Sime Darby Expands Porsche Cayenne CKD Line, Includes S E-Hybrid Coupe For Thailand

The Sime Darby-owned Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah sees its Porsche Cayenne CKD line expanded this week. It now assembles the Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe variant for export to Thailand.

Sime Darby Berhad (Sime Darby) announced earlier today that it has expanded the local assembly (CKD) line for the Porsche Cayenne model at the Inokom plant located in Kulim, Kedah.

Besides the heavily refreshed and recently introduced third-generation Porsche Cayenne base model for the local market, said line will now assemble the Coupe-bodied Cayenne S E-Hybrid variant specifically for export to neighbouring Thailand.

This effort sees the Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe stands as the first localised Porsche model built for export. Concurrently, it also sees said model stand as the first localised Porsche plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model variant inducted into this CKD facility.

The Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe's induction into the Inokom plant sees said model's dedicated line expanded to a total area of 11,000 square metres.

The expansion sees the Porsche Cayenne CKD line at Inokom growing to a total area of 11,000 square metres to accommodate the increased assembly and output capacities. In turn, this will also see Porsche fulfilling growing demands for said model in the Thai market.

“This is a significant milestone for us at Sime Darby together with our partner, Porsche, in unlocking new opportunities in the ASEAN,” expressed Sime Darby Group CEO Datuk Jeffri Salim Davidson, who also emphasise the effort’s affirmation of skilled local capabilities and talents.

First established in 2022, the Porsche Cayenne CKD line at Sime Darby’s Inokom plant in Kulim stood as the first of its kind outside Europe. Its initial operations saw over 1,000 units of the pre-facelift base-spec Cayenne variant produced.

For the Thai market, the Inokom plant assembles the Coupe-bodied version of the revised third-gen Cayenne S E-Hybrid specifically.

To date, over 2,000 units of the locally built Porsche Cayenne produced here – both pre-facelift and new face-lifted versions – have found homes in Malaysia, confirms Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production, Porsche AG.

“Today, we prepare for the future by considerably enhancing our site in Kulim, making sure that this first regionally exported Cayenne fulfils our customers’ demands and expectations,” adds Reimold further.

Apart from exporting to the Kingdom just north of the Peninsular’s borders, there’s no indication just yet if this electrified variant of the refreshed third-gen Cayenne will be offered locally through Porsche Malaysia (Sime Darby Auto Performance – SDAP).

Revealed in Sept last year, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid is positioned as a mid-range PHEV choice in the new Cayenne range. It boasts 512 HP, 0-100 KM/H sprints in 4.7 secs, and up to 78 KM of electric-only range.

Thailand aside, no indication if said PHEV variant of the Cayenne will be offered locally. Presently, SDAP only offers the third-gen Cayenne in in standard-bodied base variant form pictured, which is also localised, priced from RM599,999.

As a refresher, the revised 2024MY Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid debuted globally in both standard- and coupe-bodied forms back in Sept last year and positioned as a mid-range PHEV choice. It packs a 3.0-litre V6 turbo heart augmented by an e-motor and 25.9 kWh battery.

Altogether, said setup outputs 512 HP and 750 NM to enable 0-100 KM/H sprints in just 4.7 seconds – 0.1-second quicker than the V8-powered Cayenne S. It also boasts both 11 kW AC charging input compatibility plus between 71 and 78 KM of electric driving range.

Presently, SDAP only offers the revised third-gen Cayenne in base variant and standard-bodied form that packs a similar but un-electrified 3.0-litre V6 turbo heart rated at 348 HP and 500 NM, capable of century sprints in just 5.7 seconds. Said model is priced from RM599,999 onwards.