HICOM Automotive Manufacturers
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Malaysian vehicle assembly and automotive manufacturing company based in Pekan.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
HICOM Automotive Manufacturers (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., commonly known as HICOM Automotive Manufacturers or HA, is a Malaysian automotive manufacturing and vehicle-assembly company headquartered in Pekan, Pahang. It operates as a subsidiary of DRB-HICOM and forms part of the group’s automotive production activities. The company’s business is primarily associated with the assembly of passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, trucks, buses and related automotive products for the Malaysian market and, in some periods, surrounding regional markets. The company’s roots extend to 1983, when vehicle assembly began at the Integrated Complex in Pekan. The facility covers approximately 541,070 square metres. Historical production descriptions indicate an annual in-house capacity of about 13,000 vehicles, in addition to the assembly of more than 47,000 complete-knock-down kits for local and nearby markets. These figures describe historical production capability rather than a current verified output level. During the 1990s and into the early 2000s, the plant assembled several Proton models, including the Iswara, Satria, Putra, Tiara and Juara. Its manufacturing portfolio subsequently broadened through contracts and partnerships involving international vehicle companies. In the commercial-vehicle area, the facility has been associated with products from Iveco, Freightliner and Fuso, as well as bus-chassis work involving Daewoo. The company also participated in the assembly of Weststar LDV vehicles through a partnership with Weststar. A significant change came in early 2005, when HICOM Automotive began assembling Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class vehicles in Pekan. Malaysian-market Mercedes-Benz CKD assembly had previously been carried out at the Oriental Assemblers plant in Johor Bahru. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was added to the Pekan production line in 2006. These programmes strengthened the plant’s role as a contract and CKD manufacturing base for premium passenger vehicles. In August 2010, Volkswagen Group announced a further Malaysian production initiative involving a plant associated with HICOM Automotive. The programme was presented as part of Volkswagen’s Growth Strategy 2018 and was intended to support local production of Volkswagen passenger cars. Contemporary plans referred to an opening target in 2012 and identified the Volkswagen Polo, Passat and Jetta among the initial vehicles discussed. The source material does not establish the complete subsequent operating history or current status of every Volkswagen programme. The company has also been linked historically with assembly or production work for Audi, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen, while earlier programmes included Tata, Isuzu, Suzuki, Citroën, Proton, Naza, Kia, Daewoo, BMC, SsangYong, Weststar and Fuso. Current product and programme details can change according to manufacturer contracts, model cycles and CKD arrangements. HICOM Automotive is therefore best understood as a multi-brand manufacturing and assembly platform rather than a consumer-facing vehicle marque with its own model range. The Pekan operation is also economically important to the surrounding area. Historical descriptions reported a workforce of approximately 3,500 people and emphasized the company’s role in providing industrial employment in the region. Exact current employment, production volume, customer mix and model allocation are not established by the supplied reference material.
History
HICOM Automotive Manufacturers traces its manufacturing roots to 1983, when vehicle assembly operations were established at the Integrated Complex in Pekan, Pahang. The site occupies approximately 541,070 square metres and was developed as a substantial industrial base for vehicle assembly. Historical descriptions of the plant cite annual in-house production of approximately 13,000 vehicles and the assembly of more than 47,000 complete-knock-down kits for Malaysian and nearby markets. These figures should be treated as historical capacity or production references, because the supplied material does not verify current output. The Pekan facility initially supported Malaysia’s expanding automotive industry and later became involved in numerous manufacturer programmes. During the 1990s and before 2005, it assembled several Proton models, including the Iswara, Satria, Putra, Tiara and Juara. The company’s activities were not limited to passenger cars. Its historical portfolio included trucks, commercial vehicles, bus-related products and vehicles assembled under arrangements with multiple domestic and international automotive companies. In the commercial-vehicle sector, the plant was associated with the Iveco Maxi, Freightliner and Fuso. It also undertook bus-chassis work involving Daewoo from 2010. Through an arrangement with Weststar, the facility produced Weststar LDV vehicles from 2007. The source material additionally records a 2010 memorandum of understanding concerning possible sports-car production involving Potenza Sports Cars, GTM Cars and Roadster Bil AB, but it does not establish that the proposed programme reached series production. HICOM Automotive’s role expanded in premium passenger-car assembly in early 2005, when production of Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class models commenced in Pekan. Before the 2005 model year, Malaysian-market Mercedes-Benz CKD vehicles had been assembled at Oriental Assemblers in Johor Bahru. