly Plant In Malaysia

JAKARTA - Southeast Asia is recognized as having a very dynamic market environment with significant growth and innovation potential. This makes the car manufacturer Porsche want to expand its footprint in the ten members of the ASEAN region.

Porsche is now planning to set up an assembly plant in Malaysia with local partners as part of its efforts to strengthen its position in the Southeast Asian market. They will work closely with longtime partner Sime Darby Berhad.

Based in Malaysia, the plant will be responsible for the final assembly of specific models for the local market from 2022 onwards. The facility will operate in conjunction with Porsche's network of production sites in Europe.

"We are fortunate that due to careful planning, our existing factories are able to meet the current and future global demand for our cars," said Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche, in a statement. September.

"However, the new assembly site in Malaysia meets specific market needs and, although it is a stand-alone project and modest in size and capacity, it signifies our willingness to learn and adapt to specific local market conditions," he said.

Over the past ten years, Porsche has enjoyed a close and trusting relationship with Sime Darby Berhad as the exclusive importer and distributor of the Porsche brand.

That partnership coupled with Porsche's growing and dedicated fan base in Malaysia has delivered impressive results even under challenging conditions, as reflected in a 9 per cent increase in deliveries in 2020.

In its operations in Malaysia, Porsche is also partnering with Shell for the implementation of a high-performance charging network.

Still related to the Asian market, Porsche will set up a new permanent research and development center in China, which will allow a continued focus on Porsche's largest market.

The location of Porsche's R&D satellite in Shanghai is expected to improve understanding of Chinese customers and their needs, and to enhance local product development.

This comes in addition to Porsche Digital China which was founded as an independent company earlier this year and Porsche Engineering China with a presence in the market for more than 20 years.