Malaysia is now officially the third country to produce the Mitsubishi XPANDER, after Indonesia and Vietnam. Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia have partnered up with Hicom Automotive Manufacturers in Pekan to assemble the vehicle for them. Other CKD vehicles by Mitsubishi have been produced by Tan Chong Motor Assemblies in Segambut in the past.
The XPANDER was previewed to media late last month and will go on sale very soon.
Here’s the press release with more.
PRESS RELEASE
MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) has started production of its crossover MPV XPANDER in Malaysia. This is the third country where MMC produces the vehicle following Indonesia and Vietnam. The XPANDER is produced at Hicom Automotive Manufacturers (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., a vehicle assembly contractor in Malaysia, and will be sold from November this year through the sales network of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, the exclusive distributor of Malaysia. Since its launch in Indonesia in 2017, the XPANDER,—including the XPANDER CROSS—has been well received for its futuristic styling, comfort, and high driving performance. By the end of September 2020, the total sales volume for the series has reached approximately 270,000 units.
“We are very pleased to be able to deliver the XPANDER made in Malaysia to the country’s customers,” said Takao Kato, chief executive officer of MMC, on the launch of production. “We plan to have our plant in Indonesia, which is the main plant of XPANDER export more assembly parts for the local production in Malaysia, in addition to finished vehicles. MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION will contribute to the economic development of each country by expanding our production and export businesses.”
As announced in July 2020, MMC positions the ASEAN region as a vital growth driver in its new mid-term business plan, Small but Beautiful, which runs until FY2022. MMC will aim for further growth in the ASEAN region, and the commencement of local production and sales in Malaysia through collaboration with its partner, Mitsubishi Corporation, will reinforce its businesses there.
