For nearly three decades, Inokom Corporation Sdn Bhd (Inokom) has played a pivotal role in shaping Malaysia’s automotive manufacturing landscape, growing into one of the nation’s most trusted automotive contract assemblers. Operating from its expansive 200-acre facility in Kulim, Kedah, within the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), the company has earned the confidence of some of the world’s most renowned automotive brands through its commitment to quality, operational excellence and continuous innovation. Today, Inokom stands as a key pillar of Sime Darby Berhad’s Motors business and a significant contributor to Malaysia’s industrial development. The facility currently assembles vehicles for six global automotive brands from Germany, Japan, Korea and China, including BMW, MINI, Porsche, Mazda, Hyundai and Chery. Backed by a fully Malaysian workforce of more than 2,700 skilled employees, Inokom operates integrated manufacturing facilities encompassing Body Shops, Paint Shops, Assembly Shops and Centralised Warehouses. Its production capacity has grown substantially over recent years, rising from 20,500 vehicles in 2021 to more than 31,800 units in 2025. The company has also strengthened Malaysia’s export footprint, shipping over 24,500 vehicles to regional markets and establishing itself as one of the country’s largest automotive exporters. According to Sime Darby Group Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, Inokom’s success reflects the strength and capabilities of Malaysian industry on the global stage. He noted that the company’s ability to maintain long-term partnerships with world-leading automotive marques demonstrates the depth of local expertise and manufacturing excellence developed over the years. The achievement also aligns with the Government’s GEAR-uP agenda, which seeks to foster high-value industrial growth and globally competitive manufacturing capabilities. Mazda, one of Inokom’s longest-standing assembly partners and a key joint venture partner, continues to be a cornerstone of the facility’s operations, with a dedicated Mazda Body Shop. Inokom’s journey as a trusted automotive assembly partner began in 1993 through its collaboration with Hyundai. The partnership paved the way for the company’s expansion into commercial and passenger vehicle assembly, including models such as the Inokom Lorimas and Inokom Atos. Over the years, the company continued to attract global automotive brands, with Mazda becoming one of its longest-standing partners. The launch of the locally assembled Mazda3 in 2011 marked a significant milestone, as it was the only completely knocked-down assembly operation for the model in the ASEAN region at the time. The company’s reputation for manufacturing excellence received further international recognition in 2021 when Porsche selected Inokom as its first assembly facility outside Europe. The partnership highlighted the confidence global manufacturers place in Malaysian production standards and capabilities. In 2024, the collaboration expanded further with exports of locally assembled Porsche vehicles to Thailand. In 2021, Inokom became the first assembly facility for Porsche outside of Europe, reflecting the strength of local manufacturing capabilities. Inokom’s portfolio expanded again in 2023 with the addition of Chery as an assembly partner. The facility now produces several Chery models, including the Omoda and Tiggo series. Notably, the Chery Omoda E5 became Inokom’s first electric vehicle (EV) assembly project, marking an important milestone in the company’s support of the region’s growing transition towards electrified mobility. Another key strength lies in Inokom’s long-standing relationship with the BMW Group. The facility houses BMW’s Engine Assembly Plant, which has been operating within Inokom since 2009 and is recognised as the third-largest BMW engine assembly plant globally. Since 2018, more than 11,800 BMW and MINI vehicles assembled in Kulim have been exported to Thailand and the Philippines. In 2022, BMW celebrated the production of its 100,000th vehicle at Inokom, while 2026 saw the rollout of the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport, the first fully electric BMW model assembled in the Asia Pacific region. Inokom also houses an Engine Assembly Plant, the third largest BMW engine assembly plant in the world. Operating under a unique Plant-within-a-Plant concept, Inokom provides dedicated assembly lines tailored to the specific requirements of each automotive principal while adhering to strict quality standards. The company has also earned numerous certifications in quality, safety and environmental management, alongside prestigious industry accolades including the Industry Excellence Award from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), the High Productivity Enterprise Using Local Workers Award from the Malaysia Productivity Corporation, and the Kedah State Appreciation Award. Beyond vehicle assembly, Inokom continues to strengthen Malaysia’s automotive ecosystem by supporting approximately 370 local vendors, including Bumiputera enterprises, through participation in its supply chain network. The company also places strong emphasis on workforce development, investing in training programmes focused on advanced manufacturing technologies, technical competencies, diagnostics, electrical systems and leadership development. Looking to the future, Inokom remains committed to becoming the preferred automotive assembly partner in ASEAN. With plans to launch a new advanced painting facility, the company aims to further enhance its production capabilities and operational efficiency. As automotive technologies continue to evolve, Inokom’s focus on innovation, talent development and strategic global partnerships positions it to remain at the forefront of Malaysia’s manufacturing success story while strengthening the nation’s standing in the global automotive industry. Post navigation Experience Innovation in Mobile Photography at vivo’s Latest Concept Store Launch