Naza, who says it plans to sell 1,600 American built vehicles this year, now plans to assemble the cars locally and then export them to countries in the Association of South East Asiatic Nations (ASEAN) region. The models currently sold in Malaysia by Naza are being imported from Thailand.
According to just-auto.com, the distributor already plays the role of carmaker for Peugeot, for whom it assembles several models at its facility in Gurun, Kedah. The same facility might accommodate the production of GM models, should an agreement be reached. The models targeted are the same ones currently imported, namely the Aveo, Captiva, Cruze and Optra.
"I am optimistic we will be able to set up an assembly plant. GM is keen. We want the investment to come to Malaysia," Faisal Nasimuddin, NAZA CEO was quoted as saying by the source. "GM sees Malaysia as a very strategic market,"
For Peugeot, Naza will begin manufacturing a new compact car in Malaysia, after signing a letter of intent with the French manufacturer back in July. Peugeot plans a production run of 70,000 units of the new model, to be sold in the ASEAN region, in Thailand and Indonesia.
Production of the model, which will be manufactured in both left- and right-hand versions, will be handled by the Naza plant in Gurun starting the second semester of 2011.
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