Naza assembles 150,000th vehicle

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GURUN: Naza Automotive Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (NAM), the manufacturing arm of the Naza Group, celebrated the production of its 150,000th vehicle Thursday.

NAM began operations in May 2004 and rolled out its first vehicle, a Naza Ria, in August 2004. Seven years later, it has recorded a new milestone with the production of its 150,000th vehicle, a Naza Forte 1.6SX.

“NAM has indeed come a long way since 2004. Today, the cars produced at NAM are on the streets of Bangkok and Jakarta and soon we will export them to countries in Africa and Oceania,” said Naza Group of Companies joint group executive chairman SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin.

Also present to commemorate the 150,000th vehicle was Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

Mukhriz (foreground, on left) and SM Nasarudin with the Naza Forte.

Since operations started seven years ago, the plant has produced 18 models - Ria, Citra, Sorento, Spectra, Suria, Bestari, Forza, Sportage, Spectra 5, Optima, Rondo, Pregio, Picanto, Forte, Peugeot 407, Peugeot 308, Peugeot 207 and the Peugeot 3008.

At present, the Forte, Pregio, Citra, Rondo, Peugeot 407, Peugeot 308, Peugeot 207 and the Peugeot 3008 are assembled at NAM.

SM Nasarudin said NAM is currently undergoing a RM714mil upgrading and expansion exercise over a six-year period.

The exercise began last year and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015. Under this exercise, NAM will invest in the upgrading of facilities, plant expansion, new model introductions and research and development.

NAM commenced operations in 2004 with a RM500mil facility, which includes an assembly plant, two-storey office, a test track, lots for vendors and suppliers and staff accommodation on a 140 acre parcel of land.

“By the end of our current expansion exercise, NAM’s total investment in this facility since 2004 will amount to RM1.21bil,” said SM Nasarudin.

NAM is targeting to produce 30,050 units or vehicles next year. For this year, NAM is on track to producing 15,640 units.

On the export front, NAM has been exporting units of the Peugeot 207 to Thailand and Indonesia while the Kia Pregio van assembled at Gurun is being exported to Indonesia.

NAM will ramp up exports with the assembly of a new C-segment Peugeot sedan, codenamed T73 this year.

NAM will produce 60,000 units of the T73 over a five-year period ending 2016 with approximately 60% of the units produced to be exported to right-hand drive countries in Asean as well as markets outside the region.