MALAYSIA: Background - Quick Facts – History
| Malaysia Quick Facts | Ford Operations in Malaysia |
Population: Right-hand drive Currency: 2003 Total Market: Ford Dealers/Service: Ford Employees: Available Ford Vehicles: |
Ford restructured its product range, dealerships and production facilities in Malaysia following Ford's reinvolvement in 1997. Although Ford's formal presence in Malaysia started in 1926, a joint venture with the Sime Darby group was created in 1984 called AMIM Holdings, its majority stockholder is Tractors Malaysia, a majority-owned subsidiary of Sime Darby. In July 2000, Ford increased its equity in the joint venture to 49% from 30% previously. The joint venture company is renamed as Ford Malaysia. Ford Motor Company of Malaysia Sdn Bhd - Assembly Facility
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1909 The first Ford vehicle, the Model N, was imported to Malaysia
1926 The Ford Motor Company of Malaya Ltd was incorporated to import the Model T.
1930 Assembly of semi-knocked down vehicles began in Singapore (Singapore was still a state of the Malaya nation)
1941 The first Ford assembly plant in the region was established in Bukit Timah (in Singapore) to meet demand for Ford vehicles
1967 The Malaysian government implemented an automotive industry program that provides for local assembly of cars
1968 Ford entered into an agreement with Universal Cars and Associated Motor Industries of Malaysia - both subsidiaries of Wearnes Brothers Ltd, and began the importation, assembly and distribution of European Ford vehicles
1972 Ford Motor Company of Malaysia, was formed with a Marketing Office in Kuala Lumpur, and a Parts & Accessories warehouse in Shah Alam
1981 --A joint venture agreement was signed between Ford Motor Company and Pernas Sime Darby, for Sime Darby to acquire 49% equity in the Ford Motor Company of Malaysia, with provision to take majority share equity
--The first Cathodic Electrocoat anti-corrosion paint system in the country was installed at the newly acquired AMIM assembly plant at a cost of more than US $3 million
--Ford Motor Company of Malaysia entered into an assembly contract with Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd to assemble Mercedes Benz passenger cars and Land Rover trucks
1984 --Pernas Sime Darby increased its equity to 70% in Ford Motor Company of Malaysia, and changed the company name to AMIM Holdings Sdn Bhd
--AMIM Holdings entered an assembly contract with Kobin Motors to assemble Suzuki trucks
1987 AMIM Holdings started assembly of BMW cars under contract with Auto Bavaria
1988 Ownership of AMIM Holdings was restructured with Sime Darby's subsidiary, Tractors Malaysia, now holding 70% equity with the balance by Ford Motor Company
1989 Plant began assembly of Mazda vehicles
1990 Plant began assembly of Scania heavy trucks
1993 -- Plant began assembly of Jeep Cherokee
-- Assembly of Ford, BMW and Mazda engines began
1995 Plant began the assembly of Proton cars
1996 A 5-acre land in Klang was acquired for relocation of Scania, Land Rover and TATA assembly operation
Direct Ford Motor Company involvement in Malaysia started with a representative office
1997 --Transit was reintroduced in the market
--CBU Explorer was imported into the market
--Ford Motor Company increased involvement in AMIM Holdings with the appointment of a General Manager from the company
1999 The management of AMIM Holdings (the sales and distribution company) and AMI (the assembly operation) was combined
2000 Ford Motor Company increased equity in joint venture to 49% and is renamed Ford Malaysia Sdn Bhd