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class joined the Pekan line in 2006. These programmes made HICOM Automotive an important local manufacturing partner for Mercedes-Benz in Malaysia. On 13 August 2010, Volkswagen Group announced another Malaysian production initiative connected with HICOM Automotive. The plan was described as part of Volkswagen’s Growth Strategy 2018 and envisaged a passenger-car facility intended to begin operations in 2012 after an estimated construction period of 15 to 18 months. Contemporary descriptions identified the Volkswagen Polo, Passat and Jetta as early vehicles for the programme and referred to planned production of approximately 12,000 vehicles annually, with an output rate of up to 80 vehicles per day. The supplied material does not provide a verified account of the project’s complete later development. Over time, the Pekan operation has been associated with a broad range of manufacturers and brands, including Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen, as well as earlier or former programmes involving Tata, Isuzu, Suzuki, Citroën, Proton, Naza, Kia, Daewoo, BMC, SsangYong, Weststar and Fuso. Such a portfolio reflects the company’s position as a contract assembler and manufacturing partner rather than a brand that markets a proprietary range of vehicles directly to consumers. The company is a subsidiary of DRB-HICOM. Its operation has also been significant for employment in Pekan. Historical source material reported a workforce of about 3,500 people and characterized the facility as a major local employer. Current staffing, production volumes, active customer contracts and the precise status of individual assembly lines require confirmation from current corporate or manufacturer sources.
- 2010
Daewoo bus-chassis work reported
[1]Historical descriptions identify bus-chassis production involving Daewoo as part of the company’s activities from 2010.
- 2010
Volkswagen production initiative announced
[1]Volkswagen Group announced a Malaysian production initiative connected with HICOM Automotive under its Growth Strategy 2018.
- 2007
Weststar LDV production partnership
[1]The company became associated with Weststar LDV production through a partnership with Weststar.
- 2006
Mercedes-Benz S-Class added
[1]Mercedes-Benz S-Class assembly was added to the Pekan programme.
- 2005
Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class assembly begins
[1]The Pekan facility began assembling Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class models for the Malaysian market.
- 1983
Assembly roots established in Pekan
[1]Vehicle assembly operations associated with HICOM Automotive began at the Integrated Complex in Pekan, Malaysia.
Products and positioning
A multi-brand Malaysian vehicle manufacturing and assembly platform serving international automotive companies and the domestic market.
Passenger cars
Passenger vehicles
HICOM Automotive has assembled passenger vehicles for several manufacturers and brands. Historical programmes included Proton models in the 1990s and early 2000s, followed by Mercedes-Benz C-Class, E-Class and S-Class assembly in Pekan. The company has also been associated with Audi, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen programmes. The precise current model mix is not established by the supplied references.
Commercial vehicles
Commercial vehicles and trucks
The company’s historical manufacturing portfolio has included commercial vehicles and trucks such as the Iveco Maxi, Freightliner and Fuso. These programmes illustrate the facility’s ability to support both passenger-car CKD assembly and heavier vehicle manufacturing or assembly requirements.
Buses and bus chassis · 2010
Bus chassis
HICOM Automotive has been associated with bus-chassis production involving Daewoo, with the supplied historical material placing this activity from 2010. No current production volume or active customer arrangement is confirmed.
Automotive manufacturing services
Complete-knock-down assembly services
A central part of HICOM Automotive’s role is the assembly of vehicles from complete-knock-down kits. Its Pekan facility has supported multiple manufacturer programmes and has served as a localized production platform for vehicles intended for Malaysia and, historically, surrounding markets.
Brand decisions
2010
Volkswagen production initiativeStrategyBackground
Volkswagen Group was pursuing its Growth Strategy 2018 and announced a Malaysian passenger-car production initiative.
Action taken
The announced plan envisaged a new production facility associated with HICOM Automotive, with an intended 2012 opening and initial Volkswagen models including the Polo, Passat and Jetta.
Aftermath
The supplied references do not verify the full subsequent implementation, model history or current status of the planned programme.
2005
Transfer and expansion of Mercedes-Benz CKD assembly in PekanStrategyBackground
Malaysian-market Mercedes-Benz CKD vehicles had previously been assembled at Oriental Assemblers in Johor Bahru.
Action taken
HICOM Automotive commenced assembly of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class at its Pekan facility.
Aftermath
The Pekan plant became a significant Mercedes-Benz assembly location in Malaysia, with the S-Class added in 2006.
Sources1 sources
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