KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 – BYD Malaysia has appointed Inokom Corporation Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Sime Darby Bhd (KL:SIME) based in Kulim, Kedah, as its local assembly partner for its planned completely knocked-down (CKD) vehicle operations in Malaysia.
In a statement on Thursday, BYD Malaysia said the partnership was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed at its global headquarters in Shenzhen, China.
The appointment follows an assessment of local market conditions and manufacturing capabilities, with Inokom’s existing facilities, workforce and supply chain supporting the planned assembly operations.
The move follows reports that BYD had dropped plans to build an assembly plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak, amid conditions set by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry requiring up to 80% of vehicles produced there to be exported, with the remaining 20% priced above RM200,000 each.
“Local assembly is an important part of BYD’s long-term commitment to Malaysia. Partnering with Sime to assemble at Inokom allows us to build on established automotive manufacturing capabilities as we progress our local assembly plans. We aim to bring BYD’s expertise in new energy vehicles and battery technologies closer to the Malaysian market while contributing to the continued development of the local automotive industry,” BYD Malaysia managing director Jacob Ma said in the statement.
Sime Darby group chief executive officer Datuk Jeffri Salim Davidson said the partnership could strengthen the local automotive ecosystem, support businesses and develop Malaysia’s manufacturing capabilities.
The MOU was signed by BYD vice-president Liu Xueliang and Jeffri, with Ma and Sime Motors Southeast Asia managing director Jeffrey Gan witnessing the signing.
Details on the models to be assembled and the production timeline have yet to be announced.
