HYUNDAI TRUCKS LOCALLY ASSEMBLED
Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday – Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), the largest automotive manufacturer in Korea and currently ranked top six in the world, has granted Inokom Corporation Sdn. Bhd., a member of the Sime Darby Group of companies, the right to assemble and market the Hyundai HD65 trucks in Malaysia.
A Technical Licensing Agreement (TLA) granting that right was signed this afternoon at the Sime Darby Convention Centre (SDCC), Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
Signing on behalf of HMC was Mr. Choi Hang Young, President, Light Commercial Vehicles Division while Yg. Bhg. Dato' Ahmad Zubir Murshid, Group Chief Executive of Sime Darby Bhd. and Chairman of Inokom Corporation Sdn. Bhd. signed on behalf of the Malaysian party.
Yg. Bhg. Dato' Ahmad Zubir said in his speech during the ceremony that the time was right for the introduction of a wider range of Hyundai products. Currently, Inokom manufactures the Lorimas one-and-half tonne pickup, Atos Prima 1.1 and the Matrix 1.6 & 1.8 family hatchback. Backed by the increasing commercial vehicles market in Malaysia, the company felt that there is a great potential for the introduction of high tech medium range trucks like the Hyundai HD65.
The Hyundai HD65 to be assembled at the INOKOM plant in Kulim, Kedah, at the beginning of next year may have advanced features such as a turbo-charged 3.9-litre diesel engine with an intercooler, Euro II emission standards and an extra durable chassis. A sum of RM10 million has been set aside to prepare a new assembly line, the installation of the necessary production equipment and jigs, and the training of production workers. The new assembly line will also heighten the motor vehicle assembly skills and technology at the Kulim plant while at the same time, offer Malaysian vendors a new opportunity to work with the Koreans.
Malaysia will be the first country in this region to have the Hyundai HD65 appearing in the local market. The locally assembled Hyundai HD65 will be distributed by Hyundai – Sime Darby Motors Sdn. Bhd., the prime mover of Hyundai and INOKOM vehicles in Malaysia and a member of the Sime Darby Group of companies. The company is in the process of setting up a commercial vehicles department specifically to handle the new products and to ensure their success when the Korean trucks start rolling out of the Inokom plant.
Mr. Choi, in his speech during the ceremony, expressed confidence in the Malaysian market and the Sime Darby Group of companies. He said that the Hyundai HD65 which is very well accepted in other parts of the world, particularly in South America, should do very well in Malaysia as it has the right specifications to meet the local demands. The hardy and reliable Hyundai HD65 trucks are currently sold in over 50 countries around the world and are one of the best selling trucks in the HMC range of commercial vehicles.
Also present to witness the historic signing ceremony were members of the media, directors and senior management staff of the Sime Darby Motor Division, associates, vendors, potential customers and other interested parties.
