EP Manufacturing (EPMB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BAIC International Development to explore the possibility of working together on the local production of BAIC’s BJ40 Plus and X55II SUVs. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the two companies said they would also explore local assembly of future right-hand drive (RHD) ICE and electric vehicles (EVs), and jointly develop BAIC-branded RHD EVs to cater to Malaysia and other Southeast Asian RHD markets.
BAIC is aiming to establish a sales and
after-sales service network for its RHD vehicles in Malaysia, and developing a
local assembly and production base with EPMB is integral to those plans. Should
both companies reach a definitive agreement, EPMB will undertake the local
assembly of the BJ40 Plus, X55II and future BAIC ICE and EV models. The company
will also be responsible for producing parts for these vehicles in Malaysia,
with the goal of obtaining policy support from the government.
While the filing did not detail where the
cars would be assembled, should the deal go through, it could be in Melaka.
Last month, EPMB announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Peps-JV (Melaka)
(PJVM) had secured conditional approval for a manufacturing license from the
ministry of investment, trade and industry (MITI) to manufacture and assemble
four-wheel energy-efficient vehicles (EEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) in both
passenger and commercial categories.
The company said the manufacturing license
would enable PJVM to start a manufacturing plant to assemble EEVs, EVs and
other related products. According to EPMB Group CEO Ahmad Razlan Mohamed, the
company is planning to establish the facility in Pegoh, Melaka.
