OREANDA-NEWS. Homegrown auto major Tata Motors said Monday it has entered into a partnership with Malaysia's DRB-HICOM for import, distribution and assembly of its commercial vehicles in the country as part of ongoing global footprint expansion.

As part of the pact, the company has signed a distribution agreement and technology license agreement with USF-HICOM (Malaysia), a subsidiary of DRB-HICOM, Tata Motors said in a statement.

Another import agreement has been signed with a DRB-HICOM subsidiary, DRB-HICOM Auto Solution, and USF-HICOM, it added.

Commenting on the development, Tata Motors' head, international business (commercial vehicles) RT Wasan said: “One of the key parts of our business is the importance of our partnership with DRB-HICOM, which will not only help us service this market well, but also play a significant role in ensuring that we are listening to our customers.”

DRB-HICOM group MD Mohd Khamil Jamil said: “Through our subsidiary, USF-HICOM, we at DRB-HICOM intend to establish the Tata Motors brand...”

The agreements will enable DRB-HICOM via USF-HICOM to become the exclusive distributor of selected Tata CVs, as well as expand its vehicle assembly business and distribution network in Malaysia, the company said.