Inokom

Inokom is a Malaysian automotive company whose principal role is the licensed contract assembly of passenger and commercial vehicles. It operates from a manufacturing facility in Kulim, Kedah, and has assembled vehicles for Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Mazda, Land Rover, MINI, Porsche and other international manufacturers. Rather than functioning primarily as a globally marketed standalone vehicle marque, Inokom has served as a local production and industrial partner for foreign automotive companies in Malaysia. The company was incorporated in October 1992 through a joint venture involving Malaysian, French and South Korean interests. It was initially established as Industri Otomotif Komersial (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and adopted the Inokom Corporation name in November 2002. Its early business was focused on commercial vehicles. The first vehicle sold under the Inokom name was the Permas, a licensed version of the first-generation Renault Trafic. Production began at the Kulim plant and included several commercial configurations. In May 2000, Inokom introduced the Lorimas, a licensed version of the Hyundai Porter light truck. The Lorimas broadened the company’s commercial-vehicle activity and was exported to Chile from 2004 and the Philippines from 2007. Inokom subsequently produced the HD5000, a version of the Hyundai Mighty II, and undertook contract assembly work for other commercial-vehicle manufacturers, including Dongfeng, Jinbei and Ford. The company entered passenger vehicles with the Hyundai-based Inokom Atos in 2002. Other vehicles marketed under the Inokom name included the Matrix, Getz, Santa Fe and i10. These products were locally assembled adaptations of Hyundai models, with the Atos, Matrix and Getz serving smaller-car and family-car segments and the Santa Fe occupying the sport-utility-vehicle segment. The i10 was introduced to Malaysia in 2008 with a 1.1-litre petrol engine. Sime Darby acquired a 51 percent stake in Inokom in 2004. This investment strengthened the plant’s role within Sime Darby’s automotive operations. In 2008, BMW M and Land Rover assembly was transferred to Inokom following the closure of the Associated Motor Industries facility in Shah Alam. Mazda assembly began at the plant in 2011 through a separate initiative involving the Berjaya Group. Hyundai assembly operations in Malaysia were later consolidated at Inokom after previously being divided between the Kulim facility and Oriental Assemblers in Tampoi. Inokom’s ownership structure has also included Hyundai Motor Company, Sime Darby Hyundai and Bermaz Auto, alongside Sime Darby Motors. The company’s strategic importance lies in local assembly, manufacturing capacity and market access rather than in a large independent retail portfolio. Its operations support Malaysia’s automotive-industrial policy and enable international brands to produce selected models locally while adapting vehicle supply to regional market conditions.

Inokom was incorporated in October 1992 as a joint venture between Malaysian, French and South Korean interests. The company was originally named Industri Otomotif Komersial (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and was created to develop commercial-vehicle manufacturing and assembly capability in Malaysia. Its manufacturing base was established in Kulim, Kedah. The first Inokom-branded product was the Permas, launched in 1998. It was derived from the first-generation Renault Trafic and was produced in multiple commercial configurations. In May 2000, the company added the Lorimas, a licensed Hyundai Porter light truck. The Lorimas became an export product, reaching Chile from 2004 and the Philippines from 2007. Inokom also produced the HD5000, based on the Hyundai Mighty II, and undertook contract assembly for commercial vehicles associated with Dongfeng, Jinbei and Ford. Inokom moved into passenger vehicles in 2002 with the Hyundai-based Atos. The passenger range later included the Matrix, Getz, Santa Fe and i10. The Atos received the Atos Prima facelift in 2005. The Matrix entered local production in 2004, while the i10 was launched in Malaysia in August 2008 with a 1.1-litre Epsilon engine. These vehicles were principally localized versions of foreign models rather than wholly independent Inokom designs. A major ownership change occurred in 2004, when Sime Darby acquired a 51 percent stake. The change supported a broader role for the Kulim facility within Sime Darby’s automotive manufacturing network. In 2008, BMW M and Land Rover assembly was transferred to Inokom after Associated Motor Industries’ Shah Alam plant closed in 2007. Mazda assembly started at Inokom in 2011 under a separate Berjaya Group-related initiative. Hyundai assembly in Malaysia was eventually concentrated at Inokom. Before that consolidation, Hyundai models had been assembled at both Inokom’s Kulim facility and Oriental Assemblers’ plant in Tampoi. Through these developments, Inokom evolved from a commercial-vehicle assembler with its own limited branded range into a multi-brand contract manufacturing platform. Its activities have included assembly for Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Mazda, Land Rover, MINI and Porsche, as well as earlier and other commercial-vehicle programs. The company adopted the name Inokom Corporation Sdn. Bhd. in November 2002. Reported shareholders have included Sime Darby Motors, Sime Darby Hyundai, Hyundai Motor Company and Bermaz Auto, in addition to earlier investors such as Berjaya Group, Pesumals, Renault, Hyundai Motor Company and Hyumal Motor. Inokom’s current public identity is therefore closely connected to Malaysia’s localized production ecosystem and to Sime Darby Motors, rather than to a broad international consumer brand.

