Inokom to assemble Chery for Malaysia, CKD plans for Jaguar Land Rover rumoured

According to a report by The Edge, Sime Darby Bhd-controlled Inokom Corp Sdn Bhd is currently at the tail end of contract assembly negotiations with China’s Chery Automobile Co Ltd. The Chinese carmaker is planning to make a return to Malaysia in 2023.

Furthermore, the daily also reported that Inokom is also looking to ramp up the number of vehicles being assembled for Porsche AG. Sources close to the assembler also revealed that Inokom is in the final stage of negotiations with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to assemble (CKD) a couple of their models in Malaysia for the regional market. JLR is also a close technological partner with Chery.

Sources close to the Malaysian business publication said that the contract assembly for regional markets could boost Inokom’s earnings significantly.

Also read: CKD Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and Omoda 5 to start production in June 2023 - deal with Malaysian partner signed

Under Porsche, the Inokom plant in Kulim is currently assembling the Porsche Cayenne which is the German marque’s first assembly plant outside Europe. Besides Porsche, Inokom is also currently under contract to assemble BMW, MINI, Hyundai, Kia, and Mazda vehicles.

Also read: CKD 2022 Porsche Cayenne - Inside the first plant outside of Europe to build a Porsche

Sime Darby has responded to The Edge’s queries on potential new brands for assembly but it neither confirmed nor denied the possibility. Via an email reply, Sime Darby responded that it is “always on the lookout for new partners, even more so as global economic prospects take a turn for the better.”

“We are also always looking to forge stronger relationships with our existing partners,” the group replied to the business daily.

Sime Darby currently controls a 51% stake in Inokom via Sime Darby Motors with the other shareholders being Bermaz Auto Bhd (29%), Hyundai Motor Co (15%), and Sime Darby Hyundai Sdn Bhd (5%).

Sime Darby has 10 brands under its belt including BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, Ford, Hyundai, and BYD. The Inokom assembly plant has the capacity to produce 38,000 units a year but the plant still has room for expansion. In 2022, Inokom has reportedly assembled 28,176 units at its Kulim plant.

In the past, Jaguar never offered a locally-assembled model but Land Rover did offer some CKD models including the Freelander, Discovery, and Defender.