South Korean automaker Ssangyong Motor is planning to make Malaysia its export hub for Southeast Asia, capitalising on lower taxes for vehicles made in the region.

Competitive Supreme, Ssangyong's Malaysian distributor, said the Rexton II sport utility vehicle was likely to be the first Malaysia-made model bound for sale in neighbouring countries.

The distributor's general manager, Melvinder Singh, said the export plans could be put into action within 18 months, once Ssangyong and Competitive Supreme boosted the amount of local content in the car.

"The locally-assembled Rexton II is for export too," Singh was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times .

"The time frame may be about 18 months. Within the period, we should have enough local content for it to be exported to other countries in the region," he said.

The car, currently assembled in Pahang, contains 20 percent Malaysian content, which must be boosted to at least 40 percent to take advantage of lower tariffs under a Southeast Asian free-trade deal, the newspaper said.

The Rexton II is the first Ssangyong vehicle to be assembled outside South Korea. Competitive Supreme officials said two more models were being considered for assembly in Malaysia, the newspaper said.

Ssangyong Motor is the fourth-largest automaker in South Korea and is controlled by Chinese company Shanghai Automotive Industry.