Porsche has kicked off assembly at its new line in the Malaysian state of Kedah.

The German automaker first announced plans to open a line in Malaysia back in September last year. This is the first Porsche factory outside of Europe and will assemble CKD kits (Completely Knocked-Down) of the Cayenne specifically for the Malaysian market. The site is located within the assembly plant of Sime Darby Berhad, a Malaysian trading and logistics company.

Porsche’s new site gets supplementary electricity from solar panels, while rainwater harvesting technologies have also been employed to reduce wastewater. The plant is also staffed exclusively by Malaysians, Paul Tan reports, all of whom have been trained by Porsche.

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“The new assembly site in Malaysia meets specific market needs and operates alongside Porsche’s established network of production sites in Europe,” Porsche board member for Production and Logistics, Albrecht Reimold, said in a statement. “It meets comprehensive quality standards set forth by Porsche when assembling Porsche sports cars.”

By assembling the Cayenne in Malaysia, Porsche has been able to significantly reduce its price. The locally-made Cayenne starts at 550,000 Malaysian Ringgit ($130,162), whereas models imported from overseas set back local shoppers 665,000 Ringgit ($157,377).

Malaysia’s Porsche Cayenne is available exclusively with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 petrol engine with 335 hp between 5,300 rpm and 6,400 rpm and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque from 1,340 rpm to 5,300 rpm. Mated to this engine is an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission powering all four wheels.

The local Cayenne also comes standard with a load of features that were previously optional on imported models. For example, it has 21-inch RS Spyder wheels, a Bose surround sound system, 14-way power-adjustable comfort seats with memory function, and Porsche’s Park Assist system with front, rear, and surround views. Other key features include the Porsche Dynamic Light System, LED taillights, a 12-inch infotainment display, a sports steering wheel, and four-zone climate control.

Shoppers can also order the SUV with a 58,000 Ringgit ($13,737) Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur Package that adds a SportsDesign styling package with a unique front bumper, wheel arch extensions, a sports exhaust system, dark-tinted lighting clusters, LED door projectors, and a key fob matching the color of the car.

Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe
Porsche Starts Assembling The Cayenne At Malaysian Plant, The First Outside Of Europe