Hyundai Motor Company announced that it has established a new subsidiary in Malaysia, giving the South Korean brand a direct presence in South-east Asia’s second-largest market.
The new company, Hyundai Motor Malaysia (HMM) – headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, will effectively take over as Hyundai’s distributor in the country from local conglomerate Sime Darby, while continuing to use the company’s dealer network.
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Sime Darby’s automotive division, Sime Darby Motors, has vehicle distribution and dealer operations across the Asia-Pacific region, for brands such as BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce, Ford, Land Rover, Porsche, Suzuki and Mitsubishi. It also has a majority-owned contract assembler, Inokom Corporation, located in Malaysia’s Kedah State.
Hyundai confirmed that the new company will assume full responsibility in Malaysia for the brand’s “marketing, sales and customer experience, with a dedicated local team empowered to make faster, market-relevant decisions and deliver a more connected, customer-first approach. This is underpinned by deeper market commitment, enhanced customer engagement and a renewed focus on innovation and long-term growth.”
HMM will allow Hyundai to “actively expand its dedicated Malaysian team, laying the foundation for a robust nationwide dealer network.” The new company is expected to employ around 100 people by the end of the year.
Jeffrey Gan, managing director of Sime Darby Motors, said in a statement: “We are proud to have played a pivotal role in Hyundai’s growth in Malaysia. As Hyundai embarks on its next phase, we remain committed to supporting its sales and aftersales operations, ensuring continuity, confidence, and a seamless service experience for existing and future Hyundai customers.”
Hyundai’s vehicles are currently assembled locally by Inokom, at its facility in Kedah State. The South Korean automaker is currently building a new MYR 2.2 billion (US$ 520 million) vehicle production plant in Kedah in collaboration with Inokom, which is expected to become operational in the third quarter of 2025. Hyundai confirmed that it plans to launch three new SUV and MPV models in Malaysia in the near future.
