ID :
137662
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 06:30
Auther :

3 NEW VOLKSWAGEN MODELS EXPECTED TO ROLL OUT OF M'SIA'S DRB-HICOM PLANT




PEKAN (Pahang, Malaysia), Aug 14 (Bernama) -- Three new Volkswagen models are
expected to roll out of the DRB-Hicom plant in Pekan, thus strengthening the
district's position as a regional automotive hub.

Prime minister Najib Razak said assemblying of CKD (complete knock down) vehicle
components of the renowned German brand would see the vehicles roll out of the
plant by the end of the first quarter next year.

He said the joint venture was agreed upon after his meeting with Volkswagen top
officials during his overseas holiday recently.

"I've always been monitoring the developments involving DRB-Hicom and during my
recent vacation, I took the opportunity to meet the Volkswagen officials and ask
them whether they were till keen to establish cooperation with DRB-Hicom.

"Actually, they were waiting for the indication from me whether they could sign
the agreement with DRB-Hicom or not," he said in his speech at a Ramadan
gathering with DRB-Hicom management and staff, here, Saturday.

Also present was DRB-Hicom Berhad managing director Mohd Khamil Jamil.

On Friday, DRB-Hicom and Volkswagen signed a memorandum of understanding to
cooperate in the assembly and production of Volkswagen vehicles in Malaysia.

Najib said Volkswagen also requested for incentives from the Malaysian
government to make the DRB-Hicom production plant here its export base for the
Asean region.

"This needs to be studied and approved by the government," he said.

Najib said the joint venture would also contribute to the success of the East
Coast Economic Region's development plan based partly on continuous development
of the local automotive industry.

In this respect, he said, the DRB-Hicom management and staff needed to carry out
transformation to put the company's image at the highest level, thus building
foreign manufacturers' confidence including those which had already established
cooperation with DRB-Hicom like Suzuki and Mercedes-Benz, in the local
automotive industry.

"Total commitment from all quarters is a vital ingredient for continuous success."

The prime minister then together with over 100 residents performed Tarawih
prayers at the Batu 8 mosque, here.
-- BERNAMA



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