Mazda Malaysia Exports CX-5 to Thailand
Port Kelang, 20 September 2013 – Malaysia just went up a notch today, with the first 600 units of Mazda CX-5, assembled locally at the Inokom plant in Kulim going on board a RORO ship to begin what we might call a historic voyage to Thailand. The trade in automotive vehicles between Thailand and Malaysia has more or less been a one way street, with Thailand scoring higher on exports of vehicles to Malaysia, whilst Malaysia has been supplying mostly components. Now with this modest start, we hope to see a more ‘balanced trade insofar as automobiles and parts are concerned.
The Mazda CX-5 export to Thailand is the result of the ground-breaking joint venture between Mazda Corporation Japan and Bermaz Motor of Malaysia – Mazda Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MMSB). The joint venture between Mazda and Bermaz is for the purpose of the production and distribution of Mazda vehicles, tapping into the regional business and industrial environment of the ASEAS Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and the Malaysian National Automotive Policy (NAP).
The joint venture enjoys the full support of MAI (Malaysian Automotive Institute) which has as one of its objectives, the development of Malaysia as the regional hub for fuel efficient vehicles, which, I hope, comes with an added push for the early introduction of higher grade diesel fuel, without which we cannot fully tap into the obvious benefits of the many modern diesel technologies available today.
The Mazda CX-5 is a mid-sized SUV that features Mazda’s innovative ‘SKYACTIV’ Technology that has seen tremendous global success due to revolutionary technologies incorporated in its engine, transmission and chassis design, making it fun to drive, yet promoting great fuel efficiencies. The models to be exported include SKYACTIV Diesel models, which unfortunately cannot be sold here in Malaysia.
