Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (March 14): DRB-HICOM Commercial Vehicles Sdn Bhd (DHCV), the distributor of Tata Motor commercial vehicles in Malaysia, sees positive growth this year with the introduction of three new vehicles and a local-assembly programme in the mid-term.

Two of the new vehicles will be in the light commercial vehicle segment and one in the small pickup segment.

“We are ready to move up and be a bigger player in the commercial vehicle category and in selected segments,” said DRB-Hicom’s chief operating officer for automotive, distribution, manufacturing and engineering, Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah. 

“The last three years have been a learning curve for us. Come 2018, we are confident we have the right products in terms of technology, affordability and durability to be truly competitive in the commercial vehicle category,” Abdul Harith said in a statement.

With the introduction of its all-new Tata small pickup, DHCV is expected to command 10% to 15% of the small pickup segment by 2022.

For 2018, DHCV plans to achieve a volume of 150 units of light-duty trucks to capture 2% of a segment that is expected to have an annual volume of 7,500 units, DRB-HICOM said.

This will be DHCV’s debut in the small pickup category with an all-new product, said DHCV chief operating officer Chin Tan Hee.

“Small pickup constitutes two percent of the total pickup segment. Our objectives are to offer customers an alternative and a highly competitive product.

“The Tata Motors small pickup is a highly successful product, many of which are reliably plying the roads in other regional markets. We are confident it will help us gain a fair share of this promising and growing segment,” Chin said.

Additionally, plans for local assembly are in place and will be implemented at the appropriate time in the near future.

Chin said local assembly is more ideal, in line with the government's aspirations to promote the suppliers' ecosystem while creating new ones, offer employment and develop new skill sets.

It will also introduce DHCV and Tata to more business opportunities, including potentials in the public sector, he added.

“With higher volume achieving economies-of-scale, it is also a cost-effective option for various stakeholders and customers as parts and service will be readily available, lowering overall ownership and running costs,” Chin said.

The local assembly will be carried out in DRB-HICOM’s assembly plant in Pekan, Pahang.

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