The Making of The Almera – At Tan Chong’s Serendah Plant
KUALA LUMPUR, 5TH SEPTEMBER 2012 – The soon to be launched Nissan Almera, Nissan’s Global car, will be assembled at Tan Chong Motor Assemblies’ (TCMA) Serendah Plant. That was the main reason the motoring media were given a tour of the assembly line on which the Almera is assembled.
Members of the media were also among the first to test drive the Almera on the private test track located on the premises. Since its inception in 2007, the Serendah plant has reportedly grown from strength to strength, consistently meeting Nissan’s Global Standard. In fact, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has sent consultants from other markets around the world to study and learn from Tan Chong’s Serendah plant.
In 2009, the Serendah Plant was awarded the ISO 9001:2000 for Quality Management Systems (QMS) and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management System (EMS) that serve as an acknowledgement that the plant’s environmental and quality management systems conform to meet both the strict guidelines of international standards and the Nissan Production Way (NPW).
“Nissan is committed to deliver quality to our consumers, and we have done so for over 55 years now. The Serendah plant is a key component which we have put in place in order to give consumers a total quality experience that begins from the production line all the way up to after-sales service,” said Dato’ Dr. Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of ETCM.
“Each vehicle that is assembled at our Serendah plant undergoes strict quality control tests before it rolls out of the assembly plant. Our latest offering, the Nissan Almera, will be no different, and consumers can be assured that each car is assembled according to the Nissan Production Way,” he continued.
Tan Chong is set to introduce the Almera into the local market in Q4 2012. Tan Chong has already taken steps to prepare their production lines to accommodate the assembly of the Almera to ensure a steady supply of cars. In fact, Tan Chong Motor Group has plans to further expand its operations at its facility in Serendah to ensure that the Almera rolls off the assembly floor as efficiently as possible. More production shifts and extra manpower will be put in to assembling the Almera when it is launched.
Built on the all-new global “V” platform (V for Versatile), the Almera utilizes a lightweight yet rigid body and is powered by the latest 1.5-liter HR15DE engine with a Continuously Variable-valve Timing Control (CVTC) for excellent fuel efficiency and drivability.
“The launching of the Nissan Almera requires that more manpower be trained in order to keep up with demand. This in turn creates additional jobs for the local market which will have an impact on the economy and socio-economic situation of the community living in the areas surrounding the Serendah plant”, Dato’ Dr Ang said.
Nissan is a brand that is ingrained in the memories and lives of Malaysians since 1957. Now, Nissan continues to capture Malaysian hearts with a car that will appeal to people from all walks of life. With features normally found in more premium cars, the Nissan Almera is ‘Surprisingly More’.
A couple of key features that will endear the Almera to the local car-buying public will be its very impressive cabin space and the very competitive pricing that ETCM is likely to price the Almera at. According to Dato Dr Ang Bon Beng, pending the relevant approvals from the authorities, the selling price will range from RM70,000 to RM85,000, depending on the specifications.
The Nissan Almera will be open for reservation from 6th September 2012 onwards. It will be available in 3 different grades when launched in Q4 2012. Consumers keen to catch a glimpse of Nissan’s best selling global sedan can head on over to the following venues:-
One Utama, Bandar Utama, Selangor: 5th – 9th September 2012
Setia City Mall, Shah Alam, Selangor: 6th – 9th September 2012
Lot 10, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur: 7th-30th September 2012
Sunway Pyramid, Bandar Sunway, Selangor: 13th – 20th September 2012
Tesco, Jelutong, Pulau Pinang: 13th – 23rd September 2012
Alternatively, consumers can visit any Nissan showroom to place their reservation or visit www.nissan.com.my for more information.