• 2011

  Mazda assembly begins

  [1]Inokomen.wikipedia.org

  Mazda production starts at Inokom under a separate Berjaya Group-related initiative.

• 2008

  BMW M and Land Rover assembly begins

  [1]Inokomen.wikipedia.org

  The Kulim facility adds BMW M and Land Rover assembly after the closure of Associated Motor Industries’ Shah Alam plant.

• 2004

  Sime Darby takes a controlling stake

  [1]Inokomen.wikipedia.org

  Sime Darby acquires 51 percent of Inokom.

• 2002

  Passenger-vehicle entry and corporate renaming

  [1]Inokomen.wikipedia.org

  Inokom launches the Atos and changes its legal name to Inokom Corporation Sdn. Bhd.

• 2000

  Lorimas launch

  [1]Inokomen.wikipedia.org

  The Hyundai Porter-based Lorimas becomes Inokom’s second product.

• 1998

  Permas launch

  [1]Inokomen.wikipedia.org

  Inokom introduces the Permas, a licensed Renault Trafic-based commercial vehicle.

• 1992

  Inokom is incorporated

  [1]Inokomen.wikipedia.org

  The company is established in October as a Malaysian, French and South Korean joint venture.

A Malaysian automotive manufacturing and contract-assembly platform serving international vehicle brands and selected locally branded commercial and passenger vehicle programs.

• Commercial vehicle · 1998

  Inokom Permas

  The Permas was Inokom’s first branded vehicle. It was a licensed version of the first-generation Renault Trafic and was built in several commercial configurations at the Kulim facility. Its introduction established Inokom’s original focus on locally assembled commercial vehicles.

• Light commercial vehicle · 2000

  Inokom Lorimas

  The Lorimas was a licensed Hyundai Porter light truck launched in 2000. It was produced for Malaysia and selected export markets, including Chile and the Philippines. The model was an important early example of Inokom’s role in adapting and assembling foreign commercial-vehicle platforms.

• Passenger car · 2002

  Inokom Atos

  The Atos was Inokom’s first non-commercial vehicle and was based on Hyundai’s small city car. Production began in 2002, and the Atos Prima facelift followed in 2005 with a redesigned front end. The model represented Inokom’s move into localized passenger-car assembly.

• Passenger car · 2004

  Inokom Matrix

  The Matrix was a locally produced version of the Hyundai Lavita family car. Inokom began local production in September 2004, positioning the vehicle as a practical compact family model within its passenger-car range.

• Passenger car

  Inokom Getz

  The Getz was based on the facelifted Hyundai Getz and was offered as a three-door or five-door hatchback. It used a 1.4-litre engine with either manual or automatic transmission and formed part of Inokom’s compact-car offering.

• Sport utility vehicle · 2007

  Inokom Santa Fe

  The Santa Fe was a Malaysian-assembled Hyundai-based sport utility vehicle launched in August 2007. It was offered with a choice of 2.2-litre diesel or 2.7-litre petrol engines, broadening Inokom’s passenger portfolio beyond small cars.

• Passenger car · 2008

  Inokom i10

  The i10 was a locally assembled version of Hyundai’s city car and entered the Malaysian market in August 2008. The Inokom version used a 1.1-litre Epsilon engine and represented the company’s later branded passenger-car activity.

• Commercial vehicle

  Inokom HD5000

  The HD5000 was a commercial vehicle based on the Hyundai Mighty II. It formed part of Inokom’s broader commercial-vehicle assembly activities alongside the Permas and Lorimas.

• 2011

  Mazda assembly added to the Kulim operationStrategy

  Background

  Inokom had become an established local assembly platform for several international vehicle manufacturers.

  Action taken

  Mazda assembly commenced at the facility through a separate initiative associated with the Berjaya Group.

  Aftermath

  The facility’s portfolio broadened further, reinforcing its importance in Malaysia’s contract-assembly sector.

  Source

• 2008

  Expansion into BMW M and Land Rover assemblyStrategy

  Background

  Associated Motor Industries’ Shah Alam facility closed in 2007, creating a need to relocate selected assembly operations.

  Action taken

  Inokom’s Kulim plant began assembling BMW M and Land Rover vehicles.

  Aftermath

  The move expanded Inokom’s role from a producer of commercial and compact passenger vehicles into a multi-brand contract assembly facility.

  Source

• 2004

  Sime Darby acquires 51 percent of InokomM&A

  Background

  Inokom was operating as a multi-party automotive joint venture with commercial-vehicle and emerging passenger-car programs.

  Action taken

  Sime Darby acquired a controlling 51 percent stake in the company.

  Aftermath

  Inokom became more closely integrated with Sime Darby’s automotive operations, later supporting assembly programs for BMW M, Land Rover and other international brands.

  Source

1. 1Inokomen.wikipedia.org