BEIJING, May 14 — Beijing Auto International Cooperation (BAIC), which is among the world’s leading electric vehicle producers, wants to make Malaysia as the hub for its electric cars for the Southeast Asian market.
Towards this end, BAIC has signed a cooperation agreement with its Malaysian joint venture partner, Amber Dual Sdn Bhd, at BAIC’s plant here today.
The first batch of production will take place in July next year at a manufacturing plant to be built in Gurun, Kedah.
Kedah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir who attended the signing ceremony said this was the first foreign manufacturer of electric vehicles to have invested in Malaysia.
“Kedah has a fast-growing automotive industry and constantly updating its technology. Now with the presence of BAIC, it will further boost the state’s automotive industry.
“We already have completely knocked down (CKD) vehicle assembly using normal engines, existing hybrid vehicles and latest electric vehicles. BAIC is the number one company in China as a full-fledged electric vehicle manufacturer and number two in the world,” he told reporters after visiting BAIC’s factory today.
He said with BAIC’s cooperation, Amber Dual could penetrate the Southeast Asian market which has a population of 550 million people.
“With the plant in Gurun, it will contribute to the growth of Kedah’s economy.
“As electric vehicles are the latest technology, we expect that there will be suppliers who will enter the electric vehicle business,” he said.
Mukhriz is now on a Kedah trade and investment mission to China, from Tuesday to tomorrow.
Last Tuesday, the state government through the Kedah State Development Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding with Qingdao Lu Hai Feng Investment Co Ltd, a fishing company, to carry out the Kedah Integrated Fisheries Terminal project with an initial investment of RM1 billion.
The project to be implemented in Tebengau, near Kuala Kedah, is aimed at making Kedah as the largest fishing centre, especially for tuna fish, in Southeast Asia. — Bernama
