KUALA LUMPUR (July 24): Malaysia’s automotive-to-industrial conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd (KL:SIME) has announced the expansion of Porsche’s assembly facility at Inokom in Kulim, Kedah.

The facility has been expanded to 11,000 sq m to accommodate higher capacity and a new assembly line for a second model variant of the plug-in hybrid Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe, Sime Darby and Porsche said in a joint statement. The model would also be exported to Thailand from the facility, the statement read.

“This is a significant milestone for us at Sime Darby together with our partner, Porsche, in unlocking new opportunities in the Asean region while affirming the capabilities of our highly skilled local talents,” said Sime Darby chief executive officer Datuk Jeffri Salim Davidson.

The facility at Inokom for Porsche was the first of its kind outside of Europe when it was opened in 2022, and has since rolled out two generations and more than 2,000 units of Porsche’s sports cars. Inokom assembles passenger cars, multi-utility vehicles, multi-purpose vehicles and commercial vehicles.

Sime Darby began selling Porsche cars in 1998 after acquiring Continental Car Services Ltd, a multi-franchise dealership based in New Zealand, according to its website. The company’s involvement expanded into import, distribution, and retail in 2010, and grew further in 2012 with acquisition of the Porsche Parramatta retail business in Australia.

“Today, we prepare for the future by considerably enhancing our site in Kulim, making sure that this first regionally exported Cayenne fulfils our customers’ demands and expectations,” said Albrecht Reimold, a member of the executive board for production at Porsche.

The locally assembled Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid will be exported to Thailand, one of Porsche’s biggest markets in Asean, Sime Darby and Porsche said. “This signifies the immense growth and innovation potential of the region, underlining its importance for Porsche’s global business,” the companies said.