Report: Bermaz Has Begun New Kia Sportage CKD Operations, Hybrid Option Planned Too

Local assembly (CKD) operations for the new fifth-gen Kia Sportage SUV has begun at the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah, says Bermaz Group CEO Datuk Francis Lee.

In a recent interview with local business daily The Edge, Bermaz Group CEO Datuk Francis Lee Kok Chuan has confirmed that the firm has begun local assembly (CKD) efforts for the new Kia Sportage model at the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah.

The exec further noted Bermaz’s intent at positioning said new Kia crossover SUV as its next “volume key driver.” Presently, Bermaz distributes the Korean marque via its Dinamikjaya Motors arm, and it aims to shift 4,000 to 5,000 units of the Sportage model annually, says Lee.

The new fifth-gen Kia Sportage is proving to be one of the Korean marque's global best-seller. In fact, Lee notes that the marque has no CBU units to offer Bermaz even, hence the CKD operation.

“The Sportage is selling very well worldwide; in fact, they don’t have CBU (completely built up) cars for us to bring in,” continued Lee. The exec also noted that the model will be marketed initially with combustion (ICE) powertrain  before a hybrid petrol-electric option arrives later too.

Now in its fifth-generation iteration, the Kia Sportage is set to rival against both the Honda CR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross in the C-segment SUVs space. Like the Sportage, both rivalling Japanese segment stalwarts also offer both traditional ICE and hybrid petrol-electric powertrain options.

Critically, new Sportage models for Malaysia will see a hybrid petrol-electric powertrain option. What's unclear is if Bermaz (Dinamikjaya Motors) will elect to offer the parallel- (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version.

Initially though, Bermaz (Dinamikjaya Motors) will offer the Sportage with a traditional ICE powertrain first. However, given recent developments, we reckon the model won't see a diesel option available like the larger Sorento model.

Apart from which, Lee didn’t disclose much else. What remains unclear are the specific powertrains Bermaz (Dinamikjaya Motors) will offer the Sportage with in Malaysia. Overseas, the model is offered with a wide variety of powertrain options.

On the combustion side, the Sportage is marketed with a selection of petrol and diesel powertrains. Next to which comes several electrified choices too, which includes mild- (MHEV), parallel- (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options.

Though locally built (CKD), expect the fifth-gen Sportage to feature a rather rich and high tech kit list once it launches sometime in Q3 or Q4.

Though the firm has successfully marketed diesel-powered choices in models like the Sorento luxury SUV and Carnival MPV, we highly doubt the Sportage will see a oil-burning choice offered locally due to the recent diesel fuel subsidy rationalisation efforts by the government.

Nevertheless, expect details soon given that the Sportage is widely tipped for launch as early as the third quarter (Q3), or as late as the fourth quarter (Q4) of this year. Critically, the Sportage’s arrival as a new volume driver will also allow Bermaz to begin repositioning its Mazda brand further upmarket with the upcoming CX-60 model.