This is the first Porsche assembly plant outside of Europe, and it's right here in Malaysia

Let's look at the timeline, folks. Porsche first confirmed that a small-scale local assembly will be set up just for the Malaysian market back in August last year. Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) made the official announcement last November regarding the CKD plans, and today, the fruits of their labour are finally here.

Reporting straight from the newly-launched Porsche facility within the Inokom assembly plant in Kulim, Kedah, the first 2022 Porsche Cayenne CKD model has officially rolled off the assembly line, and just like what you may have read before, it's exclusively for the Malaysian market. Having collected pre-orders since the end of last year, it's another remarkable milestone for the Porsche brand here in Malaysia (FYI, this is the first time that Porsches are produced/assembled outside of Europe).

According to Sime Darby Berhad's Group Chief CEO, Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, "We are very honoured by Porsche’s continued trust in Sime Darby, as we deliver a product consistent with Porsche’s highest standards for quality, performance and driving experience. The facility, which is 100% staffed by highly skilled Malaysians, not only supports the growth of our businesses across the automotive value chain in Malaysia; but also creates a pipeline of jobs to empower the local community."

Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG, added, "Today we have reached a new milestone, rolling out the first locally assembled Cayenne and fulfilling the sports car dream of even more Malaysian Porsche fans. Our growth strategy underlines the importance of Malaysia for Porsche as we look to expand our presence in the ASEAN region. And it demonstrates our confidence in Sime Darby as a strong partner on our side.”

So far, only the base Porsche Cayenne variant is set for the CKD program with prices starting from RM550,000 (OTR excluding insurance). This is considered a bargain for those who can afford one considering that the CBU model retailed at an extra RM115,000. That's some saving no matter who you ask, folks.

Powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine, the CKD Cayenne produces 335hp and 450Nm of torque. This is paired with the eight-speed Tiptronic auto transmission which helps to drive all that power down to all four wheels thanks to the Cayenne's active AWD system.

Looking at the exterior, the CKD Cayenne also comes with all the CBU bits and pieces, most notably its 21-inch wheels and Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS). You can also get the RM58,000 Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur Package option, which comes with the SportsDesign styling package, sport exhaust system, tinted lights, and LED door projectors to name a few.

On the inside, the CKD Porsche Cayenne comes with a 12-inch touchscreen with Porsche Connect, Porsche Communication Management (PCM), and Apple CarPlay, plus the Porsche Advanced Cockpit, and 14-way power-adjustable comfort seats. So far, so good, eh?

The 2022 Porsche Cayenne CKD is available in three different colour options - Carrara White Metallic, Jet Black Metallic and Quartzite Grey Metallic. As for the interior, it's either all Black, or the Black/Bourdeaux Red combo.