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Honda Malaysia expands Pegoh plant, more CKD Hybrids from Honda coming soon!

Pic 9_L-R_Ueno_Kobayashi_Amb Nakamura_MITI_DW Hj Md Yunos_TS DS Hj Khamil_Syed Murtaza_Tan Hui Jing_Roslan Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd has reinforced its strong commitment towards its business in Malaysia with the opening of the No.2 Line at its Pegoh Plant in Alor Gajah, Malacca, 11 years after the No.1 Line was opened in January 2003. With a total built-up area of 49,190 square meters, the No.2 Line took less than a year to complete and will be able to double the current production of 50,000 units to 100,000 units of vehicles annually, and 200 units to 400 units daily.

Pic 10_MITI signing the plaque watched by L-R_Ueno_Kobayashi_Nakamura_DW Hj Md Yunos_TS DS Hj Khamil Hiroshi Kobayashi, President and CEO of Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd, expressed his delight with the opening of the No.2 Line in Malaysia. “Malaysia plays an important role for Honda. We have been operating in Malaysia for more than 10 years and I am proud to note that our business has grown rapidly over these years. With a customer-oriented approach in mind, Honda has continued our investment, growth and expansion in Malaysia by leveraging our unique technologies, ideas and ingenuity to create products that meet the customer’s needs.” “Honda looks to further develop our local production in Malaysia by taking a more strategic approach to the industry. By developing skilled local capabilities and implementing advanced manufacturing technologies in this attractive and important market, we are positive that Malaysia will help achieve the long-term growth of the Honda brand. Honda remains firm in its commitment to provide good products with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions to meet the growing market.”

With the opening of the No.2 Line, Honda looks forward to assembling more vehicles for the growing Malaysian market, particularly in the small models and hybrid segment, which has seen steady growth over the past couple of years. Currently Honda Malaysia assembles the City, Civic, CR-V, Accord and both the Jazz Petrol and Hybrid variants at its Pegoh Plant. Honda has enhanced its overall operations in Malaysia in the past couple of years with a new parts warehouse, new test track facility, new Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) Centre and recently, changing its logistic to rail in order to be more efficient. The Green Factory concept is actively pursued at the Pegoh Plant; high efficiency equipment have been installed, and lean processes are adopted to lower power consumption. Numerous green initiatives such as recycle and reuse energy and water efficiency were implemented in the buildings and equipment. These efforts support Honda’s global environment target of reducing CO2 emissions by 30% by 2020. Yoichiro Ueno, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia, commented that “In order to achieve more affordable prices for Malaysian customers, Honda Malaysia is targeting to enhance the localization of the component parts from the previous 30-40% to over 70% in the near future. This can be achieved with a combination of hard work of our associates to implement advanced technologies and the expansion of component suppliers.”

Pic 1_L-R_HMSB Roslan_MITI_TS DS Hj Khamil_DW Hj Md Yunos looking at a locally assembled Honda Accord

On that notion, it looks like Honda Malaysia has a head start with the new revised NAP. With Honda Malaysia’s aligned well with the new NAP’s aim to make Malaysia as an environmental friendly car hub, it looks like more Honda hybrid cars will be gracing Malaysia’s road in the years to come.  Local assembled Honda CR-Z for the Malaysian market perhaps?

Pic 8_HMSB Ueno_HMSB Roslan_MITI_DW Hj Yunos_Asian Honda Motor Kobayashi touring the new Honda No2 Line Pic 7_HMSB MD and CEO Yoichiro Ueno (L) accompanying MITI during Tour of No2 Line Pic 6_L-R HMSB Ueno_Dep MITI Hamim Samuri_MITI_DW Hj Md Yunos being briefed on the new Honda No2 Line Pic 5_MITI_DW Hj Md Yunos and other VIPs listening attentively to the briefing during the Tour of new Honda No2 Line Pic 4_HMSB Ueno_TS DS Hj Khamil_Dep MITI Hamim Samuri_MITI_DW Hj Md Yunos_Asian Honda Kobayashi touring the new Honda No2 Line Pic 3_L-R_HMSB Ueno_TS DS Hj Khamil_MITI_DW Hj Md Yunos_Amb Nakamura and Asian Honda Kobayashi receiving a briefing at the new Honda No2 Line Pic 2_Ambassador Nakamura and HMSB MD CEO Yoichiro Ueno accompanying DS Mustapa to the Honda Plant Tour