KUALA LUMPUR: Porsche AG has seen good growth in terms of interest and sales of its vehicles in Malaysia over the years, resulting in 60 per cent more deliveries last year alone.
The German luxury manufacturer said this was realised through its partnership with Sime Darby Bhd's automotive arm Sime Darby Motors, which has been Porsche's "partner of choice" for the past 12 years.
"Over the years, we have witnessed positive growth in the number of sports car enthusiasts. The partnership has delivered impressive results, as reflected in a 60 per cent increase in deliveries in 2021.
"In addition, Sime Darby's strategy matches with Porsche's aim to develop its network in the Asean region comprehensively and sustainably. Support from Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority were also vital in the establishment of the local assembly facility," a Porsche representative said in a joint interview with the New Straits Times together with Sime Darby recently.
"With the launch of the first local assembly for Porsche outside of Europe, we look forward to connecting more Porsche fans with their dream sports car, tailored to specific local conditions," the representative added.
Porsche's first assembly plant outside Europe, which was located in Kulim, Kedah has been operational since March this year.
Porsche said Malaysia was chosen as the first assembly facility outside Europe because of its well-established automotive landscape that presented significant business opportunities to realise the group's vision of expanding its presence in key markets across the globe.
"Malaysia, with its position at the heart of Asean, is a strategic market that holds vast potential, and over the years, we have witnessed positive growth in the number of sports car enthusiasts," the representative said.
As one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, Asean was key to Porsche's global expansion plans to meet current and future demand, he added.
Porsche said beyond the local assembly facility, it was continuously examining the market and looking closely for opportunities to grow the business further in Malaysia and across the Asean region.
"We are expanding our footprint in Malaysia, with our fourth Porsche Centre in Johor Bahru scheduled to open in mid-2022," it added.
A Sime Darby spokesperson said with the local assembly facility, the group was confident of the continuous growth for Porsche in Malaysia, especially with the launch of the first locally-assembled, luxury SUV and one of the best-selling models worldwide, the Porsche Cayenne.
"Testament to this, since pre-orders commenced in November 2021, we have received strong demand for the locally-assembled Cayenne, which contributed positively to Sime Darby Motors," the spokesperson said.
"As one of the leading automotive groups in Asia Pacific, Sime Darby Motors has been a partner of choice for Porsche in Malaysia for the last 12 years, representing Porsche as its exclusive distributor and retailer.
"Our high value assembly capabilities in Kulim, Kedah is a key element in our growth strategy for the Motors Division and a value proposition that differentiates Sime Darby Motors from other car retailers and distributors," he added.